Megaproject Management

Introduction

The Megaproject Management research theme was set up by Dr Zhen Chen in June 2012. It is a research unit based within the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design (formerly the Institute for Building and Urban Design (IBUD)) at Heriot-Watt University. The mission of the group is to promote and support innovation and progress in megaproject development and management across the world through multi-disciplinary practice oriented research.

Its research focuses on proactive problem-solving solutions through a megaproject's lifecycle with regard to stakeholders' needs and professional standards related to the built environment. Through publications and presentations, the group offers rigorous independent research outputs that translate knowledge gained from research and development to inform decision making by major stakeholders in megaproject development and management.  

Research areas and expertise  

The group has accumulated knowledge and expertise gained in building science, construction engineering and management, and facilities management through long-term observation and engagement in megaproject development and management across the world. Within the framework of its core research discipline, i.e. megaproject development and management, the group encourages multidisciplinary engineering-led research collaboration between academics and professionals in the following areas:

  • Best practice study 
  • Construction planning and management
  • Cost value reconciliation 
  • Damages assessment
  • Design validation testing
  • Energy management 
  • Failure and accident analysis 
  • Independence and interdependence study
  • Infrastructure Investment justification 
  • Intelligent building and infrastructure systems
  • Project portfolio management
  • Project informatics
  • STEEP risk assessment 
  • Stakeholder and supply network integration Â