Built Environment Research Group

Overview

The Built Environment Research Group (BERG) formed around the members of the Discipline of Building who were actively involved in research, both individually and collaboratively. Its membership has widened to include collaborative researchers from other disciplines, faculties, universities and research centres. 


Research

BERG is active in the areas of postgraduate research, postgraduate supervision, consultancy and funded research.  Its growing success is based on the areas of Sustainable Environments, Project teams, Procurement, and Innovation in Education with an international reputation gained over the last decade. Research expertise is targeted in four main areas, specicially - Sustainable Environments, Project Teams, Procurement and Education. Further details are available below.

Sustainable Environments

  • Building for disassembly.
  • Product Life Cycle Analysis.
  • Urban sustainability: ageing in place.
  • Economics of heritage conservation.
  • Sustainable heritage conservation in Asia.
  • Environmental impact assessment in construction.
  • Implementation of strategic environmental assessment in Asia.
  • Environmental assessment in project management.
  • Scientific Feng Shui
  • OH&S
  • Off-site manufacture: standardisation, pre-assembly, volumetric modular construction

Project Teams

  • ICT for project teams.
  • Project team culture.
  • Virtual environments: generic skills for effective virtual teamwork
  • Computer aided construction management systems: integrated systems for managing time and costs

Procurement

  • Alliancing: project team member selection.
  • Public Private Partnerships: project team member selection.
  • Management of delay and disruption disputes
  • Contract disputation and ADR
  • Building and Property Economics: property investment analysis

Education

  • Problem-based learning
  • Supporting the transition to university.
  • Reflection and metacognition: development and assessment.
  • Online delivery
  • Assessment and student engagement
  • Working in groups.
  • Innovative approaches to assessment
  • Trans-disciplinary education
  • Learning contracts
  • Skills recording and development: audit and development of skills