Research
Sustainability and Climate Change
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions emanating from anthropogenic and natural activities since the onset of the industrial age have led to their increased concentration in the atmosphere. The absorption of radiations by these gases alter the amount of solar radiation reaching the earth and the amount of infrared radiation that goes into space. The result is the disruption of the earth-atmosphere energy balance leading to cooling or warming of the climate depending on the radiating forcing being negative or positive. The change in the global climatic parameters have in recent times raised serious global concerns and is currently one of the most worrisome problem faced by the contemporary world. We conduct research in this area aimed at identifying sources of climate change impacts from different sectors of life and proposing mitigation strategies.
Some examples of areas of interest are:
- Technology Needs Assessment
- Impact Assessment
- Feasibility studies
Capacity Building Training
Emerging Building Information Modelling (BIM)
The aim of this course is to prepare students to manage construction projects through the use of advanced planning and control techniques and to develop knowledge and skills in the use of BIM systems to support the successful delivery of construction projects.
Participants will:
- Gain a theoretical and practical understanding of BIM
- Enhance their knowledge on the selection and comparison of alternative BIM systems
- Apply advanced information modelling techniques using BIM systems
- Explore BIM systems for various construction applications
- Explore cloud/mobile BIM for sharing construction project information
- Develop an understanding of collaborative supply chain working practices required to gain competitive advantage in the use of BIM
Some course synopses are:
- Overview of Collaborative Practices in Construction Practice
- Introduction to BIM process and integrated project delivery, nD modelling,
- BIM software systems and guide to choosing different BIM software systems
- BIM for Clients
- Familiarisation with modelling environment and tools, modelling approaches to producing plans, 3D models, views and sections of buildings, creating an initial sample of 3D BIM model using a BIM authoring software
BIM for Architects
- Modelling of building including basic and vital elements, production of plans, views and 3D models, annotations and preparations of sheets for printing and publishing
- BIM for Contractors
- Reviews and model customisations – elements and materials, creation of internal components, external elements – massing and site modelling
- BIM for Manufacturers
- Elements visibility, visualisation and walkthroughs, model/information exchange and merging of models
- BIM for Quantity Surveyors
- BIM for Sustainability Experts
- Business case for BIM
- A convincing strategy for BIM adoption
- Financial appraisal for the deployment of BIM systems
- BIM execution plans
- Pre-contract BIM execution plan
- Post-contract BIM execution plan
Software Systems
- AutoCAD
- Revit
- CostX
- Navisworks
- MatLab
- Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
- MS Excel
- NVivo
- CyPe
Renewable energy and climate change related areas
The techniques for computing and assessing various sustainable options are imperative for understanding climate change impacts and mitigation strategies. The course provides training in various design, computational and assessment techniques in various sustainable domains.
- PV-system design
- Greenhouse gas accounting
- Long-range Energy Alternative Planning (LEAP) software
- GIS principles and application
- Simple soil, water and nutrient management tools
Monitoring and Evaluation
In every project, it is imperative to make sure the project objectives or client’s requirements are met. This can be done through observing, checking and taking corrective actions during the life cycle of the project. It may be too late to check whether the project objectives have been attained when the project has been completed. Checking the performance of projects or programmes is the kernel of monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Project or programme monitoring is the collection and analysis of data prior to and when the project is still ongoing On the other hand, evaluation is the periodic, retrospective assessment of an organisation, project or programme. Monitoring serves as the foundation to evaluation. Monitoring is a continuous assessment throughout the project execution while evaluation is a periodic assessment and includes interim and terminal evaluations.
Digital Construction
- Setting up a BIM department
- Developing BIM execution plans
- 4D BIM
- 5D BIM
- 6D BIM