2006-07 - Construction Innovation

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watershed event with 3D now firmly in the commercial domain
and virtual prototyping now poised to take off. The quality of the
presentations was tremendous and I heard nothing but excellent
reports… To get that balanced representation (between academic
and industry) was almost unique…”.
Our CRC’s Board Chair’s service on the CIB International Board
provides a basis for global comparison of this CRC’s leadership
in collaborative and innovative research. “The leadership
demonstrated by the CRC for Construction Innovation has
represented an exceptional milestone in the global focus of
research and development in the built environment … (your)
leadership provided in areas including industry development,
sustainability and facilities management is without questions a
leading contribution from across all CIB members” (Dr Rodney
Milford, CIB President).
Contrary to the trend of other CRC’s participation at this mature
stage of our life, Construction Innovation has been successful in
securing additional, core participants. For example, in May 2006
our CRC was launched officially in Western Australia, embracing the
Western Australian Government and Curtin University of Technology.
The Western Australian Government views our CRC as servicing
their Five Year Whole of Government Works Reform Agenda. This
provides a practical example of our national industry’s recognition of
Construction Innovation as a national leader in innovation.
Education and training
1. Uptake of Construction Innovation inputs to
curriculum
2006–07
Construction Site Safety Culture
RMIT – Project leader lecture for third year students studying
•
property, construction and project management.
UWS •
EH313A – Undergraduate Occupational Health and Safety
for 170 students.
Safety Management Unit – Grad Dip and Masters of
Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental
Management for 40 students.
Safer Construction
RMIT – Lecture – Human Relations and Occupational Health and
•
Safety – 155 students.
IT Enabled Business Strategies
QUT – CNB309 Online Documentation for 110 third year
•
Construction Management students.
2005–06
A significant number courses incorporating Construction Innovation
research were added into university curricula in this reporting period.
Specifically, research outcomes for the BRITE Project have been
incorporated into courses at QUT, UWS, University of Newcastle,
and RMIT. The applied Construction Culture Project is successfully
being developed into local, regional and international education
learning resources. One final example highlights the importance of
promoting digital modelling in the university curriculum for future
project managers and designers. The eLearning Modules for Building
Construction and IT Enabled Business Strategies will provide current
industry case studies for a major international education project
with the IAI – as well as forming a component of our universities’
undergraduate and graduate curricula.
Industry, government and research participants are involved in
the conduct of research, the outputs from which form the base for
curriculum content and delivery. The following courses were added
to curricula in 2006–07:
Sustainable Infrastructure for Aggressive Environments
RMIT – CIVE 1173 Infrastructure Management – final year
•
discipline elective in Bachelor of Civil and Infrastructure
Engineering with 48 students completing the subject in first
semester 2007.
Sustainable Subdivisions – Ventilation
QUT – DAB 435 Architectural Technology 1 in Bachelor of
•
Design (Architectural Studies) for 112 second year students.
Sustainable Subdivisions – Energy and Water Efficiency Design
QUT – BEB100 Introducing Professional Learning for 1500 first
•
year Construction Management students.
2. Co-supervision of students by industry partners
2006–07
All Construction Innovation scholars undertake their studies with
both an academic and relevant industry supervisor. Four new
scholars joined Construction Innovation’s industry-focused education
program in 2006–07. Industry sponsors of these students, who are
all undertaking PhD studies, include Queensland Department of Main
Roads, Woods Bagot, Queensland Department of Public Works and
the Western Australian Department of Housing and Works.
2005–06
Construction Innovation has advanced the number of research
training scholarships available across our university network. In each
case we seek a complimentary industry partner to act as Associate
Supervisor for the student’s program of study. In 2005–06 additional
scholarships have been funded by Brisbane City Council and John
Holland Group. To date ten of our 25 scholars have been sourced by
industry participants.
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