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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.

  • 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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    Research
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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. 

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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 image for the report titled "Design for Manufacture and Assembly with Design for Reuse," dated February 2024.
    Feb 2024

    Design for Manufacture and Assembly with Design for Reuse

    Brian Broderick (Trinity College Dublin) and John Hickey (Trinity College
    Dublin)
    This report examines the application of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Ireland, how this can be enabled through Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and its relationship with Design for Reuse (DfR).
    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
  • Cover with a purple gradient background, KPMG logo, and the title “Measuring the Benefit of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).”
    Sep 2023

    Measuring the benefit of MMC

    KPMG
    The saviour to our problems: Modern Methods of Construction. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), despite its name, isn’t all that new. . Simply put, it’s the application of manufacturing processes and procedures aimed at achieving a better balance of standardisation and
    customisation.
    View Report on Kpmg.com
  • Careers in Construction Action Plan document cover with Irish government logo and working group title.
    Aug 2023

    Careers in Construction: Action Plan

    Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
    The Working Group for the Promotion of Careers in the Construction Sector was established in response to Action 13.4 of the revised Housing for All plan: “Develop an action plan to promote careers in construction”. Based on this research and professional experience and knowledge, proposed actions involve changes in structure, training and upskilling, and promotional activity in the construction sector.
    View Report on gov.ie
  • Academic document cover titled "Digital Challenges and Opportunities of Addressing Onsite Productivity and Safety on Construction Job Sites"
    Jul 2023

    Digital Challenges and Opportunities of Addressing Onsite Productivity and Safety on Construction Job Sites: An International Perspective

    Ahmed Hassan, Ankur Mitra, and Mark Mulville (Technological University Dublin)
    This paper will present the early development of a nationally funded Irish case study deploying a combined camera and sensors solution that enables measurable productivity and safety measures through passive data capture. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with highly experienced international construction practitioners to present the functions of the novel technology and explore the contemporary issues influencing on-site productivity and safety.
    View Report on tudublin.ie
  • Cover with Irish Government logos and the title “Roadmap for increased adoption of Modern Methods of Construction in Public Housing Delivery.”
    Jul 2023

    Roadmap for increased adoption of Modern Methods of Construction in Public Housing delivery

    Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment/ Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
    The Government’s Housing for All Action Plan Update articulates a critical need to enable a
    continuous and accelerated flow of compliant and high-quality innovations in construction, including modern methods of construction (MMC), particularly in residential construction. This is to ensure delivery of Housing for All targets and the ongoing transformation of the construction sector. It also facilitates efforts to reduce the embodied carbon and lifecycle environmental impacts of construction.
    View Report on gov.ie