Laing O’Rourke Investment in the University of Oxford

26th January 2011

The Laing O’Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering will build on existing expertise at Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science and other departments around the University, such as the Department of Materials and the Oxford e-Research Centre, to improve construction methods and processes.

The founding of the Centre will lead to the creation of two new academic posts: the Laing O’Rourke Professor of Automation in Construction and the Centre Director.

Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science is at the forefront of research in areas such as control engineering, computer vision, and mobile robotics and navigation, with the Professor of Automation in Construction and Centre Director bringing additional expertise in such areas as control, automation, and materials for construction.

Laing O’Rourke are at the forefront of bringing manufacturing and off-site construction methods to bear in the construction industry, with many benefits including improved efficiency and safety. The Centre will also carry out work on fundamental techniques to support the construction industry, for instance the use of integrated decision support systems for the maintenance of technical knowledge, to ensure that experience is properly captured to achieve future benefits.

In association with the founding of the Centre, a framework agreement has been drawn up for the University to provide professional development services through the Department for Continuing Education, assisting Laing O’Rourke with the development of its staff through accredited programmes and short courses.

Oxford University Innovation, the University’s technology transfer company, contributed to the framework agreements covering future access to University consulting expertise and intellectual property.

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