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Sustainable Construction for a Resilient Tomorrow
Welcome to the website of the Sustainable Construction Research Group (SCRG)
Welcome to the website of the Sustainable Construction Research Group (SCRG)
We are the SCRG under the umbrella of the Construction Innovation Center (CIC), Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department at the University of Alberta (UofA).
We are the SCRG under the umbrella of the Construction Innovation Center (CIC), Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department at the University of Alberta (UofA).
Our goal is to involve Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry practitioners, AEC Associations, and Academics to collaborate together. We develop technically-feasible, cost-effective and innovative solutions to Maximize Value and Minimize Harm in construction projects. Our focus is to apply multi-dimensional thinking that considers Economic, Social, and Environmental (Triple Bottom Line - TBL) in all phases of construction projects. These phases include:
Our goal is to involve Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry practitioners, AEC Associations, and Academics to collaborate together. We develop technically-feasible, cost-effective and innovative solutions to Maximize Value and Minimize Harm in construction projects. Our focus is to apply multi-dimensional thinking that considers Economic, Social, and Environmental (Triple Bottom Line - TBL) in all phases of construction projects. These phases include:
Feasibility Study
Engineering Design
Procurement Practices
Construction Methods and Materials
Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
Decommissioning and Demolishing
Our research group is keen to work on achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) introduced by the United Nations (UN) in 2012. Values associated with sustainable construction encompass Environmental Preservation, Energy Efficiency, Cost Savings and Economic Viability, Productivity Enhancement, Health and Well-being, Reducing Levels of Stress, and Social Equity.
Our research group is keen to work on achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) introduced by the United Nations (UN) in 2012. Values associated with sustainable construction encompass Environmental Preservation, Energy Efficiency, Cost Savings and Economic Viability, Productivity Enhancement, Health and Well-being, Reducing Levels of Stress, and Social Equity.
Building a Greener Future, One Phase at a Time
Feasibility Phase
Feasibility Phase
Our research focuses on an integrated framework to select the Optimum Project Portfolio Selection (PPS) based on sustainability Principles.
Engineering Phase
Engineering Phase
Our research in the area of engineering design focuses on capture lessons learned from completed projects to obtain more sustainable and cost effective designs to reduce GHG emissions Energy consumption.
Procurement Phase
Procurement Phase
Our research focuses on Sustainable Procurement Practices such as Collaborative Project Delivery (CPD), Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS), and Early Construction Involvement (ECI).
Construction Phase
Construction Phase
Our research successfully applies the sustainability concepts to develop KBDSS to select the optimum construction execution scenarios and construction materials to by reduce costs and GHG emissions.
Operation and Maintenance Phase
Operation and Maintenance Phase
Our research focuses on generating a continuous feedback loop that will capture the GHG emissions, energy utilization, and end-user satisfaction data during the operation and maintenance phase of completed projects as input to the feasibility and engineering phases of new projects.
Decommissioning and Demolishing Phase
Decommissioning and Demolishing Phase
Our research aims into finding ways to deviate the maximum amount of Construction and Demolishing (C&D) waste from the landfill. We are looking into techniques such as prevention (design for demolition), reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle of C&D waste.
Our vision is to integrate sustainability into every phase of construction, ensuring eco-friendly, socially responsible, economically viable, and technically feasible built environments.
SCRG is established in 2023 with funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) - Mission Alliance Grant and 16 industry partners. NSERC is the major federal agency in Canada that is responsible for funding directly to university professors and students as well as Canadian companies to perform research and training. Our industry partners represent Owners, Architects, Engineers, Constructors, and Associations in Canada. Our group is currently expanding with research supporters from Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Our aim is to integrate 7D Building Information Modeling (BIM), Multi-dimensional Work Packages (MDWP), Decision-Making Techniques, Machine Learning (ML), Simulation, and Optimization to reduce Carbon Emissions in all phases of construction projects.
The innovations and findings of this research group will advance Canada's reputation as a world leader in emission reduction and achieve Canada's 2030 vision.
Our Research Leaders
The founder and principal investigator of the research group, Dr. Ahmed Hammad is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta's Hole School of Construction Engineering. He is a researcher with industry knowledge and expertise in the following areas:
Application of Machine Learning (ML), Multiple-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques, and Knowledge-Based Decision Support Systems (KBDSS) to achieve Sustainable Construction
Integration of Multi-dimensional Work Packaging (MDWP), Building Information Modeling (BIM), and Automated Progress Measurement (APM) in Construction Projects
Selection of optimum Project Financing Model (PFM), Project Delivery Method (PDM), and Contractor Selection Procedures (CSP) for Sustainable Construction Projects
Application of Machine Learning (ML) and System Dynamics (SD) in the management of Project Labour Resources
Webpage: https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/ahammad
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-hammad-64769916/
Dr. Hammad published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals and conference proceedings.
Dr. Hammad has 25 years of experience in the construction industry as a Project Planning and Control Manager (PPCM). Below are some of the significant projects he was involved in:
The co-principal investigator, Dr. Lianne Lefsrud, is the Risk, Innovation, and Sustainability Chair (RISC) and an Associate Professor in Engineering Safety and Risk Management at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on hazard identification, risk management, social license to operate, and technology adoption across industries such as oil and gas, mining, construction, and agriculture. With a multidisciplinary approach, she collaborates with experts in engineering, computer science, psychology, business, and environmental sociology. Her career spans academia, industry, and regulation, including leadership roles at APEGA, Canadian National Railway, and the oil and gas sector.
Webpage: https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/lefsrud
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lianne-lefsrud-p-eng-ba68729/
Dr. Lefsrud published over 100 peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals and conference proceedings.
Maria Al-Hussein is a Senior Business Analyst and Project Manager at the University of Alberta, specializing in business solutions and strategic innovation. She strongly focuses on leveraging technology and research, developing creative solutions that align with business objectives. Through effective collaboration and relationship-building, she transforms technology into a key driver of organizational success.
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