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Research

Discover more about research and development projects in the world of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) led by Irish higher education institutions and other research-performing organisations, alongside a showcase of research activity across the country, highlighting what is being done to drive new innovation and workforce development in Irish construction.

  • Translating R&D on Innovative Building Materials from the Lab to Real Application in Construction

    Concrete production is one of the more carbon-intensive construction activities. But researchers from Trinity College Dublin are working to showcase that a lower-carbon concrete, produced with biomass ash, offers building companies a commercially viable and equally appliable alternative. How can research and development lead theory to practice and contribute to a more sustainable construction sector?
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    Group of construction workers in hi-vis vests and hard hats inspecting an outdoor facility.

  • How Can Standardising MMC Product Designs Drive New Efficiencies in Construction Developments?

    Despite the expanded use of offsite construction, Ireland still lacks publicly available, non-proprietary detail libraries for manufacturers, designers, certifiers, and regulators. The STANDARDIZE project in University College Dublin is addressing this, aiming to standardise MMC technologies for greater sector efficiency and mobility.
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Researching and Developing the Right Concrete Products and Application Systems for 3D Construction Printing

3D construction printing is still in its earliest phase in Irish building, but research into the best-practice materials and applications of this type of Modern Method of Construction (MMC) can help increase the rate of uptake. Two researchers from the Construct Innovate unit of the University of Galway are making this happen. 

Industrial blue mechanical clamp or gripper tool shown in multiple close-up views on a workbench.
Platform4MMC: Supporting Decision-Making to Drive the Adoption of Modern Methods of Construction in Ireland

Ireland’s housing targets need to be met rapidly while achieving high sustainability standards. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) offer the opportunity to digitise the construction sector, improving project delivery speed, efficiency, and quality. 

Logo for Platform MMC featuring stacked layers graphic in gray and dark tones.
Taking MMC Research to the Construction Site and Beyond

The MMC Research Group at University College Dublin (UCD), spearheaded by Dr Daniel McCrum, is leading the innovations behind Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).  

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Research showcase

  • Build Digital Annual Survey 2025 results cover with construction scaffolding imagery on the right.
    Mar 2026

    Build Digital Annual Survey 2025 Results

    Build Digital
    The Annual Survey explores the current level of digital transformation in the Irish Construction and Built Environment sector. It provides Build Digital with insight into the extent of digital adoption across the sector. It captures views on how we can best support continued progress through practical actions, guidance, and enabling tools.
    View Report on tudublin.ie
  • ACEI Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland logo on a Position Paper on CWMF BIM Requirements document cover.
    May 2025

    Position Paper on the CWMF BIM Requirements

    Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI)
    This position paper sets the context for the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland’s (ACEI) support of the Capital Works Management Framework Building Information Modelling requirements — to be implemented on public sector projects in a staged manner over a four-year period — and provides recommendations to Government and ACEI members.
    View Report on acei.ie
  • Build Digital presentation slide titled “Digitalisation for a Circular Economy (DiCE)” with a logo and cloud background.
    Mar 2025

    Digitalisation for a Circular Economy

    Project Ireland 2040
    This report aims to highlight the opportunities for increased sustainability and circular economy principles that can be incorporated into the construction industry and the role of digital technologies in stimulating the transformation of the construction industry in its drive to be more sustainable and circular.
    View Report on squarespace.com
  • Cover page of the Build Digital report titled “Material Passports – Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions,”
    Mar 2025

    Material Passports – Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions

    Project Ireland 2040
    This literature review report embarks on a comprehensive exploration using a mixed qualitative methodology to refine papers for Material Passports and identify the gaps of their current stated. Based on the gap analysis a proposed framework for Dynamic Material Passports will be proposed for future research.
    View Report on tudublin.ie
  • Build Digital Annual Survey 2024 results report cover with construction scaffolding image.
    Jan 2025

    Build Digital Annual Survey 2024 Results

    Build Digital
    The Annual Survey investigated the level of digital transformation in the Irish Construction and Built Environment sector. This survey will provide Build Digital with an insight into the extent of Digital Adoption within the sector and capture opinions on how we best work towards driving future digital adoption and developing enabling tools to achieve this.
    View Report on tudublin.ie
  • Cover with white background and the title “International Best Practice in Digital Construction Adoption” next to the Build Digital logo.
    Nov 2024

    International Best Practice in Digital Construction Adoption

    Project Ireland 2040
    A global study identifying key learnings for Ireland in digital transformation by examining international best practices in digital adoption within the built environment sector.
    View Report on tudublin.ie