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About Us

Construction Future Research Centre (CFRC)

The Construction Futures Research Centre (CFRC) has been pioneering research in the field of sustainable construction, shaping and informing decisions, policy and practice, and enhancing societal impact globally. Interdisciplinary research is intrinsic to CFRC and it integrates three core pillars: people, processes and technology to address challenges pertinent to construction industry. Centre is dedicated to being “an innovative and agile centre of excellence in green and sustainable construction; applying an industry facing people-centric approach with real impact at local, national and international communities”. This vision underpins the ethos of United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 11 “Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

We drive for the need to create maximum impact from our pioneering research across three-tiered strategy:
  • First-tier beneficiaries – direct project investors and end users
  • Second-tier beneficiaries – supply chain services underpinning projects (such as design, procurement, manufacturing, servitisation etc.)
  • Third-tier beneficiaries – wider economy and society (including wider societal impact stemming from publicly-funded research social, cultural, environmental, economic measures).

 

 

CFRC foster and accelerates cross-cutting research through four thematic clusters.

 

Research groups

CFRC foster and accelerates cross-cutting research through four thematic clusters.

This thematic group promotes automation, process improvements and resource efficiency in construction projects. It consolidates digital research through several core areas, all of which support industry demand for rigorous and relevant research:  Use of advanced tools and technologies (handheld, wearable etc) to scan buildings and create 3D spatial mapping/ digital twins; promote techniques (discrete event simulation, BIM, AI, generative design etc) to simulate construction processes right through design, manufacture, installation and operation of built assets; Supporting companies, construction industry and its supply chain to improve the efficiency (resources), productivity and reduce waste; promotion and adaptation of modern methods of construction (MMC).

This thematic group drives research covering environmental sustainability and net zero. Dedicated research in this thematic group focus and governed through emergent needs and strategic drivers highlighted by governmental policies, demand driven practice-based priorities, and international trends/initiatives and core work include: Green energy application including floating solar farms; energy transition and efficiency including smart controls, energy use monitoring and thermal imaging; sustainability of existing infrastructures and asset by driving efficient and effective retrofitting; waste water management and treatment.

This thematic cluster pioneer research and innovation into sustainable land use, resilient buildings and promotes regeneration. The research agenda of this group is fully accordant with the strategies of the UK Government, regional authorities and the local authority and respond to a number of emerging priorities such as brownfield first agenda, flood resilience etc. It has fostered a number of outwards facing industrial collaboration and key focuses include: Brownfield remediation and regeneration including nature recovery and biodiversity; Promotion of circular principles; flood recovery including adaptation, resilience and retrofit; review of health and safety and building regulations; people centric and industry prevalent challenges such as stress and wellbeing.

This thematic group promotes intelligent and sustainable mobility and infrastructures. Research, undertaken in this cluster, has extended and applied thematically in data analytics, AI, knowledge-based technologies and innovative business modelling. Its core areas of focus include: Designing of mobility services that promote sustainable modes of transport; development of modelling and simulation tools for the assessment of green and innovative logistics and passenger services; and application of smart city/ infrastructure concepts and data analytics.