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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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  • 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. 

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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

  • Cover page of a research article titled “Understanding the embodied carbon credentials of modern methods of construction.”
    Feb 2025

    Understanding the Embodied Carbon Credentials of Modern Methods of Construction

    Richard O’Hegarty, Samar Raffoul, Oliver Kinnane, Thanat Thanapornpakornsin (UCD), Aislinn McCarthy (Aarhus School of Architecture), Jack O'Hagan (Delft University of Technology)
    This study assesses the embodied carbon credentials of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) by conducting a critical literature review and synthesis of the findings. While several studies have reviewed the broader impacts of MMC, no other study to date has comprehensively reviewed the embodied carbon credentials of this construction typology.
    View Report on journal-buildingscities.org
  • Research and Development Needs for Timber in Construction in Ireland - TERG report cover
    Jan 2025

    Research and Development Needs for Timber in Construction in Ireland

    Dr Patrick McGetrick (National University of Galway), Dr. David Gil-Moreno (Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine)
    This report outlines the research and development needs that must be addressed in Ireland to support promotion of greater use of timber in construction. It highlights the opportunities for further targeted research to advance the use of timber, particular mass engineered timber, whilst ensuring the highest possible degree of building safety and boosting the use of homegrown timber in construction.
    View Report on gov.ie
  • 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 Offsite Manufacturing for Modern Construction Methods: A Lean Theory Perspective Case Study in Ireland

    Ziheng Li, Seong Mok Paik (University College Dublin)
    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