University of New Brunswick Off-site Construction Research Centre
Brandon Searle, P. Eng.
Innovation Director
brandon.searle@unb.ca
(506) 470-8031
The University of New Brunswick (UNB) Off-site Construction Research Centre (OCRC) was created in May 2019 and sits as a centre under the department of civil engineering at the UNB Fredericton campus. Since then, the OCRC has grown to six full-time staff, over 20 researchers, and collaborates with faculty members across a variety of departments across campus.
The OCRC’s experience is focused on four core themes: i) digital technology implementation; ii) constructability and testing; iii) Lean construction; and iv) industry-wide research initiatives. These initiatives include benchmarking, gap assessments, roadmaps, and policy guidance. In terms of digital technology implementation, the OCRC primarily offers services in the construction industry, which includes the manufacturing, aerospace & defense, hospitality, transportation, and energy sectors.
There is a trend towards manufacturing in the construction industry, leading to our vision of making UNB the hub for off-site construction research, technology, and processes to industrialize the construction industry. To do this, the OCRC helps their partners implement digital technologies that will enable productivity, safety, and quality improvements in their projects and processes. The OCRC’s services range from global studies including,
Digital strategy roadmap,
Database gap assessments,
Migration to cloud-based solutions,
Application development,
Database creation and development, etc.
In addition to global studies, the OCRC has subject matter expertise in the construction sector, and focuses on Building Information Modelling (BIM), virtual design and construction (VDC), digitization, simulation and optimization, autonomous data collection and data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and more.
The OCRC works in the triple helix model, combining industry, academia, and government. The OCRC acts as an extension to their partner organizations in developing tailored solutions that set them on the path to become leaders in their industry. The OCRC has international ties, linked to several leading academic institutions. This ensures that the OCRC and their partners have a pulse on advancements happening in the industry on the global stage.
The OCRC’s expertise and techniques have helped their partners grow in their respective industries at a pace that is suitable to their partners. Two examples of this are shown in the case studies below.