About ciber Projects

Improving and creating innovative business environments for architectural, construction and engineering professionals

• We conduct research on sectors involved with “making things”. Our work is applicable to property and construction, civil infrastructure, asset and facilities management, mining, aerospace, shipping, interior and industrial design.
  
• One of our primary target sectors is the property and construction industry, which is unquestionably one of the most significant industry contributors to the Australian economy in terms of GDP and employment. The construction cluster comprising supply networks, property sector and project – based design and construction firms contributes 14.4% to Australia’s GDP through 230,000 firms employing 730,000 people. Also the public sector service which operates in all states at three tiers of government has significant levels of involvement in all infrastructure in relation to policy, regulation and development . One of the key factors that impacts upon the quality of the built environment is the performance of the people and the processes who are involved in the creation of facilities. More recently, globalisation, climate changes, information technology and a general level of increased complexity in building design and industrial organization have impacted on the Australian property and construction industry through changes in policy, process and practice.

Using e-business technology to create a more viable and competitive construction industry

• The group has been a member of the CRC for Construction Innovation- a national research, development and implementation centre focused on the needs of the property, design, construction and facility management sectors and has had $1M in grant success in 2003-2005.
  
• Key areas of research include:
  
  - E-business adoption for SME’s
  - Team collaboration in high band width environments
  - Internationalisation of design firms
  - Supply chain sustainability
  - Policy, process and practice conflicts in development approval decision making
  - International supply networks
  - Policy harmonisation for improved construction industry business environments
  - Ethical behaviour

Working with government and industry to develop and implement policy to create sustainable supply chains

• Research is currently being conducted into determining the barriers and drivers to the adoption of e-business technology in design and construction teams. Outcomes of the research will develop a greater awareness in the construction industry of the value of e-business in maintaining international competitiveness and increased participation in innovative e-business technologies. The research is aimed at identifying the social, cultural and economic characteristics of adoption towards the development of an e-business industry adoption profile. This innovative profile will assist the industry and government in benchmarking uptake and ultimately improve the long term effectiveness, competitiveness and dynamics of a viable construction industry in the Australian and international contexts.
  
• An action research project is currently being conducted with government and industry aimed at the development, trial and documentation of innovative supply chain policy to improve economic and environmental sustainability. Outcomes of the research will involve increased business process efficiencies in government agencies, program delivery, firm’s supply chains and the interactions between government and industry. It will also achieve improved levels of environmental and productivity performance. A more competitive and sustainable Australian construction industry will be the outcome.
  
• The School of Architecture and Built Environment has an established reputation for working with industry on collaborative research projects and professional consulting. For more information please contact the School.