1. ABCPhD Doctoral Program in architecture, built environment and construction engineering
ABCPhD Call4Scholarship 34 RESEARCH TOPIC: Automation, Robotics and Advanced Industrialization: the Innovation of the Building Production Processes towards industry 4.0
34th Cycle

2. Funding and management of the thematic scholarships
Number of scholarships: 1 (one)
Monthly net income: € ,00 (max 36 months) [In case of a change of the welfare rates during the three-year period, the amount could be slightly modified]
Additional support: Funding for educational activities(*) : € ,33 per student [for the 2nd and 3rd year]
Starting of PhD activity: 2/5/2019
Research Directors: Manuela Grecchi
Research Group: G. Masera, G. Iannacone, L.E. Malighetti.
Funding and cooperating Institutions: the scholarship is funded by Politecnico di Milano, Department ABC and UniverLecco.
(*) (purchase of study books and material, funding for participation in courses, summer schools, workshops,conferences)

3. Motivation and objectives of the research in this field
The objective of this PhD position is to start a wide and comprehensive research path in order to understand how automation, robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies and tools can be realistically applied in the current processes of building construction, by providing significant innovations that respond to future social, economic and environmental challenges, in particular in a market, like the Italian one, characterized by the prevalence of small and medium enterprises that are risk-averse and have limited budget for the implementation of innovative processes.
Starting from this general objective, the PhD Candidate will:
identify the main areas for integration of robotics, automation and advanced industrialization in real building processes;
identify multiple problems/barriers related to their application in a typical Italian / European context and considering the Industry 4.0 targets;
assess the multiple benefits of the potential innovations, considering social, economic and environmental challenges of the building sector;
define development trends and possible new schemes and tools to be introduced over standard construction processes for a more effective integration of such innovations.

4. Methods and techniques that will be developed and used to carry out the research
The research project requires the candidate to interact with one or more organisations in the construction industry considered as stakeholders. The plan of activity includes the following:The final objective of the PhD’s work is to develop support instruments for research and advanced consultancy of stakeholders (designers, building owners, facility managers, technology providers, energy consultants, occupants) working on increasing energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality in buildings.
the state of development of the research topic, including availability of background literature, research work and expertise in the research area;
definition of the scope of the considered advanced construction and manufacturing technologies and methods in the building industry (beyond current demonstrative activities, which are showing limited impact on the real construction market);
case studies research and data collection;
quantitative and qualitative analysis for the assessment of impacts/benefits of the innovative technologies;
validation of the outputs through the involvement of stakeholders.

5. Educational objectives
The objective of the PhD Programme is to train researchers with a solid foundational base, a good scientific method and broad technical and applicative knowledge. The Programme gives candidate the ability to manage and take part in the integrated design process of complex construction projects with a solid industrial technical background matched with robust skills in the field of construction technologies and design processes, able to manage the challenges of the future construction industry.

6. Job opportunities
Consultant for building components industries and robotic construction companies;
Construction manager / Off-site construction manager of complex buildings;
Consultant for building contractors;
Consultant for innovative / advanced architectural offices;
Innovation manager for construction industries /contractors Researcher in a R&D division of large companies.