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

  • Build Digital presentation slide titled “Digitalisation for a Circular Economy (DiCE)” with a logo and cloud background.
    Mar 2025

    Digitalisation for a Circular Economy

    Project Ireland 2040
    This report aims to highlight the opportunities for increased sustainability and circular economy principles that can be incorporated into the construction industry and the role of digital technologies in stimulating the transformation of the construction industry in its drive to be more sustainable and circular.
    View Report on squarespace.com
  • Cover page of the Build Digital report titled “Material Passports – Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions,”
    Mar 2025

    Material Passports – Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions

    Project Ireland 2040
    This literature review report embarks on a comprehensive exploration using a mixed qualitative methodology to refine papers for Material Passports and identify the gaps of their current stated. Based on the gap analysis a proposed framework for Dynamic Material Passports will be proposed for future research.
    View Report on tudublin.ie
  • 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
  • Build Digital Annual Survey 2024 results report cover with construction scaffolding image.
    Jan 2025

    Build Digital Annual Survey 2024 Results

    Build Digital
    The Annual Survey investigated the level of digital transformation in the Irish Construction and Built Environment sector. This survey will provide Build Digital with an insight into the extent of Digital Adoption within the sector and capture opinions on how we best work towards driving future digital adoption and developing enabling tools to achieve this.
    View Report on tudublin.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