Evaluating the Efficiency and Sustainability of Modern Methods of Construction Timber-based

The building and construction sector is a significant contributor to climate change, responsible for nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions. Of these emissions, 28% are from building operations, while 11% stem from construction activities, including the production of building materials. Scotland's construction industry is currently experiencing a transformation with the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), which includes off-site manufacturing, robotics, and automation. The growing shortage of resources available in the construction sector and of qualified workforce in particular puts growing pressure on improving construction efficiency in Scotland. There is a need to constantly monitor and quantify the production and completion processes in construction. Quantifying efficiency reveals the possibilities of implementing more efficient, cleaner, and more sustainable technological MMC. While MMC presents opportunities for diversifying the construction demand, its potential to foster sustainable performance toward 2030 Net Zero target—remains underexplored. 

This PhD research, grounded in the environmental, economic and social of MMC, will critically examine the role of MMC in addressing sustainability triple bottom line. It will involve semi-structured interviews with underrepresented groups in construction to understand their working needs. Collaborating closely with construction firms, the research will co-develop scenarios for MMC that are tailored to the needs of Scotland construction sector. Additionally, this work will be in partnership with the Housing, Construction & Infrastructure (HCI) Skills Gateway to support inclusive career pathways in construction across Scotland. 

The research has four primary objectives: 

1. to develop multi-criteria in the context of efficiency and sustainability of MMC across key building archetypes in Scotland. 
2. to conduct parametric analysis- identifying MMC environmental impact. 
3. to evaluate the socio-economic impact of MMC on different construction stakeholders’ groups including contractors, workers and occupants. 
4. to optimize AI driven decision-making model that combines energy signatures and building energy simulations within an archetype framework. 

The expected outcomes of this research will provide a systematic analysis of the environmental, economic and social impacts of MMC. This work will be of significant value to construction stakeholders aiming to minimize environmental impacts through design and procurement, thereby reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and informing the selection of materials, specifications, and suppliers that contribute most effectively to sustainability goals. Furthermore, by integrating energy signatures with building energy simulation tools, the research will produce reliable simulations that will benefit the wider UK construction industry. 

In addition to its technical contributions, this PhD will have a broader impact by helping the Scottish construction industry understand the needs of different stakeholder groups; including the historically excluded workers and occupants. The research will offer recommendations to support the MMC, contributing to its sustainability performance by addressing the environmental, economic and social impact within the context of rapid modernization. 

Academic qualifications

A first-class honours degree, or a distinction at master level, or equivalent achievements ideally in Built Environment subject i.e. Civil / Structural Engineering; Architecture; Construction management; Architectural Technology; Sustainable Built Environment or equivalent

English language requirement

If your first language is not English, comply with the University requirements for research degree programmes in terms of English language.

Application process

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor, Dr Lina Khaddour (l.khaddour@napier.ac.uk) to discuss the content of the project and the fit with their qualifications and skills before preparing an application. 

Contact details

Should you need more information, please email SCEBERDL@napier.ac.uk.

The application must include: 

Research project outline of 2 pages (list of references excluded). The outline may provide details about

• Background and motivation, explaining the importance of the project, should be supported also by relevant literature. You can also discuss the applications you expect for the project results.
• Research questions or
• Methodology: types of data to be used, approach to data collection, and data analysis methods.
• List of references

The outline must be created solely by the applicant. Supervisors can only offer general discussions about the project idea without providing any additional support.

• Statement no longer than 1 page describing your motivations and fit with the project.
• Recent and complete curriculum vitae. The curriculum must include a declaration regarding the English language qualifications of the candidate.
• Supporting documents will have to be submitted by successful candidates.
• Two academic references (but if you have been out of education for more than three years, you may submit one academic and one professional reference), on the form can be downloaded here.

Applications can be submitted here. To be considered, the application must use:

• “SCEBE1124” as project code.
• the advertised title as project title 

Download a copy of the project details here