His research interest includes Building Information Modelling (BIM), the Internet of things (IoT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Building Simulation and Optimization, Architectural design and production, Architectural education, Building climatology, Sustainable (energy efficient, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly) building design, construction and operation.

Donatus Okonta’s research focuses on unified city information Modeling for sustainability and resilience. He holds an MSc in Architecture from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and a B. Tech in Architecture from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State.

Donatus is a registered architect with the Architectural Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and the former Postgraduate Student representative of the Research & Innovation Committee (RIC) at Teesside University. He is a Fellow (FRSA) of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce as well as a student member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), UK and the National Institute of Building Services (NIBS), USA. He is an Associate Member of the Energy Institute (AMEI), UK. He was part of the SmartBuilt4EU Task Force 2 Efficient Building Operation, Topic C: Smartness to reduce environmental impacts that focused on the optimal integration and use of smart solutions to allow an efficient building operation, investigating the interoperability requirements to ensure a seamless operation, as well as the optimization in terms of building costs and reduction of environmental impacts, over the full life cycle.