Dr Kirti Ruikar

With a multidisciplinary research portfolio that primarily focuses on the innovative application of ICTs in cross-disciplinary sectors, my research has sought to link disparate industries and facilitate their engagement. Having >18 years of expertise in the fields of innovation and process automation in AEC, my research portfolio reflects my diverse interests in the fields of computer-aided design and engineering, ICT, knowledge and information management, collaborative working, building resilience, e-readiness and e-business. The crossdisciplinarity of my research is evident in the various projects I have led. For example, projects with FPA (Fire Protection Authority) in “building resilience through design” linked fire engineering disciplines with design; whereas the project with BuroHappold contributed towards “enhancing design performance” transcending traditional design considerations to cover ‘user-driven’ sustainability and energy considerations into building design. I have >150 publications. I have authored three books 1) e-Business in Construction (Wiley-Blackwell) 2) Advances in Construction ICT and e-Business (Routledge); and 3) Collaborative Design Management (Routledge). From 2011-19, I have been a Founding Member and Joint Co-ordinator of CIB TG83 on e-Business in Construction. I have been an invited expert speaker at leading industry and Policy events including the Fire Sector Summit, CFOA (Chief Fire Officers Association) and RISCAuthority Conferences. My research has been presented at more than 55 conferences in 14 countries. Since 2007, I have been an Associate Editor of the internationally reputed Journal of IT in Construction (ITcon); and have been ITcon’s (first) and only female Editor. I am a member of the Editorial Board of international journals, the International Journal of Knowledge-Based Organizations and Journal of Built Environment Project and Asset Management. Since 2005, I have been a Scientific Committee Member of 12 international conferences. I am an external examiner of a PG programme at a UK University. I have examined several national and international doctoral projects. from prestigious world-ranking international Universities from Australia, India, Italy, Spain and New Zealand. 

Recently completed research projects

• 2018: Improving Supplier Relationship Management in the AEC Sector
• 2017: Exploring the effectiveness of BIM for energy performance management of non-domestic buildings
• 2017: Communication of sustainability information and assessment within BIM-enabled collaborative environment
• 2017: Investigating the business process implications of managing road works and street works
• 2016: Decision problem structuring for selection of fixed firefighting systems

• Pala, M, Edum-Fotwe, FT, Ruikar, K, Doughty, N, Peters, C (2019) Post-implementation analysis of a B2B e-marketplace, ITcon, 24, pp.129-153, ISSN: 1874-4753.
• Gigante-Barrera, A, Ruikar, D, Sharifi, S, Ruikar, K (2018) A grounded theory based framework for level of development implementation within the information delivery manual, International Journal of 3-D Information Modeling (IJ3DIM), Volume 7(Issue 1), pp.30-48, ISSN: 2156-1710. DOI: 10.4018/IJ3DIM.2018010103.
• Hussain, RS, Quddus, MA, Enoch, MP, Ruikar, K, Brien, NT, Gartside, DJ (2018) Time series analysis of local authority policy interventions on highway works durations, Proceedings of the ICE - Transport, ISSN: 0965-092X. DOI: 10.1680/jtran.18.00013.
• Gerrish, T, Ruikar, K, Cook, MJ, Johnson, M, Phillip, M (2017) Using BIM capabilities to improve existing building energy modelling practices, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 24(2), pp.190-208, ISSN: 1365-232X. DOI: 10.1108/ECAM-11-2015-0181.
• Gerrish, T, Ruikar, K, Cook, MJ, Johnson, M, Phillip, M (2017) Analysis of basic building performance data for identification of performance issues, Facilities, pp.801-817, ISSN: 1758-7131. DOI: 10.1108/F-01-2016-0003.
• Zanni, MA, Soetanto, R, Ruikar, K (2017) Towards a BIM-enabled sustainable building design process: roles, responsibilities and requirements, Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 13(2), pp.101-129, ISSN: 1752-7589. DOI: 10.1080/17452007.2016.1213153.
• Hussain, RS, Ruikar, K, Enoch, MP, Brien, NT, Gartside, DJ (2017) Process mapping for road works planning and coordination, Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 7(2), pp.157-172, ISSN: 2044-124X. DOI: 10.1108/BEPAM-08-2016-0041.
• Gerrish, T, Ruikar, K, Cook, MJ, Johnson, M, Phillip, M, Lowry, C (2017) BIM application to building energy performance visualisation and management: Challenges and potential, Energy and Buildings, ISSN: 1872-6178. DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.03.032. 

Undergraduate

• Programme Director, BSc (Hons) Architectural Engineering and Design Management
• Module Leader, Research Dissertation (Part C, Architectural Engineering and Design
• Module Leader, Architectural Design and Detailing (Part C, Architectural Engineering and Design Management)
• Module Leader, Collaborative Design Management (Part B, Architectural Engineering and Design Management)
• Management)
• Undergraduate Project Supervision (<40 projects)

Postgraduate

• Module Leader, Principles and Application of BIM
• Postgraduate Project Supervision (<40 projects)

Consultancies

• BIM and EIR Development for Energy Sector

Career 

Traditional design development processes have come a long way since the drawing board. The accelerated use of ICT-based digital systems means that the industry has steadily moved towards a digitised future. A future, where increasingly unstructured information is created, shared, manipulated, stored and archived in a variety of digital media that support the four pillars of visualisation, integration, communication, and intelligence on which typical construction projects currently stand. The growth in the ICT field combined with the unprecedented advances in communication and network media usage, have resulted in hyper-interconnectivity on a global scale. This hyper-connectivity through developments such as the Internet of Things (IoT) creates global opportunities for collaboration, not previously possible.  It links ‘human’ and ‘social’ networks with ‘technical’ systems. With the vast volumes of digitally-connected ‘big’ data, come new opportunities for learning; which if harnessed can enhance future design performance in previously unchartered areas. My research has attempted to tap into the knowledge contained with the System of Systems (SoS) using tried and tested techniques of process management. My interest lies in the development of a digitised operation’s SoS that collates ‘biggish’ data from smart meters/sensors, applies algorithmic ‘conditions’ to the data to observe performance trends and guide users with measures that enhance performance and build-in resilience. Our pioneering research has already demonstrated how it is possible to draw meaning from data contained within the system. Since the data is pre-conditioned to the users’ behavioural patterns the need to map these patterns may not always be necessary. It, however, could be seen as a ‘self-healing’/self-learning SoS that learns from itself and adjusts behaviour to the ‘detected’ conditions. In doing so, it enhances the resilience of the built asset. I foresee this as the next big shift, which would drive the industry’s focus from building as a product towards building as a service paradigm. This resonates with the pioneering works of academic and industry stalwarts such as Koskela, Anumba, Bouchlaghem, Glockling and others, who have been powerful infleunces in my career.

Professional affiliations

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the Council of Architecture, India (CA/95/18991)

Awards

• Built Environment Beacon Doctoral Award - Dr Rizwana Shaheen Hussain, Supervised by Dr M Enoch, Dr K Ruikar, Dr Nigel Brien, Mr David Gartside
• Built Environment Beacon Doctoral Award - Dr Mesut Pala, Supervised by Dr F Edum-Fotwe, Dr K Ruikar, Mr Nathan Doughty, Mr Chris Peters
• Brian Mercer Feasibility Award, Royal Society. Co-Recipients: Dr P Demian, Dr K Ruikar Prof. A Morris, Dr A O'Brien

External activities

National and International PhD External Examinerships

• 2019, President of Tribunal, PhD Examiner at Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Spain 
• 2018, PhD External Examiner, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
• 2018, PhD External Examiner, University of Huddersfield, UK
• 2018, PhD External Examiner, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
• 2017, PhD External Examiner, RICS School of Built Environment Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, India
• 2017, PhD External Examiner, School of Civil Engineering and the Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
• 2015, PhD External Examiner, Salford University, UK.

Journal Editorship

• Associate Editor of ITcon (2006-2019)
• Guest Editor, ITcon special issue on 'Technology Strategies for Collaborative Working' (http://www.itcon.org/)
• Guest Editor for ITcon/IT-AEC special issue on 'E-commerce in Construction' (http://www.itcon.org/cgi-bin/special/Show?_id=2006ecommerce&sort=DEFAULT)
• Guest Editor, for ITcon Journal's special issue on 'Innovation in Construction eBusiness' (http://www.itcon.org/)

Editorial Member 

• Built Environment Project and Asset Management
• International Journal of Knowledge-Based Organisations
• International Journal of 3-D Information Modeling (IJ3DIM)

Other

• CIB TG83 International Working Group on E-business in Construction. Founding Member and Joint Coordinator (2011-2019)

Key collaborators

My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including:

• Arup
• Asite
• BIW Technologies (now Aconex)
• BuroHappold
• BSI
• DAQs/Hill International
• Derby City Council
• FPA (Fire Protection Authority)
• ServQ