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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.

  • 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. A research team at University College Dublin (UCD) has developed a platform to connect construction companies to the data behind the value added of MMC systems.
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    Logo of Platform MMC with stacked geometric shapes in blue and gray 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

  • Cover slide with the title “Damping Ratio Identification of a Volumetric Modular High-Rise Building ”
    Jan 2025

    Damping Ratio Identification of a Volumetric Modular High-Rise Building

    Hollie Moore, John Hickey, Brian Broderick, Breiffni Fitzgerald (Trinity College Dublin)
    The damping ratio of a structure is a critical value in determining the acceleration response of a building and is best characterised through in situ monitoring. However, there are very limited reports of the damping ratios from modular buildings. This paper reports research performed through in situ monitoring of a high-rise modular building.
    View Report on tcd.ie
  • Cover page of an October 2024 report from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science titled 'An Update to the Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction and Retrofitting'
    Oct 2024

    An Update to the Report on the Analysis of Skills for Residential Construction and Retrofitting

    Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science
    This report contains detailed forecasts of the skills required to deliver an annual average of 50,000 new homes and the retrofitting (B2 equivalent standard) of an annual average of 63,444 existing older homes over the 7-year period 2024-2030.
    View Report on gov.ie
  • Cover with the title “Boosting Ireland’s Housing Supply: Modern Methods of Construction” and a NESC logo in the top left.
    Sep 2024

    Boosting Ireland’s Housing Supply: Modern Methods of Construction

    National Economic & Social Council
    This report by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) investigates the potential of MMC to significantly boost housing supply. It highlights progress under the MMC roadmap, an important and ambitious State policy designed to achieve greater adoption of MMC in public housing delivery and the housing system more widely.
    View Report on nesc.ie
  • Cover image of an article from the International Journal of Construction Management titled 'Resource cost optimization strategies in off-site manufacturing for modern construction methods: a lean theory perspective case study in Ireland'
    Aug 2024

    Resource Cost Optimisation Strategies in Off-site Manufacturing for Modern Construction Methods: A Lean Theory Perspective Case Study in Ireland

    Ziheng Li & Seong Mok Paik (UCD)
    This research presents an innovative approach based on Lean Theory that explores the application of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Ireland, specifically aimed at optimizing resource costs for pre-cast concrete components.
    View Report on tandfonline.com
  • Cover titled 'Recent developments on low carbon 3D printing concrete: Revolutionizing construction through innovative technology'
    Jun 2024

    Recent Developments on Low Carbon 3D Printing Concrete: Revolutionising Construction Through Innovative Technology

    Mehran Khan and Ciaran McNally (UCD)
    This comprehensive review delves into the latest advancements in 3DPC technology and its capacity to reshape the building and construction sectors. The paper explores recent progress in 3DPC printing systems, methodologies, materials, and applications.
    View Report on sciencedirect.com
  • Cover image of the Journal of Constructional Steel Research published by Elsevier.
    May 2024

    Experimental Axial-Compressive Behaviour of Bare Cold-Formed-Steel Studs with Semirigid-Track and Ideal-Hinged Boundary Conditions

    Sohini Mishra, Ciaran McNally, Andrzej M. Wrzesien, Daniel McCrum (UCD)
    This research experimentally investigates bare-CFS-studs' axial compressive behaviour with BCT, considering, for the first time, the combined effect of the tracks' warping rigidity, stud-to-track gap, non-linear connection stiffness, and bare studs' various cross-sectional slenderness.
    View Report on sciencedirectassets.com