There are roughly 863 million people living in slums, with that number continuously rising, according to the World Health Organization.

That's a massive issue, especially when you factor in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory in psychology that outlines the basic needs of humans. As Berok Khoshnevis, a professor of engineering at the University of Southern California, points out, shelter is considered a fundamental need in Maslow's pyramid.

That's why Khoshnevis wants to tackle the world's housing crisis head on using tech. Scroll down to see his plan.