Built environment & infrastructure research

Research areas

Urbanisation, environment & design

News on the changing environments in our worlds’ cities continues to lay down the research agenda for environmental design and urbanisation.

This research cluster aims to help Built Environments to become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. This research group also aims to build capacity of individuals, communities, businesses, institutions and systems in a city to survive, adapt and grow under urbanisation and environmental degradations.

Examples include:

• Sustainable built environment
• Healthy communities
• Climate and water sensitive urban design
• Sustainable transport system
• Active transportation
• Climate change and outdoor thermal comfort
• Sustainable-green building design for changing climate.

 

 

Construction

The construction industry is facing a period of change. Rapid digital transformation of the construction sector, sustainability awareness, rising material and labour costs, increased competition and shrinking profit margins are some of the contemporary global challenges.

Construction research in the Built Environment program focuses on a wide variety of topics related to the design and construction of building and infrastructure project.

Examples include:

• Digitalisation and new technologies in construction (BIM, AR, VR, AI)
• Sustainable Materials
• Waste in Construction Materials
• Sustainable green construction and infrastructure
• Risk, health, and safety
• Fire protection for infrastructure projects, Economy and cost (value for money).

 

Building technology

Building technology is a predictive science that models building performance. At the same time, it also a forensic science that explains building failures and how those can be avoided.

To build sustainably, it is critical that behaviour of buildings is precisely understood and accurately simulated. This approach avoids the costly penalties of rectifying building defects, or creating built environments that are unfit for purpose.

To address these needs, the research group is working on the following topics:

• Building structural performance: artificial intelligence for the failure prediction of building structures and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning) systems, deterioration modelling of structural and systems;
• Healthy buildings: building energy and condensation risk analysis, mould risk factors in contemporary building design, biotoxin illness in water damaged buildings, moisture-related building defects; and
• IAQ (Indoor Air Quality): impact of climate change on ventilation performance, impact of ventilation strategies on aerosol airborne transmission in different indoor environments, impact of passive design on thermal comfort;
• High performance buildings: building energy simulation, hygrothermal simulations, life cycle structural analysis.

 

Project management

Organisations operating within the 21st century have to cope with accelerating change in technologies and increased level of competition on a global scale.

In order to remain competitive within this volatile business environment, companies are forced to constantly employ new strategies to differentiate themselves from their competitors.

Projects play very important roles in assisting organisations in achieving their goals and strategies. This research group aims to build capacity in helping organisations with different aspects of managing projects.

Examples include:

• Project planning
• Use of advanced technologies and information systems
• Management decision making.

 

Staff & students

Staff

Name	Contact details	Research interests
Associate Professor Zora Vrcelj Head of Built Environment Discipline	[email protected] +61 3 9919 4459	Sustainable structures and building materials Digitalisation in construction Advanced composite structures Structural stability Engineering mechanics
Dr Melissa Chan Course Chair (NHCM)	[email protected] +61 3 9919 4484	Sustainable infrastructure Strategic procurement Occupational health and safety Sustainability in the built environment
Associate Professor Malindu Sandanayake	[email protected] +61 3 9919 5746	Building and Construction Carbon neutral construction Building Information Modelling Construction Management Smart Technology
Dr Yanni Bouras	[email protected] +61 3 9919 5734	Structural mechanics and stability Sustainable materials High strength steel Thermal effects on structures Infrastructure sustainability
Dr Elmira Jamei Course Chair (NBBD)	[email protected] +61 3 9919 5847	Sustainable Built Environment Smart Cities and urban informatics Climate Change, Urban Heat Island, and Heat Mitigation Techniques Planning for Healthy Communities Sustainable Transportation Systems Energy Retrofication, Energy Auditing, and Indoor Thermal Comfort Green Building Design
Dr Hing Wah Chau	[email protected] +61 3 9919 4784	Sustainability and Built Environment Architectural Design Urban Design Design for ageing and inclusive design Design for health and wellbeing
Dr Nima Izadyar	[email protected] +61 415 463 615	Building design optimisation Building energy efficiency Indoor air quality Computational fluid dynamics Thermal comfort
Dr Amir Ghapanchi Course Chair (NMPM)	[email protected] +613 9919 4668	IT Project Management Information Systems Adoption Technology/innovation diffusion and planning Decision making
Associate Professor Paul Joseph	[email protected] +61 432 140 020	Organic/polymer syntheses and characterisation Combustion chemistry and toxicity Chemical modification of polymers to confer flame retardance Recycling of plastics and cellulosic materials; energy from waste; greener technologies Combustion of ligno-cellulosic materials and bush fire

 

PhD students

Name	Thesis topic
Lisa Sahyoune	Exploring the Dynamics of User Adoption of the Virtual Reality Technology in Engineering and Construction Projects
Mina Ranjbaran	Passive design strategies to minimise energy consumption in residential buildings across different climate zones in Australia
Robert Haigh	Engineered mortar and concrete composites using fibres derived from recycled cardboard
Walid Ahmed	Development of a systematic framework to reduce defects in Australian's construction projects
Shiran Geng	An Urban Identity Assessment Framework to Establish Smarter Urban Heritage – with A Focus on Spatial Attributes
Abdul Majid Memon	Sustainable retrofitting to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality of existing residential houses in Victoria
Noushin Islam	Factors affecting waste management on large infrastructure projects in Australia

 

Adjuncts & honorary fellows

• Dr M. Ghiji (Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Vasily Novozhilov, Khalid Moinuddin, Paul Joseph)
• Dr J. V. Karakkat (Visiting Fellow: Daniel Lai, Kulmira Nurgali, Paul Joseph)

Universities

• Deakin University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• RMIT University
• La Salle University
• University of Technology Sydney
• University of Sunshine Coast
• Deakin University
• University of Melbourne
• Monash University
• Western Sydney University
• UNSW.

Government & private organisations

• ARUP
• BrightCell Energy Co
• Builders Academy Australia
• Built
• ClosedLoop
• Ecologiq
• Hendry Group
• Maribyrnong City Council
• Master Builders
• Mathematical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Science
• McKenzie Group
• Multiplex
• OCConnections Enterprise
• Probuild
• Simonds Group
• Social Outcomes Solutions
• The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISC)
• Transurban
• Tyre Stewardship
• Victorian Building Authority (VBA)
• Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA)
• Wyndham City Council.