Search
Search
Research hero

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.

  • 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.
    Read more
    Research
    Industrial robotic gripper mechanism with blue components and wiring, shown from multiple angles.

  • 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.
    Read more
    Research
    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).  

Headshot of a person in a suit, standing indoors with a blurred background.

Research showcase

  • Cover with the title “Modern Methods of Construction: barriers and benefits for Irish housing”
    Feb 2024

    Modern Methods of Construction: Barriers and Benefits for Irish Housing (CIOB Report)

    CIOB, TASC
    Greater use of MMC offers many potential benefits to those working within the sector and to society at large. It provides opportunities for a more sustainable built environment, better working conditions, and a more productive construction sector that can deliver high-quality homes more quickly than conventional, onsite construction.
    View Report on ciob.org
  • Cover page of the AHARDD Programme Final Report titled 'Sustainable living houses and apartments performance data"
    Feb 2024

    Accelerated Housing Applied Research, Dissemination and Demonstration Final Report

    Prof Jamie Goggins and Dr Paul Moran (University of Galway)
    This project builds on the work of HEAT-CHECK, a project funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, which is examining the energy demand and indoor environmental quality levels of 100 new and retrofit homes with the overall objective of improving the DEAP energy compliance procedure.
    View Report on constructinnovate.ie
  • Elsevier cover titled “A Holistic Review on the Contribution of Civil Engineers for Driving Sustainable Concrete Construction in the Built Environment.”
    Dec 2023

    A Holistic Review On The Contribution Of Civil Engineers For Driving Sustainable Concrete Construction In The Built Environment

    Mehran Khan, Ciaran McNally (UCD)
    This study discusses civil engineer's pivotal role in promoting sustainable concrete construction, highlighting the need for their expertise in creating environmentally friendly and resilient infrastructure. The study further discusses the importance of procurement rules in endorsing sustainable development, emphasising the need for well-crafted policies and guidelines that incentivise eco-friendly practices.
    View Report on ciencedirectassets.com
  • Illustration with the text “Building a Zero Carbon Ireland” and the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) logo, showing colourful buildings, wind turbines, trams, and a person cycling, symbolising sustainable urban development and decarbonisation.
    Oct 2022

    Building a Zero Carbon Ireland

    Irish Green Building Council
    The ‘Building a Zero Carbon Ireland: A Roadmap to decarbonise Ireland’s Built Environment across its Whole Life Cycle’ report presents a set of recommendations to halve our sector emissions by 2030, and to decarbonise Ireland’s built environment by 2050.
    View Report on igbc.ie
  • EY report cover titled “A Detailed Description of Needs for the Irish Construction/Built Environment Sector” with two people using digital devices at a desk.
    Nov 2021

    Needs for the Irish Construction/Built Environment Sector

    Ernst & Young, Enterprise Ireland
    A detailed report on the needs for the Irish construction/built environment sector covering technology and innovation, digital adoption and Modern Methods of Construction in the context of productivity improvement and sustainability.
    View Report on ey.com
  • Birr Community School: A case study in retrofitting and conserving modern architecture
    Jun 2021

    Birr Community School – a case study in retrofitting and conserving modern architecture

    John McLaughlin (UCC)
    This paper will present a case study in the architectural conservation of a nineteen seventies school building in Ireland that received funding under the Getty Foundation’s Keeping it Modern programme in 2018. The research into the architectural conservation and renovation was developed in a subsequent project involving academics from UCC, UCD and QUB. This research formed the basis of a conservation management plan that identified the social significance of the school and used social ethnographic methods to document this through drawings, photography, film, and interviews.
    View Report on cora.ucc.ie