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Building Information Modelling and Management (BIM(M)) research at the University of Salford has contributed to the concept and development of an integrated approach to improved efficiency in the construction sector:
Research conducted at the UoE (2005-13) on private sector involvement in health care has:
This impact has been achieved as a result of the distinctive methodology employed in the underlying research and, relatedly, the degree to which it has authority among policy stakeholders at the national and global levels.
Procuring Social and Economic Value through Construction is focused on improving the sustainability and profitability of, and ensuring public benefit from, the UK construction sector, demonstrating the following impact:
Governments and major construction clients face significant challenges procuring and delivering large infrastructure projects. Robust and defendable infrastructure procurement is therefore increasingly important for addressing these challenges to deliver value (at minimum risk). Public- Private Partnership (PPP) research within the Grenfell-Baines School of Architecture, Construction and Environment (the unit of assessment, UoA) is led by Akintoye and Liyanage. Their work has made a direct positive impact on some of these issues, the extent of which has benefited several sectors — from construction and transportation, through to the water industry (e.g. Naismiths, iBE Partnerships; WDA Project Ltd; Navigant Consulting); and its reach and significance is evidenced through international engagement at the highest levels (e.g. Queensland Government Australia; Constructing Excellence; CIB; University of Hong Kong China).
The innovative construction procurement framework developed from research conducted at the University of Reading between 2001 and 2012, has been adopted by industry in the UK and overseas and has informed the development of a new British Standard for construction procurement. Working closely with a range of industry participants, the School of Construction Management and Engineering developed a new understanding of the costs of construction tendering and procurement. By focusing the enquiry on finance, project cash flow and the relationships between markets and business models, the research departed from previous analyses of tendering and procurement that have tended to rely on anecdote and generally accepted practice. The results led to the development of a new framework that sets procurement within a business context and explains how unnecessary tendering and procurement costs can be avoided.
A number of trimaran ocean-going ships, based on original designs conceived by UCL researchers, are currently in use. RV Triton, the demonstrator trimaran, is presently employed as a patrol vessel to provide Australian Customs and Border Protection with increased capability and lower fuel consumption compared to a monohull. The Independence Class of littoral combat ships currently entering service in the US Navy offers improved military capability and one-third lower fuel consumption, with the ensuing benefit of creating almost 2,000 jobs at the shipbuilder, Austal. Similarly, trimaran ferries with their inherent stability have improved passenger comfort and their reduced fuel consumption has lowered operating costs.
Unique research at the University of Manchester highlights the shortcomings of public accountability and the high cost, to the public purse, of PPPs and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) using critical financial analysis. Lead researchers have been invited to engage in dialogue with national audit regulators, give evidence to parliamentary committees and contribute to policy debate through international roundtables. The work has been used to challenge government policy and has significantly influenced the national and international public debate about the costs, affordability and value for money of PPPs. The UK government has now renegotiated existing PFI projects to achieve cost savings, and we have given evidence by invitation to international committees concerned with public accountability and policy development.
The Construction and Property Research Centre (CPRC) has had an impact on supply chain collaboration, process improvement, and technology integration in the construction industry, primarily in the South West of England, but also nationally and internationally. Its impact has been enhanced by its leading role in four major regional knowledge exchange initiatives (Construction Knowledge Exchange, Future Foundations, Constructing Excellence and the Environmental iNet). Through these initiatives, CPRC's research has contributed to the change in culture of the construction industry from `adversarial' to more collaborative. This has increased capacity and improved performance of public and private construction clients, construction companies, specialist subcontractors, SMEs and individual professionals. By delivering training and on-line materials, and supporting the sector through numerous business consultancies and `best practice clubs' it has directly influenced over 700 companies and 1700 professionals leading to streamlined construction processes, costs savings, reduced errors, and increases in efficiency, productivity and profitability.
The Advanced Concrete and Masonry Centre (ACMC) at UWS was among the pioneers in development of practical self-compacting concrete (SCC) in Europe. As a lead partner, the group contributed to two large EU projects on SCC, which underpinned the European standards on SCC test methods.
The group's research has contributed to the steadily increasing use of SCC in general construction, which has brought many benefits, such as enhanced durability, improved productivity, reduced overall cost, improved working environment and sustainability. Given the massive quantities of concrete being used (>14 billion tonnes/year globally), the increased use of SCC has had important economic, societal and environmental impacts.
80% of all government policies are delivered through large-scale projects and programmes. In the private and the public sector alike they are key to innovation, change, and growth. However, they often go wrong. The research has impacted on the performance of a number of projects by changing the way projects are planned, managed, and assured. The impact is the result of the research programme of the BT Centre for Major Programme Management (BTC), a research centre of the Saïd Business School. The research has had an impact on a wide range of management and policy issues in the UK and internationally. This case study highlights three examples. The first is impact on the UK government's assessment of projects through work with the National Audit Office (NAO). The second is innovation of professional services at McKinsey & Company. The third is impact on the largest infrastructure investment in the developed world - the California High Speed Rail project.