Innovation
South East Universities Research Matrix for the Built Environment
This matrix summarises the areas of research currently being undertaken by universities in the South East (SE) in support of the built environment sector. For more information please contact Jim McIlwee, the Regional Innovation Support Manager for the SE on: j.g.mcilwee@reading.ac.uk
Download matrix as pdf document (306KB)
There are 25 Universities across the South East 16 of which provide courses in support of the built environment and 12 actively carry out research. The research in this matrix is split into two main parts: Mainstream Deliverables of the sector and the Cross-cutting Themes
Mainstream Deliverables are generally technical subjects in the main phases of built environment projects i.e. planning, design, construction and operation. Individual topics are listed under each phase. The cross cutting themes support the mainstream activity of the industry, sometimes described as ‘softer issues' and often topical in nature
The topics and themes listed reflect only the work undertaken at the Universities in the SE. There are many more topic areas being researched at other universities outside of the SE and at other public and commercial research centres, some of which are based in the SE
In terms of reading the matrix, some universities only research into mainstream areas (‘Mainstream Deliverables only') i.e. Buckinghamshire/Chiltern, Cranfield and Surrey. The numbers in brackets refer to the individual topics listed under each area. Sussex concern themselves only with some cross-cutting themes and are named against those themes
The bulk of the matrix is concerned with universities that research into both areas. The name of the university will appear in each column if it undertakes research in the area concerned. Topics listed under each area are given a number and that number is shown in brackets against the university concerned. If it is listed anywhere across the Cross-Cutting theme row it undertakes research into that theme
For example Greenwich, Reading and Southampton all undertake research into project management/team working issues. In terms of Mainstream Deliverables, Reading carry out research in the Planning topics of Real Estate(4) and Spatial Planning(5) and Southampton in the area of Flood Management(1). Under Design topic 9 is researched at Greenwich, topic 10 at Reading and topics 4,5,8 and 11 at Southampton. Other universities research into Design topic 4 (Hydraulics/Hydrodynamics) i.e. Cranfield, Oxford and Kingston but do not look into project management/team working issues
The current matrix is based on web site searches. It is hoped that we can work with universities across the Region to improve and refine the information. All of the universities will be contacted over the coming months to check that the information is current and to build up a contact list for each research area
In the meantime if any university researchers wish to add to or comment on the information presented their feedback would be appreciated. Please contact Jim McIlwee by email at j.g.mcilwee@reading.ac.uk, by telephone on 0118 3785266 or mobile on 07921 940465