Construction Dissertation Topics

Construction Dissertation Topics

Info: Construction Dissertation Topics
Published: 22th September 2025 in Construction Dissertation Topics

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Introduction

The construction industry, or built environment, plays a core role in the physical, economic, and social infrastructure of societies. The industry is experiencing various challenges and concerns related to sustainability, safety, technology, labour, and funding. With increasing urbanization, the industry must work to advance sustainable, efficient, and durable construction practices. Research in construction includes many areas of application, including project management, construction technology, urban design, sustainability and environmental impacts, and labour, and employment trends. Dissertation topics, in relation to construction, generally focus upon challenges and emerging trends in relation to the changing built environment.

Background Context

The construction sector is important for both economic growth and social development, however, it is under great strain because of climate change, resource scarcity and societal pressures. The current research within construction is centered on several themes, such as sustainable building materials, “green” technologies, project management, construction safety, and the impact of automation and digital technologies. Cost management, skill gaps in the labor force and regulatory compliance remain top of mind. Research in the field of construction provides opportunity to find new solutions to these problems and to enhance overall industry practice writing policies aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience.

Future Research Topics

  • Building Materials that Are Environmentally Friendly: Exploring new environmentally friendly of materials and in what manner they are being incorporated into new buildings.
  • Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Construction: Investigating the mechanisms by which BIM and other digital technologies are fundamentally changing the nature of a building construction process.
  • Construction Project Management: Investigating how to manage the project triad factors of time, cost, and quality in a scale project.
  • Labor Challenges in Construction: Investigating the skills gaps, labor shortages, and the Net effects of automation on labor in construction.
  • Disaster Resiliency in Construction: An Examination of the design strategies of building infrastructure, which can resist natural phenomena such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, etc.

Dissertation Topic 1:

The Role of Sustainable Building Materials in Modern Construction

Background Context

Due to the increased demand for sustainable construction practices, a variety of new building materials are available, which help lower environmental impacts. The materials range from using recycled concrete to new alternatives like bamboo and hempcrete. In the future, research into their application and effectiveness will develop an understanding of new construction practices.
Research Questions
  • What are the environmental pros and cons of sustainable building materials?
  • Are sustainable building materials cost-effective, especially on a larger scale?
  • What policies encourage the use of sustainable building materials?
Potential Implications
  • Expand our understanding of the environmental consequence of construction materials.
  • Encourage the use of green building practices.
  • Inform what policies could be created to encourage sustainable construction.
Suggested Reading
  • Goodier, C., & Dainty, A. (2025). Sustainable Construction Materials. Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Smith, J. (2024). Green Building Handbook: A Guide to Sustainable Construction. Routledge.

Dissertation Topic 2:

The Effects of Building Information Modeling (BIM) on Construction Project Management

Background Context
BIM has transformed the construction sector through the provision of an integrated digital architecture product. This product improves construction planning, coordination, collaboration, communication and participation throughout all phases of construction.
Research Questions
  • In what ways does BIM improve both time and cost efficiencies in construction?
  • What are the challenges to widespread adoption and integration of BIM within the construction industry?
  • In what ways does BIM provide better communication and collaboration opportunities with all stakeholders?
Potential Implications
  • Identify a list of pros and cons of utilizing BIM in construction.
  • Recommendations for implementation for more acceptance and usage of BIM in the construction industry.
  • Best practice recommendations for using BIM in project management.

Suggested Reading

  • Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., & Sacks, R. (2024). BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Designers, Engineers, and Contractors. Wiley.
  • Azhar, S. (2025). BIM for Project Managers. CRC Press.

Dissertation Topic 3:

The Impact of Automation and Robotics on the Future of Construction

Background Context
Automation and robotics have begun to change industries, but one of the more unexpected industries is construction. The use of automation, like 3D printing and robotic bricklayers, promises to fundamentally change how we build by improving efficiency and safety while lowering labor costs.
Research Questions
  • Knowledge of eventual automation and robotics in construction.
  • Recommendations for integrating needs to improve efficiency and safety.
  • Report potential downsides of using automation in construction.
Potential Implications
  • Provide practitioners with actionable ideas to enhance intercultural competence.
  • Inform educators, business partners and diplomatic associates of the cultural aspects that may inform their practices.
  • Assist with needs assessments and recruitment for initiatives targeting inclusion and diversity.
Suggested Reading
  • Bock, T. (2024). The Future of Construction: Robotics and Automation in Building Projects. Springer.
  • Yost, M., & Martin, M. (2025). Robotics in Construction: A Practical Guide. CRC Press.

Dissertation Topic 4:

Managing Construction Risks in Large-Scale Projects

Background
A variety of risks occur on large-scale construction projects, including financial volatility, delays, safety, and changes in regulations. Planning risk management strategies is crucial to the overarching success of any construction project.
Research Questions
  • What risks are commonly experienced in large-scale construction projects?
  • How can practitioners modify existing risk management frameworks for modern construction projects?
  • What effect does the construction management team and contractor have on risk mitigation strategies?
Potential Contributions
  • To provide effective risk management strategies existing for large-scale construction projects.
  • To provide information on the role of technology in risk management strategies.
  • To provide recommendations to improve safety and compliance measures in the construction industry.
Suggested Reading
  • Hillson, D. (2024). Managing Risk in Construction Projects. Routledge.
  • Kähkönen, K., & Kujala, J. (2025). Risk Management in Construction: A Practical Guide. Wiley-Blackwell.

Conclusion

The construction industry is at a pivotal point – it needs innovation, sustainability and efficiency to collaborate and offer solutions for such challenges as contemporary urbanization and environmental challenges. Engaging in dissertation research in the construction industry allows for the evaluation of truly cutting-edge solutions, from sustainable building materials to the integral adoption of automation and robotics. Through contributing to this knowledge and supported by you, researchers will be better positioned to promote the embrace of resilient, affordable and sustainable built environments in the future.PhD Assistance can assist each stage of each student doing research in topic areas of construction, with planning considerations for dissertation, analyses of data, and writing. Contact us for individualized assistance at phases of the dissertation process.

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