The construction sector plays a crucial role in shaping the built environment and driving economic growth. As such, it is important to continuously explore and advance the frontiers of construction research. SICRC researchers have a wide background in researcheing relevant topics including sustainable building materials and techniques, construction process optimization, building information modeling (BIM), advanced construction technologies, construction project management, and resilience of structures against natural and man-made hazards. These topics not only help to improve the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of the construction process, but also have the potential to bring about transformative changes in the way we design, build, and maintain the built environment. By exploring these topics, the construction sector can continue to drive innovation and progress for a better future.
Robotic Modular Construction
Conventional construction is time-consuming and requires high labor numbers and large amount of plants on site. The construction quality is difficult to control and can be easily affected by weather. However, advanced modular and robotic construction can achieve faster construction, better quality control, lower environmental impacts, lower operating costs and wastage and reduce the number of injuries during construction. Currently, innovative modular steel floor system and modular damped H-frame system have been developed by our research team. The research goal of this project is to develop state-of-the-art control methods which can let ground vehicle robotic arm to assemble and install small structural components accurately, and develop ground vehicle robotic arm to grasp structural components and put them at specific positions accurately (with very small error) to form a whole structure system. The developed robotic arm will also help more advanced modular structures to be developed by our research team.
Smart Technology for Building Inspection
Smart technology is rapidly revolutionizing the field of infrastructure building inspection, enabling more efficient and effective ways to monitor and maintain the integrity of structures. With the integration of advanced sensors, drones, and other digital tools, inspectors can now gather more comprehensive and accurate data about the condition of buildings and infrastructure. This data can then be analyzed and interpreted to identify potential risks, predict maintenance needs, and optimize inspection schedules. Moreover, smart technology also enables real-time monitoring of structures, allowing for prompt response to any structural issues or potential threats. By leveraging smart technology, building inspectors can reduce the time and cost required for inspections, improve the accuracy and reliability of their findings, and ultimately ensure the safety and longevity of the structures they inspect. The integration of smart technology in infrastructure building inspection is a prime example of how technology is transforming the built environment for the better.
IDEASS: Integrative Data-Enabled Approaches to Sustainability across Scales
Many Canadian communities have set aggressive economic, environmental and social sustainability targets. Meeting these ambitious targets requires better, faster and less expensive ways of evaluating different design options and tradeoffs against the most important performance measures (e.g., cost, energy consumption, quality of life). The problem is that the data and evidence needed to support this evaluation originates from many different sources, scales, and formats. This diversity of data makes it challenging for decision-makers to access the information they need, in the right format and at the right time in the collaborative decision-making process. The goal of the IDEASS project was to help organizations make better sustainability decisions. We developed new techniques and tools to help decision makers to evaluate alternative designs and explore the performance attributes, costs and benefits more efficiently. Using case studies within UBC (the University of British Columbia) and collaborating with other partners in the greater Vancouver area, we developed and tested prototypes that integrated the diverse sources of data, and allowed diverse stakeholder groups to interact with the information as part of a collaborative decision-making process. The results of this research helped organizations to make more effective and better-informed decisions, leading to more sustainable and cost-effective solutions. This helps to accelerate the rate at which sustainable, carbon-neutral buildings and communities become a norm, rather than an exception. See More
Robotics to Enhance Building Efficiency
With a track record that claims more than 20% of work-related deaths, the need to improve the safety of construction workers has never been more urgent. But that’s not all, construction productivity has remained stagnant for decades, contributing to the housing crisis and wasteful construction practices that negatively impact sustainability. On top of that, buildings account for a significant share of energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
To address these issues, our researchers are working towards a future where humans and robots collaborate to deliver projects and help operate buildings, using cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize the construction industry. See More
Bio-mimetic Water and Energy Treatment for Buildings
Funded by New Frontiers in Research Fund, this project develops building materials that can transform existing buildings into artificial trees, which allows for passive, evaporative cooling and fast stormwater removal. As an instance, plants in nature possess exotic structures for effective water uptake in harsh environments and the removal of unwanted species. Inspired by natural plants, the research team designs nanoporous media and implement them for engineering applications including desalination, stormwater removal, and tailings treatment.
High-Performance Timber Modular Tall Buildings Toward Resilient Constructions
This project aims to develop modular timber structures that will further advance the use of traditional and emerging engineered wood products in building construction beyond the height and size limits of low-rise buildings. Specifically, modular construction methods and automation in the construction process will be exploited while improving timber buildings’ overall performance and resilience. This project’s outcome is expected to impact the construction quality and performance toward a more hazard-resilient timber construction environment in Canada.
