Publications from the Centre for Advanced Built Environment Research (CABER)

This Handbook presents opportunities, best practices, and case studies backed by cutting edge research on the drivers of continuous improvement of health, safety, and wellbeing in the architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management sector. The book consists of 23 chapters with six themes covering: ● Drivers of the business case for healthier and safer construction ● Opportunities and drivers of digital technologies for improving health and safety ● Drivers of human factors for improving health and safety ● Drivers of safer design and procurement ● Drivers of better health and wellbeing for construction. ● Opportunities for driving equality and inclusivity for safer construction. The book will be beneficial to academics, undergraduate and postgraduate (research and taught) students, professional institutions (such as the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), health and safety professionals (health and safety officers, consultants and managers), occupational health professionals, mental health and wellbeing professionals, construction managers, architects, project professionals, engineers (design, construction, project, site, electrical, mechanical, civil, building services, and structural), facilities managers, quantity surveyors, and site managers. The aim of the book is to provide critical perspectives alongside evidence based practical examples of success stories, that should inspire readers and engender continuous improvement in health, safety, and wellbeing in the construction industry.

Pushing the boundaries of flood risk management research, this comprehensive Research Handbook presents pragmatic insights into all areas relating to flood risk. Through its use of dynamic and people-centred paradigms, it explores urban flood management within localities, properties, neighbourhoods and cities. Structured around the flood risk management cycle, chapters explore the critical importance of managing the consequences of flooding whilst examining key concepts such as mitigation, preparedness, emergency management and recovery. An international range of expert contributors from an array of disciplines recognize the inadequacies of existing governance approaches and mechanisms when it comes to addressing urban flooding, and identify the ways in which these can be strengthened in order to create an integrated flood and water management framework. Adopting a forward-thinking approach, the Research Handbook also investigates future directions of flood risk management research. The Research Handbook on Flood Risk Management will be an indispensable resource for academics, researchers and students interested in environmental geography, environmental governance and regulation, urban studies, politics and public policy, and the management of natural resources.

This handbook explores the critically important topic of embodied carbon, providing advanced insights that focus on measuring and reducing embodied carbon from across the built environment, including buildings, urban areas and cities, and construction materials and components. Split into five distinct sections, international experts, researchers, and professionals present the recent developments in the field of embodied carbon from various perspectives and at different scales of material, building, and city. Following an introduction to the embodied carbon question, the chapters in Section 1 then cover the key debates around issues such as the politics of embodied carbon, links between embodied carbon and thermal mass, and the misuse of carbon offsets. Section 2 reviews the embodied carbon policies in a selected number of countries. Sections 3, 4, and 5 approach the topic of embodied carbon from urban-, building-, and material-scale perspectives, respectively, and use case studies to demonstrate estimation techniques and present opportunities and challenges in embodied carbon mitigation. This will be important reading for upper-level students and researchers in Architecture, Urban Planning, Engineering, and Construction disciplines. Presenting case studies of embodied carbon assessment, this book will also help practicing architects, engineers, and urban planners understand embodied carbon estimation techniques and different mitigation strategies.

This edited book presents a significant and timely contribution to our understanding of a broad range of issues pertaining to COVID-19 and its relationship to occupational safety, health and well-being (OSHW) in the global construction industry. The editors first introduce the industry and its poor OSHW history before highlighting some of the broader impacts of the pandemic on the sector. The book is then divided into two sections. Section One focuses on the management of COVID-19 transmission risk. It captures insights, practices, technologies and lessons learned in relation to what has and is being done to prevent or mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission among the construction workforce. Construction Safety, Health and Well-being in the COVID-19 Era also details case studies, lessons and best practices for managing sites and workforces when infections inevitably do occur. Section Two brings together international chapters discussing the impacts of COVID-19 on the OSHW of the construction workforce both on and off-site, as well as the management of those impacts. Furthermore, this presents implications of the pandemic (at the short-, medium-, and long-term) for other performance measures of construction projects such as cost, schedule, quality and, most importantly, how the pursuit/non-pursuit of such performance measures have impacted/will impact the OSHW of construction workers and professionals in the industry. This book addresses the gap in literature by offering global perspectives on the OSHW impacts and implications of COVID-19 in the construction industry and will help its wide readership (including construction industry organisations, professionals, researchers, government bodies/policy makers and students) to understand a broad suite of issues pertaining to COVID-19 and its relationship to OSHW in construction.

This Handbook seeks to examine and advance current understanding of the confluence of construction health, safety and well-being and the broad range of Industry 4.0 technologies in use in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Globally, the construction sector accounts for more than 100,000 occupational fatalities annually. In many countries, reports of work-related accidents, injuries and illnesses are commonplace, and there is an urgent need to improve the occupational safety and health (OSH) outlook of the construction sector. The fourth industrial revolution presents opportunities to leverage modern technologies (e.g., big data, artificial intelligence, automation, sensors, AR, VR and robotics) to improve the poor OSH performance of the construction industry. However, embracing such technologies could also induce unintended adverse consequences for the safety, health and well-being of construction workers. Therefore, the realisation of the opportunities as well as the mitigation of potentially adverse consequences requires research-informed holistic insights around the union of Industry 4.0 and construction occupational safety and health management. This cutting-edge volume addresses a significant gap in literature by bringing together experienced academics and researchers to highlight the drivers, opportunities and drawbacks of the merging of Industry 4.0 with construction health, safety and well-being. After a detailed introductory section which highlights key issues and challenges, section one covers the application of a broad range of digital technologies; then section two discusses the application of industrial production and cyber physical systems in the context of construction safety and health management. Readers from a broad range of AEC backgrounds as well as safety professionals and technologists will come to understand how the technologies are applied and the resulting OSH benefits as well as potential drawbacks.

The rapid expansion of solar energy has raised critical concerns regarding the disposal of end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) panels. This research aims to assess the current landscape of solar panel recycling and explore the effectiveness of regulatory frameworks, recycling technologies, and policy interventions in supporting a sustainable solar energy future. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines secondary data analysis of regulatory framework and policies from European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Asia with cross-national case studies of Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The research evaluates recycling infrastructure, cost implications, material recovery rates, and public awareness to understand existing gaps and opportunities. Findings indicate that while recycling offers substantial environmental and economic benefits—such as resource conservation, job creation, and emissions reduction—barriers including high costs, limited facilities, and low consumer engagement impede widespread adoption. Emerging innovations in mechanical and chemical recycling processes show promise in improving material recovery rates and reducing energy input. The study also highlights how extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes and circular economy policies can strengthen compliance and investment. Addressing these challenges is essential to reinforce solar energy’s contribution to climate goals and to ensure that PV technology remains sustainable over its entire lifecycle. The study’s implications call for coordinated global action, stronger regulatory enforcement, technological advancement, and public awareness to build an efficient and economically viable recycling ecosystem for solar panels.

This paper presents empirical findings from the United Kingdom (UK) component of a broader cross-cultural study comparing smart home energy system (HEMS) use in the UK and India, contrasting individualistic and collectivist cultural contexts. Situated at the intersection of cultural theory, user autonomy, and domestic automation, the study examines how individualistic values shape engagement with smart home energy devices. Drawing on 30 qualitative interviews with UK participants, the analysis identifies three dominant themes: the centrality of personal autonomy, the tension between environmental aspirations and economic pressures, and the cognitive strain of energy management. While current HEMS largely operate through rule-based automation, participants’ reactions to these features offer early insight into cultural expectations that may influence the future acceptance of more autonomous or AI-enhanced systems. The study concludes that, in individualistic contexts, preserving user agency is a design imperative. Future HEMS—particularly those incorporating adaptive or intelligent functionalities—should prioritise override controls, transparency, and cultural responsiveness. These findings provide a foundation for culturally informed technology design and set the stage for comparison with collectivist contexts such as India.

As global challenges intensify, it becomes vital product design education empowers students to engage critically with the world around them. This presentation showcases the development of a classroom ecology that places research, inquiry and real-world relevance at its core. Students move beyond solving pre-framed problems, instead learning to ask meaningful questions about the values, needs and experiences that shape everyday life and possible futures. By asking ‘what matters in the world around them’, students lead a research event where they collaboratively design and test questions with the wider university community. Offering space to investigate themes, such as wellbeing, environment and community, through collective reflection. Over two years, this evolving approach gathered insights from more than 1,000 people; directly enriching and shaping over 100 final-year undergraduate projects by grounding their design thinking in real-world experiences. Within this ecology, research becomes a dynamic and participatory practice. Ethics, methods and proposal writing equips students with tools to conduct responsible impactful work, skills relevant to both academic and professional futures. Our findings reflect on how reframing the product design classroom as a site of inquiry and collaboration helps students see themselves not just as makers of things, but as thoughtful, responsive agents of change.

HUG by LAUGH is a specialized therapeutic comforter that was co-designed for individuals with dementia, featuring weighted limbs, soft body, simulated heartbeat and built-in music player programmed with favourite songs. Extensive research and development at Cardiff Metropolitan University (Treadaway, Pool & Johnson 2020, Treadaway et al. 2023) transformed HUG to a market-ready product, launched in 2021. HUGs were introduced in 2022-23 in the Gwent region (community, care homes, and hospitals), to support a variety of health conditions including dementia, mental health, learning disabilities, autism, and children with anxiety. An implementation group was set up to raise awareness and ensure equitable distribution. A service evaluation within 2 care homes, led by Tec Cymru, involved observations with HUG dolls in use (n=13) and post-intervention qualitative informal interviews with people using HUG, carers and family to assess effectiveness and address implementation challenges. In community and day centre settings, dementia care mapping was used. All carers supporting people using the HUG were invited to share anecdotal evidence via impact case studies (n=14). Results from these studies were used to create exemplar case studies across five settings: day centre, social housing, school, care home, and hospital ward. This evaluation indicated that HUG positively impacted mood and served as a tool for self-soothing and comfort, even when verbal reassurance was ineffective (Fennell & Lloyd 2023). Dementia care mapping scores increased within several weeks, tension reduced, and water intake increased among care home residents. In schools, 15 young carers benefitted from the HUGs when feeling anxious. HUG was also comforting for an adult with mental health problems and reduced self-harm. The evaluation highlighted challenges and positive outcomes in implementing HUG at scale. The case studies provided valuable insights into the future of assistive technology, especially in care settings, where products like HUG can significantly enhance care strategies. Fennell, J. & Lloyd, M. (2023) The Power of a HUG: Implementation of assistive technology across a health board. In Proc: UK Dementia Congress. Aston University Birmingham, UK. 7-8 November 2023. Treadaway, C.; Seckam, A.; Fennell, J.; Taylor, A. (2023) HUG: A Compassionate Approach to Designing for Wellbeing in Dementia Care. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, Vol. 20, 4410. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054410 Treadaway C., Pool, J., and Johnson, A. (2020), Sometimes a hug is all you need, Journal of Dementia Care, Vol. 28:6 pp 32-34.

The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies offers considerable potential to enhance occupational safety and health (OSH) in modern methods of construction (MMC). Maturity models provide a structured approach to guide this transition effectively. Although the previous studies have focused on the development of maturity models for Industry 4.0, OSH management, and MMC, there is a lack of a comprehensive review that thoroughly evaluates and compares the existing maturity models related to Industry 4.0, OSH, and MMC. To fill the mentioned gap, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, which identified 30 pertinent articles from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases. This SLR determined the research principle, model development method, and model structure. This state-of-the-art review offers both theoretical and practical contributions. It provides a theoretical contribution by systematically analysing maturity models associated with Industry 4.0, OSH, and MMC, highlighting existing gaps and establishing a foundation for creating a unified framework to evaluate readiness and improve safety outcomes in prefabricated construction. Regarding practical contributions, the review can pave the way for construction managers and safety officers to assess their organisations’ current maturity level towards implementing Industry 4.0 technologies for improving OSH within MMC.