Research interests and experience  

Farzad is a Professor of Digital Engineering and Manufacturing, with a robust research track record delivering more than 175 quality publications and more than 3000 citations. His research career has been developed through 1) ten years of high-quality education in Architecture, Digital Design, and Innovative Construction Technologies (from 1996-2002+2007-2010), 2) 20 years’ academic work experience, including research-informed teaching and teaching, supported research on different areas related to Digital Architecture and IT integrated design and construction (Since 2002), 3) 15 years intensive industry engagement as a full member of Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB-UK) and a First Class Registered Architect (in Iran), and 4) variety of hands-on virtual modelling and development skills and knowledge of different qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. These support his research on various aspects of Construction 4.0, including Digital Twins, Smart Contracts, Building Information Management/Modelling (BIM), Distributed Ledger Technology, Big Data, IA/Machine-Learning, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Smart Homes, IoT, Cybernetics and use of Smart Agents within the built environment, Virtual Prototyping and use of VR/AR/MR interfaces for building simulation, automation and integration of design, Offsite Construction, Lean and Six Sigma thinking and development of new business models for integrated construction. Farzad has also successfully led several high profile research projects – from InnovateUK through to Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC), Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Data Lab, and Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). Farzad secured research and innovation income over £1,728,342.83 (over 1.3m at Teesside University within three years). This expertise and standing are also recognised through several high profile bodies, including the International Council for Building (CIB) and buildingSMART International. Prof Rahimian has more than ten years of experience in leading international journals as an editor, co-editor, guest editor and editorial board member. He is the Editor in Chief of the Smart and Sustainable Built Environment Journal (Emerald, Scopus Cite Score 2022: 6.5) and an Associate Editor for a world-flagship journal, Automation in Construction (IF: 10.517);   

Here is the list of recent research projects that Prof Rahimian has been involved in, mostly as the Principal Investigator:

• RECONSTRUCT: A Territorial Construction System for a Circular Low-Carbon Built Environment; Total Value: Euros 7,865,878.75; TU Value: Euros 654,001.25; Funder H2021
• KTP – Teesside University and Faraday Center- Development of Virtual Training Environments using Serious Games Principles and Digital Twining for High-Risk Industry Training, TU Value: £249,085.83; Funder Innovate UK and Faraday Center; Role: Lead Academic
• KTP: Teesside University and Nicander: Data Science & Digital Twins for Transport Management, TU Value: £239,339; Funder Innovate UK and Nicander; Role: Lead Academic
• KTP: Teesside University and Direct Line Supplies Limited: Intelligent Digital Twin for Distribution, TU Value: 239,950; Funder Innovate UK and DLS; Role: Lead Academic
• Thermally Augmented Cork-based Thin Insulation Coating (TACTIC), TU Value: £46,543; Funder Innovate UK; Role: Co-I
• Development of Integrated Platform for Facilities Management Using Blockchain and Digital Twins; TU Value: £168,000; Funder: Yondr Data Centres Group; Role: PI
• BIM Integration Project Collaboration, between TU and Nicander Ltd; TU Value: £28,580.90; Funder: ERDF; Role PI
• KTP Norscot-Teesside University (1025662): Design and Implement a Community Led User-Centred Design to Support Elderly People; Pour Rahimian Leilabadi, F. (PI) and Matthew Lievesley; Total Value: £ 273,348.00; Norscot Joinery Limited: £ 91116, Innovate UK (TSB) 10 %+ AHR 75%+ SFC 15%: £ 182232; 1/01/19 → 31/12/21
• Development of BIM-Tango Integrated Virtual Showroom System for Offsite Manufactured Construction; Pour Rahimian Leilabadi, F. (PI); Total Value: £209473.00; Norscot Joinery Limited: £69,126.09, Innovate UK (TSB): £140,346.91; 4/09/17 → 3/03/20
• Real-Time Simulation of Construction Projects through Hybrid Application of Building Information Modelling and Image Processing; Pour Rahimian Leilabadi (PI), F., Stankovic, V. & Agapiou, A.; ADVANCED FORMING RESEARCH CENTRE (AFRC), ROUTE TO IMPACT 17/18 FUNDING: £40,831.63; 1/09/16 → 31/03/18
• Development of a Proof of Concept Prototype for BIM-Tango Integrated Virtual Showroom for OSP; Pour Rahimian, F. (PI); CSIC Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (SFC Innovation Centre, administered by HEI): £44,670.52; 1/07/17 → 31/12/17
• Using Artificial Intelligence for Optimising Retrofitting in Commercial Buildings; Pour Rahimian Leilabadi, F. (PI); Arbnco Ltd (formerly Co2 Estates Limited): £36,000.00; 1/05/17 → 30/04/20
• Optimising Decision-Making and Analysis of the Energy Performance of Building Portfolios with Artificial Intelligence; Pour Rahimian Leilabadi, F. (PI) & Marc Roper; DATALAB (SFC Innovation Centre, administered by the University of Edinburgh): 99,979; 01/08/17 → 30/04/18
• Building Capacity - Sustainable Development in the Built Environment (BC-SDBE), Ashraf Salama, Farzad Pour Rahimian (Co-I), & David Grison; British Council Newton Fund Institutional Links, Strathclyde Budget: £ 30,104; Role; Co-I;

List of Selected Recent Consultancy Projects:

• January 2020- March 2020, Market research contract with TVCA involving engagement with the SME community and relevant stakeholders in the Tees Valley to evaluate whether a new SME Energy Efficiency Scheme (SMEEES) will deliver greater energy efficiency, cost savings and CO2 reductions, Funder: Tees Valley Combined Authority, Mabbett Associates Limited, TU Value: £9,650.00
• June 2018- August 2018, Use of Low Cost Augmented Reality for Supporting Online Development Programme for Helping Children Learn Martial Arts, Funder: Scottish Funding Council and Indomitable Leaders Ltd. Value: £ 10,697.73
• December 2017- March 2018, Development of Augmented Reality-Based Network Vulnerability Simulator, Funder: Scottish Funding Council and Uppleuse Solutions Ltd. Value: £10,595.85
• January 2017-April 2017, Feasibility Study for development of BIM Integrated Virtual Showroom for Offsite Manufactured Production, Funder: Scottish Funding Council and Norscot Joinery Ltd. Value: £10,119.08

List of Recent Significant Awards:

• Nominated for Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2020, INNOVATOR OF THE FUTURE AWARD
• Special Distinction Award 2018, buildingSMART International
• Official Recognition by the Principal of the University of Strathclyde, Sir Jim McDonald, for winning The Innovation of the Year Award, 2018
• Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2018 - INNOVATION OF THE YEAR AWARD
• 2 Scales Pay Rise Award by The Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, due to Excellence of Service, 2017

Innovation:

• Patent filed, Applicant: Arbnco Ltd, Title: Optimising building energy use, Date Lodged: 17 May 2019, Application Number, GB1906986.3, Underpining Project: Optimising Decision-Making and Analysis of the Energy Performance of Building Portfolios with Artificial Intelligence; Pour Rahimian Leilabadi, F. (PI) & Marc Roper; Funder: DATALAB (SFC Innovation Centre, administered by the University of Edinburgh): 99,979; 01/08/17 → 30/04/18

Selected Most Significant Publications in Last 2 Years  

[1]        F. Pour Rahimian, J.S. Goulding, S. Abrishami, S. Seyedzadeh, F. Elghaish, Industry 4.0 Solutions for Building Design and Construction: A Paradigm of New Opportunities, Routledge, London, 2021. ISBN: 9780367618780

[2]        J.S. Goulding, F. Pour Rahimian, Offsite production and manufacturing for innovative construction: People, process and technology, Routledge, London, 2019. ISBN: 9781138550681

[3]        S. Banihashemi, H. Golizadeh, F. Pour Rahimian, Data-driven BIM for Energy Efficient Building Design, Routledge, London. ISBN: 9781003207658

[4]        F. Elghaish, F. Pour Rahimian, T. Brooks, N. Dawood, S. Abrishami, Blockchain of Things and Deep Learning Applications in Construction: Digital Construction Transformation, Springer Nature, Berlin 2022. ISBN: 9783031068287

[5]        S. Seyedzadeh, F. Pour Rahimian, Data-Driven Modelling of Non-Domestic Buildings Energy Performance: Supporting Building Retrofit Planning, Springer Nature, Berlin, 2021. ISBN: 9783030647537