Research
Research and expertise
Deputy Director of Doctoral Programmes
I am a civil engineer passionate about accelerating the cycles of research, innovation, adoption and transformation to produce a step change and address wicked problems affecting the built environment via highly multidisciplinary, collaborative initiatives. I have:
- pushed frontiers of emerging research areas (automation in construction and repair, circular economy of modern methods of construction, new construction materials, structural design and durability applied to construction and repair; EP/S019618, EP/V011820, EP/X02430X/1, EP/R010161/1 via UKCRIC, EU ICEBERG, RED C-DICE, and others)
- led rapid progress from basic research to innovation and application in under 3 years: world-first large-scale, fully-automated particle-bed 3D concrete printing system and bridge with Enrico Dini and Acciona; automated patch repairs increasing productivity 10X with Network Rail; more sustainable MMC with advanced manufacturing and materials, promoting UK industrial growth via Specwall; new accelerators for more sustainable and safer underground construction and repair, applied worldwide via IQE; new FRC quality control systems used in critical infrastructure in Europe and Americas; 60% operational emissions and 30% cost savings for the NHS via smart operating rooms with industry in the Academia- Industry Partnership (AIP); kept hospitals open during Covid through RAAC research for the NHS.
- led networks (Skills Lead, UKCRIC; co-director and -founder, UKCRIC Ltd; head, C-DICE; founder and head, AIP for the NHS)
- led or co-developed framework agreements that accelerate large multi-institutional research and innovation projects and doctoral partnerships (HS2-UKCRIC for 14 HEIs, Network Rail-UKRRIN for 16 HEIs)
- driven innovation to commercialisation (co-founder, Spinout “Smart Engineering”).
Current activity
- 22/19579. Digital modelling for right-first-time milling of 3D printed concrete. EPSRC 2023-2025
- EP/V011820/1. UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Mineral-Based Construction Materials. UKRI 2021-2025
- Centre for Postdoctoral Development in Infrastructure, Cities and Energy. RED Fund 2021-2025.
- 869336— H2020-SC5-2018-2019-2020 / H2020-SC5-2019-2. ICEBERG. Innovative Circular Economy Based Solutions Demonstrating The Efficient Recovery Of Valuable Material Resources From The Generation Of Representative End-Of-Life Building Materials. European Commission 2020-2024.
- Shift2Rail In2Track3. Alternative Methods For Repair of ring separation in masonry tunnels: Preliminary study. EU funding via Network Rail 2019-2024.
Recently completed projects
- ENT10181 15 07 21 Cross-Government Programme of the Research into Reinforced Aerated Autoclaved Concrete Plank Performance. NHS 2020-2023.
- EP/S019618/1:Design-for-manufacture of 3D concrete printed structural composites. EPSRC 2019-2022.
- Innovate UK105884. Transforming UK construction round 2: MMC, digital and whole-life performance. Innovate UK 2020-2021.
- KTP 11549. Knowledge transfer partnership between Loughborough University and Smartroof Limited. Russel and Cavalaro. Innovate UK 2019-2021.
- National Engineered Slope Simulator. Wolfson Foundation. Wolfson Foundation 2021-2023.
- EP/R010161/1. UKCRIC Capital Funding. EPSRC via Imperial College 2019-2021.
- BIA2016-78740-R: Sprayed lightweight material for the strengthening and restoration of urban patrimony. 2016-2019. Spain.
- RTC-2016-5263-5: Optimization of constructive process and structural design of elements reinforced with fibers in substitution to traditional reinforcement. eFIB. 2016-2019. Spain.
- RTC-2015-3185-4: Sprayed multi-functional materials for reinforcement and monitoring of transport infrastructures. 2015-2018. Partners involved: IQE, COMSA and CSIC. - Spain
- RTC-2015-3617-4: Development of segmental linings made of non-metallic FRC with high durability and improved sustainability. 2015-2018. Partners involved: DRAGADOS and INDITEC. Spain.