Research

Our research areas 

The School of Construction Management and Engineering has established a global reputation for the quality and breadth of its academic and commercial research. We are one of the world’s leading research-intensive university schools developing the policy, theory and practice of the organisation and management of the built environment.

With a focus on policy change and the needs of society in relation to the built environment the School has been influential in developing and improving the processes and techniques of the construction and manufacturing sectors. Our relationship with industry, professional institutions and governments around the world allows us to develop and transfer knowledge beyond the boundaries of the academic environment.

The School draws together expertise across a range of disciplines including organisation and management, design, sustainability, procurement and economics. The pivotal role of the built environment to deliver quality of life and wealth generation is at the heart of our five main research areas:

• Health Care Infrastructure
• Digital Practices
• Business Innovation in Construction
• Transition Pathways to a Low-Carbon Economy
• Innovative and Sustainable Technologies

Industry collaborations

The success of our research rests partly on the strength of our relationships with industry, and we are proud of our long history of successful collaborations. These partnerships continue to grow and we are proud that our industry partners are actively engaged in supporting the next generation of academics and industrialists through the EPSRC-funded centre for Technologies for Sustainable Built Environments (TSBE), our engineering doctorate centre.

Research impact

The School undertakes basic and applied research across the construction and engineering sectors to meet the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders within the built environment and throughout wider society. The research, rooted in the real-world, is considered particularly valuable owing to its independence. National and international supporting organisations include government institutions, policy think-tanks, professional and trade organisations, supra-national organisations, companies, charities and other research institutions. Our academics are widely published, and we focus strongly on knowledge dissemination and the practical application of that knowledge in the field.

Research community

The TSBE is one example of the strong, supportive research community within the School. Our postgraduate research programme supports over 80 students a year, whilst our weekly seminars and the Research Institute of the Built Environment (RIBE) both act as focal points for discussion of multi-disciplinary research within the School.