About us | Sustainability ⊕rientated Cyber Research Unit (SCUBE)

The success and long-term sustainability of African society, cities, infrastructure and buildings, is a function of modernising and optimising the African Built Environment Sector by integrating the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5.0IR) innovative technologies to all components of the built environment sector through human-centred, resilient and sustainable development to maximise the value captured within the sector for all stakeholders.

The 5.0IR is expected to profoundly impact the built environment's future. There is clear evidence that the urban infrastructure of African countries are struggling to meet the population growth challenges with traditional and conventional methods and technologies. The Built Environment Sector stands accused of focusing too much on the technical and economic aspects of sustainability, than the social and environmental components, all of which are essential to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

The 5.0IR is set to influence the way in which we interact with space, develop infrastructure and buildings, and invest in the sector, i.e. affecting different segments of the built environment value chain in creative and innovative ways. Through the use of cyber technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data, Internet of Things (IoT), digital models, shadows and twins, robotics, 3D printing, mixed reality, blockchain, crypto investment, building information modelling, etc. The Built Environment can invest in, create and maintain smart, sustainable, interactive and resilient cities, infrastructure and buildings that work for the end-users.

The 5.0IR reimagines the 4.0IR in sustainable, resilient and human-centric ways and given the wholesale impact of the built environment on society, it is the revolution to adopt to improve sustainability and efficiency of the built environment projects’ development process and the efficiency of the entire sector, and how communities and enterprises interact with the built environment sector in Africa or other emerging countries. This includes building the global governance structures and policy mechanisms to address the unintended environmental and social consequences of change and unlocking and scaling 4.0IR innovations that maximise progress towards sustainable development – including innovations that respond to the new risks and challenges presented by exponential, life-altering nature of 5.0IR itself.

The vision and strategy of the Sustainability ⊕riented Cyber research Unit for the Built Environment (S⊕CUBE) is to undertake research that aids in the transformation of the built environment by integrating sustainable development with cutting-edge cyber technologies, empowers future professionals and fosters global collaboration for smart, resilient infrastructure through interdisciplinary research, education and industry partnerships. In operationalising the vision, three core themes guide and drive the research, namely:

Sustainability and Fifth Industrial Revolution (5.0IR) Integration – this theme explores the interdependencies between social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability and emerging 5.0IR technologies. It aims to develop theoretical and applied frameworks for enhancing the sustainability of built environment systems through the use of innovative technologies e.g., Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), smart solutions.
Capacity Building, Education and Industry Collaboration – this theme focuses on advancing educational practice and supports the development of interdisciplinary teaching resources that embed sustainability and 5.0IR into built environment curricula. In addition, it seeks to empower students and professionals with future-fit competencies through structured workshops and collaborative learning initiatives. Simultaneously, it promotes the co-creation and dissemination of knowledge between academic institutions and industry stakeholders. The intention is to foster a dynamic ecosystem of innovation, bridging theory and practice to address real-world challenges in the built environment.
Smart Buildings, Cities and Infrastructure Innovation – this theme investigates the contextualisation and implementation of smart building and city models within African urban environments. Emphasis is placed on the role of innovative technologies in enhancing the planning, delivery and management of buildings and infrastructure. Central to this theme is the recognition of the built environment as a socio-technological construct, where technological advancement must be harmonised with human needs, cultural contexts and community well-being. It critically examines how digital transformation can improve quality of life, promote equitable access to urban services and foster sustainable urban living.

The Unit is located in the Department of Construction Economics and Management, which offers Internationally benchmarked qualifications in Real Estate/Property, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management and Project Management.

As UCT is the top Research University in Afrika, and guided by UCTʼs purpose to unleash human potential to create a fair and just society, S⊕CUBE wholeheartedly aligns itself with UCTʼs 2030 vision and aims to contribute to the universityʼs research portfolio by focusing on unleashing knowledge in and from Afrika to redefine and co-create a sustainable global future.

Click here (/media/137355) to download the UCT Vision 2030 document.