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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

  • Elsevier journal article graphic: "Adaptive Non-Invasive Quality Control in 3D Concrete Printing via Latency-Resilient Sensor Fusion."
    Jul 2026

    Adaptive Non-Invasive Quality Control in 3D Concrete Printing via Latency-Resilient Sensor Fusion

    Dr Pouyan Ghabezi, Dr Alireza Rahimi (University of Galway) & Jandré Oosthuizen, Justin Kinsella (Harcourt Technologies)
    Reliable geometric monitoring in three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is limited by dust, variable lighting, surface wetness, and latency-induced inconsistencies across sensing modalities. This work develops a latency-resilient fusion framework using heterogeneous non-contact distance measurements including depth imaging, time-of-flight ranging, and ultrasonic echo sensing, to reconstruct nozzle-surface distance (NSD) in real time. The results highlight the robustness of multi-modal sensor fusion for real-time NSD estimation and establish a viable pathway toward adaptive, feedback-enabled automation in 3DCP.
    View Report on sciencedirectassets.com
  • Construct Innovate logo with text: "Alternative Irish-based materials suitable as cementitious binders"
    Apr 2026

    Alternative Irish-Based Materials Suitable as Cementitious Binders

    Dr Niall Holmes (Technological University Dublin)
    Developing alternative cements goes beyond environmental concerns; it also has economic and strategic dimensions. Innovation in binder technology could position the Irish cement sector at the forefront of sustainable material export markets and reduce reliance on imported cementitious products. This research underscores a gap in identifying new locally available or engineered alternatives that can sustain and expand low-carbon cement production in Ireland.
    View Report on constructinnovate.ie
  • Two construction workers reviewing plastering work, with "The Plastering Trade in Ireland" report cover graphic.
    Apr 2026

    The Plastering Trade in Ireland – Demand, Supply, and Future Skills Needs

    South East Regional Skills Forum, on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
    This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the plastering trade in Ireland augmented by detailed analysis form the South East region. The study explores both current and future dynamics within the sector, with a particular focus on understanding the balance between labour demand and the available supply of skilled plasterers.
    View Report on gov.ie
  • Cover of a report titled “TimberFlow: Enhancing Efficiency in Mass Timber Construction through Innovative Design Practices and Capacity Building”, by Construct Innovate – Built Environment Research Ireland.
    Apr 2026

    TimberFlow – Enhancing Efficiency in Mass Timber Construction through Innovative Design Practices and Capacity Building

    Dr. Muhammad Gulzari (University College Dublin)
    This report outlines the development of an open-source software tool designed to make mass timber construction more efficient and accessible in Ireland. The main finding of the report is that while timber is a sustainable and high-performing alternative to concrete and steel, its use in Ireland is limited by the complexity of structural design rules. To solve this, the team created the TimberFlow tool using the Python programming language.
    View Report on constructinnovate.ie
  • Graphic: National Framework for Meeting Priority Construction Workforce Needs document cover with a woman reviewing plans.
    Mar 2026

    National Framework for Meeting Priority Construction Workforce Needs

    Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
    This report presents research and analysis to support the development of a national framework for meeting priority construction workforce needs. The background to this report is that a suite of landmark Government strategies has highlighted the demands to be met from Ireland’s construction workforce to meet Government priorities in housing, climate action, and other infrastructure. The realisation of this ambition is critically dependent on progress in creating and mobilising a construction workforce of a scale and skills level equipped to meet the targets set out in these strategies.
    View Report on gov.ie
  • Graphic with text "Attitudes and Effective Communication on Modern Methods of Construction" with Focus Ireland logo.
    Mar 2026

    Attitudes and Effective Communication on ‘Modern Methods of Construction’

    Focus Ireland & The Housing Agency
    This research employed six focus groups involving people of different ages and housing situations, along with a nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults, to examine awareness and perceptions of MMC and, importantly, to identify effective ways of communicating MMC to the public to build support – the main goal of the research.
    View Report on focusireland.ie