Design Innovation Research Centre
Design Innovation Research Centre
For more information,please contact:
Jessica Stockdale
216 Engineering Building School of Construction Management and Engineering University of Reading Whiteknights, PO Box 225 Reading RG6 6AY
[email protected] Tel (0118) 378 7172 www.reading.ac.uk/designinnovation
Construction Management and Engineering
Design Innovation Research CentreOur vision is of a new mode of design in the digital economy. From 2010, this new Centre at the University of Reading will provide an exploration group, scientifically studying design in internationally-leading building and infrastructure projects and programmes, developing the next generation of tools and methods for engineering. It has three themes:
Theme 1 A repository of international best practiceThe aim is to transform understanding of design innovation on major engineering projects and pro-grammes by developing a trajectory of existing research with a focus on international projects and programmes. We have studied the role of digital tools in the delivery of major building and infrastructure projects in the UK. This work involves analysing patterns across case studies using different disciplinary approaches, and pro-posing models and indicators for future practice.
Theme 2 Novel engineering solutions for design innovationThe aim is to develop new tools and processes and to trial these engineering solutions in hypothetical and real-life engineering contexts. Rapid developments in 3D visual interfaces will be used to enable intuitive visualisation of digital models in physical design environments, focus-ing designers’ attention and allowing them to engage creatively. The work will make data on performance in manufacture and assembly visible in design. It will develop new hybrid digital and physical techniques for overlaying multiple sources of data, such as simulations of engineering performance, empirical data from scans and sensors, and supply chain information.
Theme 3 An open innovation network As a new kind of engineering laboratory, the Centre is oriented outward, engages with society and, through that engagement, develops creative solutions to practi-cal engineering problems. It is located in both a digital and physical space. Public participation is treated as matter of research validity and not just a mechanism for dissemination; broad engagement is seen as impor-tant in contextualising and understanding socio-technical solutions.
LeadershipWork within the Centre is led by Dr Jennifer Whyte, who was identified as a ‘future research leader’ through the Engi-neering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s (EPSRC) flagship Challenging Engineering programme, which funds the first five years of the Centre (£1 million over five years). The Centre has associate members, industrial collaborators and international associates.
Dr Chris Harty is a sociologist working with Dr Whyte in the leadership of the Centre. Doctors Llewellyn Tang, Milan Radosavljevic and Rachael Luck also contribute to the Centre through their related research in the School of Construction Management and Engineering.
People and projects on design innovationThe Centre has a vibrant intellectual life and provides a home to a set of ongoing research projects, with new projects and activities from 2010. This work includes:
Infrastructure through Life: Technology Use in Global Projects
Feb 2008–Jan 2011, Dr Carmel Lindkvist, Research Fellow. Lindkvist has recently joined the team, working on research funded through the established Innovative Construction Research Centre www.icrc.reading.ac.uk To date, this project has examined technology strategies and practices on four major infrastructure projects and informed the development of the Design Innovation Research Centre.
Digital Technologies and Networks in the Management of Construction ProjectsJan 2009–Dec 2011, Eddie Liang, PhD candidate, Theme 1.
Understanding Digital Technologies Use in Design and Construction OrganizationsNov 2009–Oct 2012, Amna Shibeika, PhD candidate (EPSRC CASE studentship with Halcrow), Theme 2.
Building Safely by DesignMar 2010–Feb 2012, Dr Wei Zhou, Research Fellow. Zhou has expertise in 4D CAD and VR and is working on this Institute of Operational Safety and Health (IOSH) funded project as well as other research within Theme 2 of the Centre.
Advisory board and collaboratorsMembership of the international advisory board includes Professor Kreiner (Copenhagen Business School), Professor Levitt (Stanford University), Professor Dorée (University of Twente), and Dr Davies (Imperial College London). Industrial collaborators include Arup, Bentley, Halcrow, Fulcro and Vinci.
Getting involvedIf you want to learn more about the Centre, please visit our website www.reading.ac.uk/designinnovation or email [email protected] to sign up for the quarterly updates, which will give progress reports along with details of the forthcoming invitation-only workshops for industry and policy-makers as well as capacity-building events for UK academics.
