Starting point: 

How to facilitate a data-led approach to Modern Methods of Construction to revolutionise design and production processes in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector? 

This topic may include consideration of: the nature of correspondence between key stakeholders in a given project; the back-end technical gaps and challenges in data exchange between different actors in the value chain; opportunities for and approaches to developing holistic component databases to better facilitate data-informed, production-focused design decisions.   

Project Summary: 

This research investigates the role of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in addressing Australia’s urgent demand for scalable, sustainable, and lifecycle-aware building practices. The construction sector currently faces significant systemic challenges, including declining new home approvals, labour shortages, rising material costs, and prolonged delivery times (Property Council of Australia, 2024; Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2024). This research examines how MMC—encompassing modularisation, prefabrication, digital fabrication, and data-driven performance evaluation—can reshape the design-to-delivery continuum by improving productivity, reducing environmental impact, and enabling circular construction strategies. 

Adopting a design-led, iterative methodology grounded in computational design and digital fabrication, the study will engage in prototyping and stakeholder consultation to identify current limitations in MMC implementation. The outcome will be a validated, replicable system prototype demonstrating how advanced digital technologies can support sustainable and adaptable construction. 

Ultimately, this research provides both technical and methodological contributions aimed at transforming the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sectors. It aligns with the objectives of Australia’s National Housing Accord, which targets the delivery of 1.2 million new homes by 2029 (Australian Government Treasury, 2024), by proposing a data-led computational framework capable of addressing urgent housing and sustainability challenges. The study investigates how architectural components can be designed, fabricated, tracked, and reused within a lifecycle-aware platform that integrates digital manufacturing, on- and off-site production, performance-driven evaluation, mass customization, and circular economy principles. The primary goal is to enhance adaptability and traceability, reduce costs, and minimise dependence on highly skilled labour, ultimately increasing the scalability, affordability, and efficiency of housing delivery across Australia thorough MMC. 

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2024) Building activity, Australia: June 2024 release. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/building-and-construction/building-activity-australia/latest-release (Accessed: 1 May 2025). 

Property Council of Australia. (2024) 15,000 homes behind just three months into national housing target. Property Council of Australia, 11 April. Available at: https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/media-releases/15000-homes-behind-just-three-months-into-national-housing-target (Accessed: 1 May 2025). 

Australian Government Treasury. (2024) Housing Accord. Australian Government. Available at: https://treasury.gov.au/policy-topics/housing/accord (Accessed: 1 May 2025).