Mitigation, adaptation, built asset management and climate change

Research Group

Future Cities Research Network

Proposed supervisory team

Prof Keith Jones

Dr Alan Coday

Theme

Smart Cities

Summary of the research project

Mitigation and adaptation to climate change is one of the key global challenges of our age. To date research has tended to focus on either future carbon reduction through the use of alternative fuel sources (mitigation) or changes to the socio-technical systems that support human living in light of inevitable climate change (adaptation). However, there is a growing school of thought amongst policy makers and researchers that real progress in tackling global warming and producing a sustainable built environment will only be achieved if mitigation and adaptation are tackled together in the context of the built asset management. This project will be the first to explore the challenges associated with integrating adaptation and mitigation solutions into the building life cycle. In particular the project will:

1. Investigate the theoretical relationships between adaptation, mitigation and building performance from a technical, social, environmental and business perspective.
2. Integrate these relationships into the building life cycle model to produce a new sustainable built asset management model for maintenance and refurbishment of existing buildings.
3. Test the new model against a series of exemplar/case study buildings drawn from across the UK/Europe.
4. Produce practical guidance for Architects, Engineers and Facilities Managers on integrating adaptation and mitigation into built asset management decision making.

The project will involve a wide range of stakeholders including: building owners/operators; built environment professionals; community groups; planners; infrastructure operators; landlords [social and private]; businesses; local government; national government etc. that will form the basis of a study group and will provide access to exemplar/case study buildings. The project will involve extensive desk work (objectives 1, 2 & 4); case study field work (objective 1) and participatory field work as part of a design/development team (object 3) but will not require specialist equipment above that currently available within the Faculty. Initial discussions have identified a number of UK social housing landlords who will provide data although other types of organisation will be sought to provide a wider evidence base.

Where you'll study

Chelmsford

Funding

This project is self-funded.

Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available.

Next steps

If you wish to be considered for this project, we strongly advise you contact the proposed supervisory team. You will also need to formally apply for our Engineering and the Built Environment PhD. In the section of the application form entitled 'Outline research proposal', please quote the above title and include a research proposal.