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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.

  • 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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    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.
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    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 page of "Updated Careers in Construction Action Plan" document from January 2020
    Jan 2026

    Updated Careers in Construction Action Plan

    Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
    In light of the experience over the two years since the publication of the original Careers in Construction Action Plan, the Careers in Construction Working Group have now reviewed and updated the plan to reflect progress made and the evolving context.
    View Report on gov.ie
  • Construct Dataverse AQUA3D product logo for 3D concrete printing technology
    Dec 2025

    AQUA3D – Automated Quality Control for 3D Concrete Printing

    Dr Pouyan Ghabezi, Dr Alireza Rahimi (University of Galway)
    The AQUA3D project is structured around four core objectives that address the limitations of manual data collection in 3D concrete printing and establish a foundation for automated, real-time quality control.
    View Report on constructinnovate.ie
  • Government of Ireland cover page for "Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2022-2030" housing action plan
    Nov 2025

    Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030

    Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
    This strategic plan takes a whole-of-Government view to unlocking the current barriers affecting the provision of essential housing across the country. It adopts a targeted, joined up, cross-departmental approach aimed at activating supply by providing the infrastructure required to create sustainable housing of the right type for the people of Ireland, when and where it is needed.
    View Report on gov.ie
  • Cover slide with the title “Towards Greener 3D Printing: A Performance Evaluation of Silica Fume-Modified Low-Carbon Concrete ” and blue geometric design elements on the right.
    Oct 2025

    Towards Greener 3D Printing: A Performance Evaluation of Silica Fume-Modified Low-Carbon Concrete

    James Bradshaw, Swathi Balasubramanian, Wen Si, Mehran Khan, Ciaran McNally (University College Dublin)
    This study investigates the durability challenges of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) and examines the effect of silica fume (SF) on its performance, focusing on mechanical properties and selected durability tests as key indicators of mix suitability for 3D printing applications.
    View Report on mdpi.com
  • slide with the Government of Ireland logo and the title 'Standardised Design Approaches – Promoting greater adoption of MMC' on a white background with green graphic shapes.
    Oct 2025

    Standardised Housing Design to Reduce Costs and Optimise Housing Delivery

    Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
    The study is intended to raise awareness and actively promote the adoption of standardised housing design including layouts, construction methodology, building services and building components, which can reduce costs and promote Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), while also maximising sustainability and maintaining quality.
    View Report on gov.ie
  • Cover page of a research article "Is MMC the Silver Bullet to Solving Ireland’s Housing and Infrastructural Deficit? "
    Sep 2025

    Is MMC the Silver Bullet to Solving Ireland’s Housing and Infrastructural Deficit?

    Oluwasegun O. Seriki, Ruairi Hayden (Technological University of Dublin)
    This study delves into how and why MMC techniques are gaining popularity despite the underlying concepts of off-site manufacturing, prefabrication and modular construction being more than 100 years old. This study agrees that the future of MMC looks promising and has potential for increased adoption within construction in Ireland.
    View Report on tudublin.ie