Quantitative engineering research into the design and operation of buildings and the construction processes involved.
This area encompasses quantitative engineering research into the design and operation of buildings and the construction processes involved, including topics around building performance, for example:
- heating
- lighting
- ventilation
- indoor air quality
- building acoustics
- thermal comfort
- resource efficiency and energy use
- design for productivity
- health and wellbeing.
This research area also includes processes such as procurement, project management, innovation management and use of information and communication technologies.
Research within this area remains of significant national importance and continues to be excellent. It will be characterised by investments that focus on long term transformative challenges within a whole systems context and consider the use of ICT in construction, building performance and public health in the built environment.
We will explore the needs of researchers who are early in their career and take action where necessary. In addition we will continue to work with other research councils and innovation partners, such as Innovate UK and government, to support multidisciplinary research.
We aim to have a portfolio of research addressing the issues below.
Make use of ICT in construction
Making full use of Internet of Things technology and strengthening computer science in building design and management, ensuring alignment to government initiatives around digital construction. This will also require novel sensors, instrumentation and autonomous systems, and will be achieved through collaboration with IT-based research areas.
Building performance
Ensuring buildings are fit for purpose and resilient to change in use. This will include current areas such as ventilation, heating and lighting systems.
Wellbeing and inclusivity in public health
Continuing the focus on design for wellbeing and inclusivity, particularly aligned to improving health delivery with an ageing population. Also addressing the role of built environment design as a preventive measure to minimise spread of disease.
We will work with the community to understand and address, where possible, any leadership or related skills challenges, particularly in relation to early career researchers. Similar needs in the Infrastructure and urban systems, Structural engineering and Ground engineering research areas will also be addressed.
The community should address these research challenges in the context of the whole system. In conjunction with the Infrastructure and urban systems, Structural engineering and Ground engineering research areas, this will contribute to establishing whole system connectivity in the smart cities agenda and increase acceleration of transformative impacts.
The community should position itself to maximise the impact of planned investment in the UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure and Cities and capitalise on the UK leadership created through such an investment, ensuring the harnessing of multidisciplinary opportunities.
This research area is also of potential relevance to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s Official Development Assistance funding streams.