Vision

The Digital Construction research unit dedicates to convergence research into the theory and praxis of digital construction for the dependable built environment. It catalyses and facilitates initiatives and collaborations in research and knowledge exchange to inform sustainability-driven practices and research-led education.

Focuses

This research unit aims to develop research strength and knowledge in the following areas:

• acquisition and use of data, information and knowledge for decision intelligence and optimization
• advanced informatics for the design, construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure
• education, training and learning for professional excellence
• evidence-based learning for the best practices, policy, regulation, and standardisation
• interdisciplinary methodologies for convergent research and practice under complexity and uncertainty
• resources efficiency in the built environment
• strategic, tactical and operational decision-making support in mega project management

This research unit is the host of MSc Advanced Construction Technologies & BIM in the Department of Architecture at the University of Strathclyde.

Academics

Academic leader: Dr Zhen Chen

Academic collaborators:

• Dr Andrew Agapiou
• Professor Branka Dimitrijevic
• Dr Michael Grant

Collaborations

This research unit has established collaborations with academic and industry partners around the world, and has continued contributions to professional development at organisations, including

• ADS Group
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• British Standards Institution (BSI)
• European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
• The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)
• The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
• Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC)
• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• International Project Management Association (IPMA)
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

This research unit has continued contribution to the development of new research publications in the Specialty Section of Construction Management at Frontiers of Built Environment, which is a multidisciplinary open-access journal (indexed in the Web of Science (ESCI) and Scopus) providing the platform for international collaborations that aids discovery, and is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating scientific knowledge and impactful discoveries to researchers, engineers, and the public worldwide. The contribution of this research unit is made through specialty editorship and Research Topics in Construction Management at Frontiers.

Call for Participation

This research unit is open for new students to pursue doctoral study in areas relating to evidence-based learning and research for professional excellence in the built environment.

This research theme aims to foster new world class research into challenging issues in the built environment with regard to evidence-based practice for excellence in professional practices. It is open to applicants who have specialty interests in related areas and have ambition to generate new knowledge to inform academic research and professional practices in the design, construction, and/or operation of buildings and/or civil infrastructure.

The research areas within this theme include but not limited to the following new analysis and/or solutions in the context of engineering and/or management for the built environment:

• calculated/Informed/Intelligent decision-making support in design, construction, and/or operation
• methodological studies on advanced technical solutions for optimization and/or optioneering with regard to people, products, processes, resources, and/or environment
• the enhancement of capability, dependability, efficacy, and/or resilience at strategic, tactical, and/or operational levels
• the study on accidents or best practices to advance the professional body of knowledge

The expected research outcomes from this research theme may include but not limited to with regard to the researchers’ career development in academic research and/or professional practices:

• academic papers published in top journals
• books based on the research for dissertations
• presentations to national and/or international audiences

Relevant subject areas include but not limited to: Engineering (Civil & Structural Engineering), Maths & Computing (AI & Machine Learning; Data Analysis; Operational Research), Social Science & Health (Architecture & the Built Environment; Education; History; Political Science & International Studies; Psychology), and Business & Finance (Business & Management).