Digital Built Environment Research Colloquium 2025: Strengthening Research Collaboration

Digital Built Environment Research Colloquium 2025: Strengthening Research Collaboration

The Centre for Smart Modern Construction (c4SMC) at the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, in collaboration with the ARC Centre for Next-Generation Architectural Manufacturing (Arch_Manu) at the University of New South Wales, hosted the Digital Built Environment Research Colloquium 2025 on 14 March 2025 at Western Sydney University’s Parramatta City Campus. This dynamic event provided a collaborative platform for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from both centres to exchange ideas, explore recent advancements, and foster potential research partnerships in the digital built environment.

The colloquium commenced with a welcome address from Distinguished Professor Brian Falzon, Dean of the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment at Western Sydney University. In his speech, Professor Falzon highlighted the importance of university collaboration, noting that cross-institutional partnerships such as this colloquium are essential in driving research excellence, fostering innovation, and addressing global challenges in the built environment. Following his address, the centre directors introduced their respective research centres—Professor M. Hank Haeusler presented Arch_Manu, while Professor Srinath Perera introduced c4SMC—setting the stage for in-depth discussions and interdisciplinary research exchanges.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in dynamic group discussions, knowledge-sharing sessions, and collaborative idea-generation activities, culminating in presentations that not only showcased cutting-edge research but also opened pathways for future joint projects. Several researchers actively contributed to these discussions, including Associate Professor Sepani Senaratne, Associate Professor Yingbin Feng, Associate Professor Xiaohua (Sean) Jin, Dr Marini Samaratunga, and Dr Samudaya Nanayakkara from c4SMC, as well as Dr Ivana Kuzmanovska, Dr Christopher Bamborough, Professor Hank Haeusler, and Lisa Lu from Arch_Manu.

The event concluded with a networking lunch, providing an opportunity for further discussions and professional relationship-building among researchers. The successful coordination of the event was led by Dr Marini Samaratunga, Dr Samudaya Nanayakkara, c4SMC HDR researchers, and the Western Sydney University CIB Student Chapter members, with Prasad Perera serving as the event host.

The Digital Built Environment Research Collaboration Colloquium 2025 successfully highlighted the role of digitalisation and innovation in the construction sector while reinforcing collaboration between two leading research centres, paving the way for future research synergies.