Current and projected research projects, postgraduate supervision and research output for 2021- 2022 are listed below:

Collaborative Research

  • Evaluating the role of urban smart farming on enhancing the sustainability of food production in African metropolitans in post-pandemic era, Royal Society, 2021 (GBP 5 970), PI: Dr Moghayedi.
  • Initiative Sanitation and hygiene Networking in Jordan (ISNJ), Engineering X, Middle East University, University of Cape Town, (GBP 10 000), Co-Applicant: Dr Moghayedi.
  • Developing an Afro-centric neighbourhood assessment framework to enhance the sustainability and inclusivity of communities in South African urban precincts using Community-based Facilities Management and cyber technologies, Newton Fund, Engineering X, Royal Academy of Engineering, University of Huddersfield, Communicare, 2021, (GBP 79 760), PI: A/Prof Michell
  • Sustainable Innovative Affordable Housing Initiative (SIAH-I), Frontiers Champions, Global Challenges Research Fund, Royal Academy of Engineering, 2020, (GBP 13 750), Champion: Dr Moghayedi
  • Disrupting the South African Engineering and Built Environment education using digital technology to align with the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolution, Newton Fund, Engineering X, Royal Academy of Engineering, University of Cape Town, Anglia Ruskin University, GetSmarter, 2020, (GBP 79 985), PI: Mrs Le Jeune
  • Inclusive and Accessible Public Transport System for Women and PRMs, Royal Academy of Engineering, Newcastle University, University of Cape Town, Cardiff University, University of Nigeria, 2020, (GBP 20 000), CoApplicant: Dr Moghayedi.
  • Interplay between density, design, and wellbeing towards developing resilient cities, Royal Academy of Engineering, Cardiff University, University of Cape Town, Loughborough University, Middle East University, Utopia, 2020, (GBP 20 000), Co-Applicant: Dr Moghayedi.
  • Strategic planning of urban water reuse interventions for community resilience, Royal Academy of Engineering, University of West London, University of Cape Town, Cardiff University, Loughborough University, Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Covenant University, TEKMANN, 2020, (GBP 19 964), CoApplicant: Dr Moghayedi.
  • Developing Sustainable Affordable Housing for South Africa using Innovative Technologies, Newton Fund, Engineering X, Royal Academy of Engineering, University of Cape Town, Leeds Beckett University, Central University of Technology, NHBRC, 2020, (GBP 79 985), PI: Dr Moghayedi.
  • PIVOT - Re-visioning Peripheral Geographies: Strategies for resilient urban development in the Global South, Frontiers Champions, Global Challenges Research Fund, Royal Academy of Engineering, University of Cape Town, 2020, (GBP 13 750), Co-Applicant Dr Moghayedi.
  • Net-Zero Energy Project (NZEP) Sustainable Innovative Affordable House (SIAH), National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), University of Cape Town, University of Johannesburg, Sow & Reap, DNK Group, (ZAR 999 980.88), PI: Dr Alireza Moghayedi, Mr Mark Massyn, Mrs Karen Le Jeune
  • Catalysing Sustainable Futures in Africa: Transforming Engineering and Built Environment Higher Education to Bridge Knowledge and Technological Innovation Gaps, Higher Education Partnerships sub-Saharan Africa programme (HEPSSA), Royal Academy of Engineering, University of Cape Town, University of the West of England, Cardiff University, University of Johannesburg, Namibia University of Science and Technology, University of Botswana, Engineering Council of South Africa, The Council for Mineral Technology (Mintek) and the Chartered Institute of Building, 2024, (GBP 99 970), PI: Mrs K Le Jeune

Short courses

  • 4th IR Technologies in built environment (PropTech, ConTech, FinTech, LegalTech)
  • Construction management, GetSmarter
  • BIM 4 Students

Workshops

  • Housing Finance & Policy workshop, February 17, 2021
  • Housing Design workshop, March 3, 2021
  • PIVOT - Re-visioning Peripheral Geographies: Strategies for resilient urban development in India, March 5, 2021
  • Housing Market in South Africa workshop, March 10, 2021
  • Housing Construction workshop, March 17, 2021
  • PIVOT - Re-visioning Peripheral Geographies: Strategies for resilient urban development in Mexico, March 25, 2021
  • Housing Environment workshop, March 31, 2021
  • Housing Social & Well-being workshop, April 14, 2021
  • PIVOT - Re-visioning Peripheral Geographies: Strategies for resilient urban development in Turkey, April 15, 2021
  • PIVOT - Re-visioning Peripheral Geographies: Strategies for resilient urban development in South Africa, April 30, 2021 Competition
  • Sustainable Innovative Affordable House (SIAH) 4 Africa Design competition, Royal Academy of Engineering, NHBRC, Agrément South Africa, South African Institution of Civil Engineering
  • PERIURBAN challenges in Global South Photo competition

Awards

  • Sustainable Development Award, Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society 2021, Causality between challenges and extent of use of recycling water in residential properties.
  • Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award, Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society 2021, Perpetual impermanence of urban informal settlements: Improving population wellbeing through innovative changes in the global south.
  • Greenovate Property Student Awards 2021, First and Third Places; Greenovate Property Student Awards 2020, Third Place.
  • Le Jeune, K., Ontong, K., Massyn, M.  and Moghayedi, A. (2023). The Quintuple Helix Model view of South Africa, its Built Environment and technological transformation: laying the foundation for a bespoke educational framework. AUBEA2023 Conference: Creating Capacity and Capability: Embracing advanced technologies and Innovations for sustainable sutures in building education and practice. 26-28 November 2023, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.  Paper received “Stream Best Paper [Building / Construction Education & Industry]" award
  • Gwabavu, M., Michell, K. and Shakantu, W. (2023) Facilities management and its effect on social sustainability: The context of South African Higher Education Institution. In Proceedings of SEEDS International Conference, University of Suffolk, United Kingdom. Paper received “highly commended” award for “Planning and Sculpting Positive Change”.
  • Moghayedi, A., Michell, K., Mahachi, J. & Awuzie, B. (2023) Developing Sustainable, Innovative, Affordable Housing (SIAH). SEEDS International Conference, University of Suffolk, United Kingdom. Awarded:
  • RISE Award: Best Poster in the “Field and Laboratory Research” Category
  • RISE Award: Highly Commended in the “Sustainable Developments” Category

Keynote Addresses

  • Invited Keynote address: WABER & SuDBE Joint International Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa. “Sustainable urban development and management”, July 2024.
  • Invited Speaker: CIOB Members Forum, Cape Town, South Africa. “Community-based facilities management”, June 2024.
  • Invited Webinar: International Council for Building and Construction Research, Presidents Seminar Series. “Sustainable urban development and management in African cities: In search of Birnin Zana”, April 2024.
  • Invited Public Lecture to industry professionals and academic staff of the Namibia University of Science and Technology. “The Role of Technological Innovation on the Sustainability of Construction Projects”, April 2024.
  • A/Prof K Michell - International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (ICCCBE), Cape Town, South Africa. “The Role of Technological Innovation on the Sustainabilit of Civil and Infrastructure Projects”, October 2022.
  • A/Prof K Michell - Association of Schools of Construction of Southern Africa 15th Built Environment Conference, Durban South Africa. “Construction in 5IR: Unpacking the pedagogy and cybergogy”, September 2021.

Doctoral Research

  • Boitumelo Ramushu (2024- ) Assessing the Impact and Effectiveness of Technological Innovation in the Management of Corporate Real Estate Assets in South Africa: A Case Study for Digital Twin Technology 
  • Evans Magaisa (2022-2024) The role of facility management and technological innovation on the sustainability and performance of public buildings.
  • Relebohile Mabote (2022-2024) The role of value management in enhancing sustainability of community development projects - the case study of community development projects in Lesotho
  • Mxolisi Miller (2019-2022) The role of facility management and technological innovation on the sustainability and performance of public buildings precinct management for public transport interchange precincts in economically depressed areas in Cape Town.
  • Lulama Ngobeni (2019-2022) Using urban facilities management principles to promote urban water management in formal and informal settlements in South Africa.
  • Onososen Adetayo Olugbenga (2021-2023) Gap analysis on competencies for BIM-driven sustainable development and disposition of professionals in the built environment.
  • Karen Le Jeune (2021-) Constructing South Africa’s Super Smart Society 5.0: Investigating the application of the Quintuple Helix Model of Innovation as the holistic framework with which to incorporate the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolution into the redesigned curricula of future Built Environment Professional graduates.

Masters Research

  • Zeming Lu (2024- ) Investigating how social value measurement (SVM) can assist project managers (PMs) in establishing attainment of sustainability goals during post-project evaluations of renewable energy projects.
  • Amanda Ndlovu (2024- ) The Role of Technological Innovation in Overcoming Barriers faced by Women in the South African Built Environment.
  • Moloedi Andries Thebe (2020-2023) Investigating the perception of the use of Automated Valuation Models to appraise residential properties in Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Matholi Hlope (2023- ) Challenges of maintaining highly specialised infrastructure facilities at an institution of higher learning in South Africa. 
  • Dylan Hübner (2022-2023) An investigation on the operational cost-benefit of sustainable affordable housing in South Africa Honours Research.
  • Clayton Bevis (2021- ) Technology in Real Estate.
  • Lafras Buchner (2021-2022) Investigating urban farming as a potential solution to high CBD vacancies in Cape Town.
  • Jeffrey Mahachi (2021-2022) Evaluating the impact of innovative cyber technologies on the delivery process of South African sustainable affordable housing.
  • Reneè Buerger (2019-2021) Examining the influence facility managers exert within the urban domain: A case study of the City of Cape Town’s metropole.
  • Fulata Zimba (2019-2021) Investigating the effectiveness of facilities management strategies implementation within the Namibian local government.
  • Anelle Bailey (2020-2021) An investigation of the effects of potential electrical load-shedding on facility manager’s strategic and operational decisions in industrial buildings: A case study of Perseverance Industrial Township, Nelson Mandela Bay.

Honours Research

  • Lihle Mlondleni and Asakhe Ngubombini (2024) Enhancing the design process to incorporate sustainability through the application of technological innovation.
  • Warren Weidmann and Tyla Marais (2024) The Implementation of Cyber Building Technologies in Existing Commercial Buildings to Assist Landlords Achieve Net Zero Buildings by 2030.
  • Mutale Kumisuku and Naledi Kgosaone (2024) Bridging Innovation and Construction: Exploring the Adoption of Digitalisation in the Construction Industry.
  • Matthew Bester (2024) Assessing the feasibility and potential application of gravity energy storage in achieving sustainability in the construction industry.
  • Alexia Davids and Kirana Malapermal (2024) Investigating the impact of the adoption of urban facility management principles  and the Smarter City concept on the City of Cape Town’s sustainable development agenda.
  • Yusuf Bobat and Ashraf Lokhat (2021) An investigation into the impact of innovative construction methods on cost, time, and quality of sustainable, innovative, and affordable housing (SIAH).
  • Charlotte Musinga and Tlotliso Pepenene (2021) Investigating the impact of adopting innovative technologies on shopping centre performance.
  • Vuyokazi Mokoena and Tondani Makwarela (2021) Determining the barriers and challenges on developing Sustainable, Innovative, Affordable Housing (SIAH) in South Africa.
  • Jason Fisher and Tshepo Chipu (2021) Investigating the impact of high-rise development on social and environmental sustainability of affordable housing in South Africa.
  • Tristan Fernandes (2021) Investigating the lifecycle cost of Highrise Sustainable, Innovative, Affordable Housing (SIAH) in South Africa.
  • Stuart MacDonald and Justin Sproul (2021) The future of the office portfolio and the real estate industry in a post COVID-19 world.
  • Adeeb Isaacs and Muhammad Yaseen Harnekar (2021) Evaluating the impact of adopting Building Information Modelling (BIM) on the sustainability of construction projects.
  • Tatenda Mundoma (2021) Investigating the sustainability of the University of Cape Town main campus.
  • Devin Sheinbar and Blade Brink (2021) Evaluating the impact of implementing innovative technology on warehouse building performance in South Africa.
  • Jonathan Benfield (2021) Study the financial impact of decentralized/ off grid systems on the sustainability of houses.
  • Bryce Chambers (2021) Investigating the feasibility of innovative automated building methods on infrastructure construction projects.
  • Eric Xiao and Timothy Cleary (2021) The financial and environmental impact of using rooftop Photovoltaics in the South African commercial property market.
  • Barret de Willers (2021) The impact of Green Initiatives and Technology on the Life Cycle Cost of Commercial Buildings.
  • Simbarashe Geza and Ndumiso Dumakude (2021) The impact and effectiveness of thermally activated building systems (TABS) in the sustainability of commercial buildings.
  • Alex Vos and Christian Stehlik (2021) The role of Urban Facilities Management and innovative technologies in improving the environmental sustainability of the University of Cape Town campus.
  • Cailin Donachie (2021) An investigation into the use of cyber technologies to enhance the social sustainability of social housing communities in South Africa.
  • Matthew Skorpen and Keegan Poustie (2021) Investigating urban farming as a potential solution to high CBD vacancies in Cape Town.
  • Anita Ferger and Jared Phipps (2021) A Study to Identify the Critical Success Factors for Quality of Life in Communities using Community-Based Facilities Management.
  • Jan Maré and Hermina van der Berg (2021) An investigation into the environmental sustainability of retrofitting vacant commercial buildings into urban farms: Case of Cape Town.