Industrial Doctorate Centre: Innovative and Collaborative Construction Engineering
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Civil and Building Engineering
Abstract
This proposal from Loughborough University outlines the case to renew the funding for the Industrial Doctorate Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Construction Engineering (CICE) as part of the Industrial Doctorate Centres call aginst the Towards Better Exploitation element of the EPSRC Delivery Plan. In partnership with an established industry base, CICE is delivering a high quality research and training programme that: meets the core technical and business needs of the construction industry; enhances its knowledge base; and produces high calibre doctoral graduates that can drive innovation. The Centre addresses a wide range of research issues that concern the UK construction industry including: Innovative Construction Technologies; Construction Business Processes; Advanced Information and Communication Technologies; Sustainable Design and Construction; and Transport and Infrastructure. Many of these areas have been highlighted in various reviews of the industry including the Latham Report, the Technology Foresight Report, the Egan Task Force Report, and more recently the National Technology Platform's research priorities. It also contributes to the EPSRC Delivery Plan as part of the knowledge transfer research and training activities. The research areas of the Centre align with the Engineering and Science for Sustainability research theme, as outlined in the EPSRC's Research Priorities and Opportunities, and fall under the 'Construction and the Built Environment' and 'Transport' sub-themes. Within the Construction and Built Environment, the Centre builds on existing strengths in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering established as part of the Engineering Doctorate Centre and other related industry based research to address some of the EPSRC research priorities to improve efficiency across the supply chain, including: encouraging the uptake of ICT to promote efficiency; improving building performance to minimise impacts on the environment ; and the analysis and design of civil engineering structures . Within the Transport area Sustainability and Innovation are key themes of the research that centres on transport operation and management, transport telematics, and minimising energy use and environmental impact . The Engineering Doctorate Centre (CICE) was established in 1999 and has subsequently recruited a total of 94 research engineers sponsored by a total of 63 large, medium and small companies. Loughborough University is a research intensive institution, which integrates its research and teaching activity at every opportunity to provide a top quality research led learning experience for all its students. The Department of Civil and Building Engineering has consistently achieved high research rating in the RAE assessments and the last RAE results were 5* in Built Environment. The Engineering Doctorate is part of Loughborough University's excellent doctoral research training programme, which in addition to supporting the pursuit of a particular project aims to provide a basic professional training to support the research and offer personal development opportunities. The training programme integrates taught and research elements tailored to suit the needs of the research engineer, project, and the sponsoring company while maintaining the expected quality of the academic standards required for a doctoral study. The Centre is managed by the Director, Prof. Dino Bouchlaghem supported by a Deputy Director, a Centre Manager and an Administrator. A Centre Management Board consisting of the Director, Deputy Director, and Industrial Representatives meets twice a year and is chaired by a senior industrialist from one of the sponsoring companies, oversees the work of the Centre and provides direction and guidance on strategic matters. This proposal has the full support of the University and has been subject to an internal review process to ensure synergy with the University's Research Strategy.
Organisations
- Loughborough University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Capita (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Whitbybird Limited (Project Partner)
- Construction Industry Research and Information Association (Project Partner)
- HAZID TECHNOLOGIES LTD (Project Partner)
- Wates (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Construction Industry Training Board (Project Partner)
- Lend Lease (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- The Welding Institute (Project Partner)
- United Utilities (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- BuroHappold (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Bridgepoint (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Lloyd's Register Foundation (Project Partner)
- URS Corporation (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Balfour Beatty (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Building Research Establishment (Project Partner)
- Golder Associates (United States) (Project Partner)
- East Midlands Centre Built Environment (Project Partner)
- HBG UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- Arup Group (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Currie & Brown UK (Project Partner)
- Lafarge Aggregates (Project Partner)
- RDC Aviation (Project Partner)
- Concrete Preservation Technologies (Project Partner)
- British Precast (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- HeidelbergCement (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Jacobs (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Taylor Woodrow Technologies (Project Partner)
- Aecom (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- The Concrete Centre (Project Partner)
- Ferrovial (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- BAE Systems (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Causeway Technologies Ltd (Project Partner)