Integrated Delivery of the Built Environment (IDoBE) Research Group
Bringing together experts with the specialist skills and competences to develop research that offers high impact, sustainable solutions to society’sbiggest challengesThe Integrated Delivery of the Built Environment (IDoBE) Research Group at London South Bank University (LSBU) is part of the College of Technology and Environment (CTE). Its leaders are construction, project management, surveying, real estate, sustainability, energy, and urban development experts.
The group builds on LSBU’s strong academic foundation to focus on innovation and digital transformation to improve construction outcomes. The group promotes using tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, and AI to support the integrated delivery of sustainable built assets.
IDoBE’s research tackles key challenges such as productivity, waste reduction, sustainability, and skills gaps in the built environment. Collaborating with multidisciplinary partners, the group explores smart cities, carbon finance, disaster resilience, ethical leadership, housing, mental health, renewable energy, and infrastructure. Through this approach, IDoBE delivers high-impact research to support sustainable, resilient communities and the future of the built environment.
Contact
For any enquiries about IDoBE, please get in touch with Prof Chika Udeaja.
Members
Prof Chika Udeaja (Group Lead, CTE PGR Director) My research focuses on applying digital technologies, knowledge management, and modern construction management techniques to enhance procurement decision-making, supply chain collaboration, and sustainable development in the built environment. |
Cultural Built Heritage and Sustainable Urban Regeneration: a case study of the Walled City of Lahore. |
A BIM-Knowledge (BIM-K) Framework for Improved Decision-Making in Building Construction Projects |
My research focuses on Advancing Sustainability and Circularity in Construction Management, Construction Materials, and Sustainable Construction Technology, such as in the Modern Method of Construction. |
My expertise lies in building engineering services, sustainable and low-carbon technology, and digital construction, supported by a strong publication record, leadership in UKRI- and internationally funded projects, and active contributions to multidisciplinary research and professional roles addressing climate-adaptive safety, health, well-being, and energy efficiency. |
Research Topic: Securing real estate project development finance in developed and emerging economies |
Minimisation of rework in the housing supply chain
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Building Urban Resilience in the MENA Region: The context of Climate Change, Conflict and Displacement. |
An evolutionary design process of building skins with Embedded Biomimicry Principles: Adaptation of building Skins to Excessive Solar Radiation |
My expertise is in sustainable architecture and energy policy, focusing on building performance evaluation, climate-responsive retrofit strategies, and occupant-centred environmental design, particularly in post-war social housing and the Eastern Mediterranean climate. |
Because of my previous industry and research experience, my expertise covers sustainable materials for rigid and flexible road pavements and sustainable and smart drainage systems. |
Development of Appropriate Facilities Management in a Developing Economy: Case Studies of Large Public Hospitals in Nigeria
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Framework for Adopting Modern Methods of Construction in Low-income Housing Projects in Egypt |
My research explores the entire contract lifecycle, focusing on the interaction between contractual and relational governance, contract design, automated risk identification, and the management and resolution of claims, conflicts, and contractual breaches. |
Improving the Attainment Gap of Black and Ethnic Minority Students in the Built Environment Courses in UK Higher Education |
Research Topic: Systemic Risks in Urban Infrastructure (Description: Procurement Risk Management of Transport Infrastructure Megaprojects from an integrated risk perspective) |
My research focuses on the sociology of the real estate and construction professions, with reference to the generation of occupational jurisdiction and definition of excellence, and applies this to a number of technical areas of work associated with corporate real estate management and the economics of the construction cycle. |
Decision Management Systems to Design Effective Construction Crew Using Quantitative and Qualitative Data |
Towards Restoring Social Cohesion and Well-being in Contemporary Cities - The Case for Knowledge Exchange between Lagos and London Socio-Cultural Behaviours |
A risk management framework in the construction of mega housing projects in Egypt |
Harmonisation of health and safety in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) |
Curbing Corruption in the Construction Supply Chain through Blockchain |
Developing Toolkits and Guidelines to Improve Safety Performance in the Construction Industry in Oman |
The Correlation between Perception and Public Green Space Design for Well-Being |
Research Topic: Development of Appropriate Facilities Management in a Developing Economy: Case Studies of Large Public Hospitals in Nigeria |
Research Topic: Automated Risk Identification from Contract Documents by using NLP during the Bidding Stage |
Ms Buddhinie Kaushalya Ubesingha Arachchige
Research Topic: Professionalism and Ethics of Professionals in Post-Disaster Reconstruction Projects. |
We have strong links with professional institutions such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Association of Project Managers (APM), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) through our accredited undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Other multilateral and unilateral partners include UN-Habitat,
Our collaboration and partnerships are designed to build on the School’s flagship professionally accredited courses by connecting the agendas of today with the future challenges to address the needs of modern businesses and the employment market.
A key part of the strategy is external collaboration with professional institutions and industrial partners to tease out problems of the construction industry and to develop solutions through research and enterprise by strengthening the links with users of knowledge such as our industry partners and policy-makers to have real world impact.
IDoBE Partners & Academic collaborators
- The Joint Co-ordinators of CIB (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction) TG 95 on Professionalism and Ethics in Construction are. The work of the task group is to foster stronger collaboration with academia and industry.
- British University in Egypt (BUE) on a research on construction waste in Egypt, which is the subject of an on-going PhD project.
- Federal University of Technology (FUTA)
- Nigerian Institute of Town Planners
- Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), Durban, South Africa to address an urgent need to strengthen standards of construction health and safety practices in developing nations.
- Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, under the aegis of UNEP
- Habitat UNI, under the aegis of UN-Habitat
- Habitat International Coalition
- Regional University of Blumenau, Brazil to address challenges in developing social and ecological resilience to river floods and coastal disasters.
- Dr. Ben Arimah, Senior Human Settlements Officer, Research and Capacity Branch, UNHABITAT, Nairobi, Kenya
- Dr. Dorcas Ayeni, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria
- Dr Fanan Ujoh, Director of Research, Urban BASE Consulting, Abuja, Nigeria
- Dr Ramatu Aliyu, Member of Union of International Architects (UIA) – SDG Commission and International Competitions Commission
- Assoc. Prof. Subashini Suresh; University of Wolverhampton, UK
- Dr. Suresh Renukappa, University of Wolverhampton, UK
- Dr Fidelis Emuze, Central University of Technology, South Africa
Current projects
Harmonization of Construction Health and Safety Practices in the Southern African Development Community
The research is carried out in collaboration with Mangosuthu University of Technology - KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, to address an urgent need to strengthen construction health and safety practices standards in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The research funded through Newton Advanced Fellowships focuses on developing a framework for improving health and safety practices to promote a non-hazardous work environment and to reduce the burden of occupational injuries and fatalities in SADC. If you would like to enquire about our research projects, please contact Professor Obas John Ebohon ebohono@lsbu.ac.uk
Circular Cementitious Products Embedding Digital Manufacturing. Funded by Innovate UK, Foundation Industries Lab to Lab India Collaboration.
Aiming to enhance the circularity and sustainability in India and the UK, this new collaborative project led by LSBU utilizes local waste sources, including recycled concrete aggregates, plastic wastes, and other recycled sources for a digitally-driven circular use in cementitious materials (i.e., pavement blocks). Besides a comprehensive circular use of different sustainable sources, a further innovation of this project is to develop the blocks with the novel modular interlocking mechanism with significant saving of cement, and for fast and cheap building and infrastructure construction. Please contact Olubisi Ige igeo4@lsbu.ac.uk for further details on this project.
Urban Migration For Good -from Forced Displacement to a Good City, the Case of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
Funded under the British Academy’s interdisciplinary programme to explore ‘what makes a good city’, this project examines concepts of a ‘good city’ in a least-developed country and context of urban crises, an extreme case in which to explore ‘good city’ visions. By addressing a crisis, the research contributes knowledge to improve the lives of the most impoverished urban dwellers, with widespread replicability. Please contact Associate Professor Edmundo De Werna-Magalhaes dewernae@lsbu.ac.uk for more details on this project.
Integrated Built Environment Teaching & Learning in the Joint Curriculum Development amid Digital-Driven Industry 4.0 among China, Vietnam, and UK
The paradigm shift towards digitalization, is recognized as a key to enhance the productivity, safety, and sustainability of the global architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Aiming to address the gap between university education and industrial demands, this UK-China-Vietnam Education partnership will boost the education towards digitalization by connecting students with academic staff and professionals from the three countries. This project is funded as part of the Going Global Partnership: UK-China-ASEAN, Education Partnership Initiative funded by the British Council. Please contact Associate Professor Ruoyu Jin jinr@lsbu.ac.uk for further details on this project.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) Centre
BIM is an approach to managing and planning every aspect of design and operation in the construction process in a better, more efficient way, improving the basis upon which the construction industry and its clients operate. The BIM Centre is a hub for innovation, professional training, and networking amongst practice experts in the built environment sector.
Other facilities
- Lighting Laboratory
- Building Information Modelling Lab
- Building Services Laboratory
- Design and Soft Modelling Lab
- Rapid Prototyping Technology Lab
- Virtual Engineering Suite
The Centre also has access to other general engineering facilities within the University, including the Engineering and Welding Workshops, the Machine Shop, the Modelling Workshop, the Virtual Engineering Suite, plus many other design and software facilities.