Welcome to Construct Innovate’s
Knowledge Hub
Here you can watch, read and learn in your own time all about recent innovations and cutting-edge construction technologies.
Featured Projects
MMC Project Series
Design for Manufacture and Assembly with Design for Reuse
This report examines the application of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Ireland, how this can be enabled through Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and its relationship with Design for Reuse (DfR). MMCs offer significant potential productivity, sustainability and quality benefits in the delivery of new housing projects by employing off-site manufacturing methods, including modular construction and structural panels. However, the use of MMC can be restricted by wide-ranging challenges related to the co-ordination of project stages, stakeholder collaboration and operational requirements. Capturing the full cost and productivity benefits of MMC involves selecting the right solution between 2D panels, 3D modules, and hybrid designs; optimising the choice of materials; and overcoming challenges related to design, manufacturing, technology, logistics and assembly.
Brian Broderick and John Hickey Trinity College Dublin
Behavioural attitudes to modern methods of construction
The primary objective of this report is to investigate the psychology of change inherent in the broader acceptance and adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC) within the realm of housing delivery. Understanding the underlying factors that influence this transformation is important in shaping the future of the housing industry.
Dr Shuo Wang and Dr Daniel McCrum UCD
Homegrown C16. Increasing the use of Irish home grown C16 timber in Housing Construction
This report presents the outcomes of Project UA03/22 entitled “Increasing the use of Irish home grown C16 timber in Housing Construction”, funded by the Accelerated Housing Applied Research, Dissemination and Demonstration (AHARDD) Programme Fund 2023.
This short project led by the Timber Engineering Research Group (TERG) at University of Galway aims to provide a summary of solutions and recommendations that can promote an increase in the use of home-grown Irish timber in housing (low and high rise) and offsite construction in Ireland.
Patrick McGetrick University of Galway
MMC Webinar Series
Watch our webinar series and explore methods and approaches to MMC and its adoption by the sector. The series will cover key design considerations, areas of standardisation and routes to certification, next generation rapid build systems and automation/ autonomous construction…
MMC applications in schools and commercial buildings
- MMC using Light-gauge steel: Innovations at Vision Built in rapid school building – Kevin Dolan, Vision Built.
- The use of mass timber in commercial projects, such as Mass Timber industrial warehouse project (the Vantage Project) in north Dublin – Catriona Duggan, Gottstein Architects.
- Robotics and additive manufacturing in construction- (Noel Harrison, Construct Innovate, University of Galway.
Housing for All delivery. The perspective from timber MMC manufacturers and designers
- Heber McMahon, Cygnum Building Offsite
- John Moylan, SIP Energy
- Lee Murphy, G-Frame Structures
Quality And Safety
Review of the system of testing, certification and accreditation of new building products
This report examines the existing Irish housing delivery system, with a comprehensive review of standards, testing, certification and accreditation. The report presents a concise literature review to draw insights from similar standards, testing, certification and accreditation systems in the United Kingdom (UK) and Europe. Additionally, interviews of construction professionals are undertaken to understand perspectives of industry on the current Irish system of standards, testing and certification.
Dr Shuo Wang and Dr Daniel McCrum UCD
Viable Homes. Practical guidance for planners and developers on carbon optimisation of housing developments
This report intends to highlight to planners and other key stakeholders of the built environment the whole life carbon impacts of the continued construction of new low-rise, low-density dwellings on greenfield sites and to provide recommendations to mitigate these impacts by promoting a switch to a low-rise, medium-density
model.
Gillian Brady, Philip Comerford, Ciara Reddy, Philip Crowe and Oliver Kinnane School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy, UCD
Pat Barry, Brian Crowley and Johanna Varghese Irish Green Building Council
Sustainability Project Series
Catalogue of construction and retrofitting courses Ireland 2024
This database contains details of all existing retrofitting, construction and engineering related courses in Ireland, including those with a sustainability and energy focus. Details of the course providers, locations, course durations, delivery method, level and credits are included. The purpose of the database is to provide greater visibility and accessibility of these courses to enable greater engagement with these courses, encourage individuals to enter these sectors, and encourage upskilling of the existing sector.
This database was developed as part of Galway City’s NetZeroCities project, funded through the EU NetZeroCities Pilot Cities Programme (grant agreement no. 101036519).
Orlaith McGinley, University of Galway
Sustainable living houses and apartments performance data
This report focuses on the outcomes of the Accelerated Housing Applied Research, Dissemination and Demonstration (AHARDD) Programme funding to support the project ‘Sustainable Living Houses/apartments-Performance Data’.
Prof Jamie Goggins and Dr Paul Moran University of Galway
National Digital carbon database. Carbon data for construction products
The project aimed to build on work done to date to support and improve the digital availability of construction product data both through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and generic product data. The aim was to make EPD data normally available through an EPD, machine readable and available through an Application Programming Interface (API) to all building level Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tools.
The project also aimed to contribute to the streamline the cost and time involved in developing EPD as these are expected scale in 2024 with the introduction of mandatory EPD for suppliers to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
Finally, the intent was to increase the awareness and literacy of construction professionals on interpreting EPDs.
Pat Barry and Irene Rondini Irish Green Building Council
Coming soon
Testbed for envelope solutions testing
Testbench is an Open access, Open data and Open-source Building Envelope Testbench, that is being developed at University of Galway…. It will have the capacity to conduct various types of tests measuring the performance of building envelope assemblies, including thermal characteristics, moisture transfer, solar and luminous characteristics of glazing, air permeability, water tightness, acoustic performance, energy performance (including renewable energy systems), and indoor environmental quality including thermal comfort…
Dr Magdalena Hajdukiewicz, Dr Paul Moran and Prof Jamie Goggins
University of Galway
