The Construction Ecosystem

The Construction Ecosystem theme explores how companies, projects, and processes in construction are interconnected as part of complex social, technological, economic, and environmental systems.

A graphic showing the construction ecosystem with a wheel and money, plant and people icons surrounding a building in construction

Overview

The Construction Ecosystem theme at the Centre for Construction Project Organising recognises that companies, projects, and processes in the construction industry are not separate from one another. Instead, they are part of complex, interdependent social, technological, economic, and environmental systems.

This theme aims to explore these interdependencies to understand how the interactions between companies, projects, and processes both shape and are shaped by the larger systems they belong to.

Our research focuses on:

  • Developing practical and theoretical approaches to better understand and address the challenges that arise from these interdependencies.
  • Improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of construction practices, recognising their far-reaching impacts on various systems.
  • Supporting more resilient and adaptive supply chains, stronger collaboration between stakeholders, and greater use of digital technologies to promote sustainable construction outcomes.

The questions we ask: 

Sustainability, Circularity, and Ecological Impact

  • How do social, technical, and economic interactions within the construction ecosystem drive project value and support sustainable outcomes?
  • What are the sustainability implications of construction projects' interactions with broader social, economic, and ecological systems?

Digitalisation, Technology, and Efficiency

  • How can digital technologies be leveraged within the construction ecosystem to enhance sustainability and efficiency in project delivery?
  • How can ecosystem-based models inform better decision-making and policy formulation for more effective programme management within the construction industry?

Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing, and Stakeholder Interaction

  • How can stakeholder collaboration and knowledge-sharing processes within the construction ecosystem be optimized to improve project outcomes?
  • How do regulatory and policy frameworks interact with the construction ecosystem, and how can they be aligned to promote sustainability goals while improving programme management outcomes?

Risk, Resilience, and Policy Alignment

  • How can systemic risks within the construction ecosystem be mitigated to enhance project resilience and support effective programme management?

  • Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with BSI (co-funded by Innovate UK): Developing an assurance scheme for low-carbon additive manufacturing in construction
  • EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account – Knowledge Exchange Project: A circular supply chain model for carbon-neutral green roof retrofitting
  • National Highways – funded PhD: Governing knowledge of health, safety, and wellbeing across the infrastructure lifecycle at National Highways
  • EPSRC – funded PhD:  Human-centred decision-making for circular building design: an ontology engineering approach 

Çıdık, M. S., Royo, M. G., Mulligan, J., K'oyoo, A. O., & Parikh, P. (2024). Political ecology perspective for a new way of understanding stakeholders and value in infrastructure projects. International Journal of Project Management, 42(2), 102565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2024.102565

Çıdık, M.S., Schiller, G., Zhang, N., Rizzo, A., Tambovceva, T., Bajare, D., & Hendawy, M. (2023). How does ‘locality’ matter in enabling a circular built environment?: A focus on space, knowledge, and cities. In Bragança, L., Cvetkovska, M., Askar, R., & Ungureanu, V. (Eds.), Creating a Roadmap Towards Circularity in the Built Environment (pp. 251-261). Springer: Cham, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45980-1_21

Çıdık, M.S. (2023). Politics of social value in the built environment. Buildings & Cities, 4(1), 475-487. https://doi.org/10.5334/bc.334

Tong, K., Mills, G., & Çıdık, M.S. (2023). Value of modularisation in healthcare buildings: An exploration of the Nucleus programme. In Proceedings of the ARCOM 39th Annual Conference, 4-6 September 2023, Leeds, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/591666284.pdf#page=83

Çıdık, M.S. & Boyd, D. (2022). Value implication of digital transformation: the impact of the commodification of information. Construction Management and Economics, 40(11-12), 903-917. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2033287

Çıdık, M.S. (2022). Digitalisation and transaction costs: an exploration of BIM-enabled design collaboration. In Proceedings of 38th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2022, Glasgow, Association of Researchers in Construction Management. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10159276/

Çıdık, M.S. & Phillips, S. (2021). Buildings as complex systems: the impact of organisational culture on building safety. Construction Management and Economics, 39(12), 972-987. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2021.1966816

Çıdık, M.S. & Phillips, S. (2021). Policy evidence for House of Commons - Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee. Submission for ‘Building safety: remediation and funding’ call for evidence. Available at: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/106209/pdf/

Çıdık, M.S. (2020). Project-managing the social value of built assets: a call for a focus on value manifestation. In Proceedings of 36th Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-8 September 2020, Online, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 35-44. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10109877/

Çıdık, M.S. (2019). Construction productivity and digitalization: an IT productivity paradox perspective. In Proceedings of 35th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2019, Leeds, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10083371/

Madanayake, U. & Çıdık, M.S. (2019). The potential of digital technology to improve construction productivity. In Proceedings of 35th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2019, Leeds, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10082939

How can I get involved?

We welcome a diverse and multi-disciplinary approach to the study of the construction ecosystem. We are interested in topics such as the interdependencies of companies, projects, and processes within the construction industry.

Whether you are from a project firm looking to enhance capabilities, a research student seeking like-minded peers, or an academic working in the field, we invite you to get in touch.

Get in touch

Dr Selçuk Çıdık headshot

Dr Selçuk Çıdık

Associate Professor in Construction and Project Management 
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s.cidik@ucl.ac.uk