The thrust of our research effort is focused on applied research, where we specialise in areas directly geared to aiding the local, national and international construction industry.

The focus of our research activity is through the Built Environment Research Group (BERG). The group is also responsible for department activity in the areas of Continuous Professional Development (CPD), Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) and in delivering the Professional Doctorate in the Built Environment.

We are located in a new purpose built building on the Chelmsford campus, which provides modern equipment, teaching, laboratory and studio resources. These facilities have greatly enhanced our research efforts which contribute to extending the quality of material taught in our courses.

The Built Environment Research Group is populated from the three central sections within our Department:

• Surveying
• Architecture
• Housing & Planning and Construction & Civil Engineering

The Group serves as a focal point to encourage cross-collaboration within the Department, Faculty, the wider University and the University's Global Sustainability Institute. We act as a driver in facilitating the engagement of research and scholarly activity within the Department.

There are a series of working papers produced by BERG which are available for free download.

The Research Focus

Our research effort is focused upon four inter-related areas:

1- Sustainable Building Services and Sustainable Architecture

• Building energy end-use modelling on urban scale.
• Control strategies for energy efficient air conditioning and HVAC systems using contemporary simulation software and field measurements.
• Modelling and simulation of building performance in the areas of energy consumptions, carbon emissions, orientation and form of buildings.
• Daylight and artificial lighting to achieve low carbon designs using simulation software.
• BRE Environmental Assessment Method to assess the environmental impacts of buildings.
• Renewable energies, including solar energy, wind energy and ground source heat pumps.
• Sustainability of construction materials.
• Building design and environmental performance.

2- Sustainable Construction Materials

• Low carbon cements: use of natural, artificial and other materials (including industrial wastes) as replacements for cement in concrete.
• Low carbon concrete strategies and solutions including High Strength and High Performance concrete.
• Lime-based building materials.
• Re-use and re-cycling of building materials.
• Use of alternative de-icers.
• Evaluation of durability and microstructure of construction materials.

3 - Sustainable Communities
(typically issues affecting the sustainable communities agenda)

• Community analysis, stakeholder engagement and development of community led consultation processes.
• Climate change adaptation strategies.
• Renewable energy technology developments.
• Sustainable energy production from domestic wastes.
• Environmental assessment and policy.
• Facilitating sustainable life styles.
• Sustainable urban design strategies.
• Skills for sustainable communities.
• Use of new technologies e.g. virtual worlds for teaching and training.

4 - Infrastructure Design and Professional Practice

• Improvement of professional practice, particularly through the promotion and further development of the PrD.
• Vibration analysis and control in buildings.
• Vibration analysis and control in highway structures.
• Non-destructive performance testing of structures.
• Effective management of the construction process.

BERG Research Students

Professional Doctorate for the Built Environment

Our Doctoral programmes are an expanding part of our research. The Department offers both part-time and full-time opportunities to study a Master of Philosophy, a Doctor of Philosophy and our new Professional Doctorate for the Built Environment.

Our current doctoral provision is summarised in the following document:

Our Recent Publications

Contact

To find out more, contact Ian Frame - Director of Professional Doctorate in the Built Environment
ian.frame@anglia.ac.uk or by telephone via our contact centre: 0845 271 3333