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.

  • 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?
    Read more
    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.
    Read more
    Five people seated in a semicircle having a panel discussion in an elegant, warmly lit room.
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).  

Professional headshot of a young man in a navy blazer and white shirt, smiling in an office setting.

Research showcase

  • 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