Resilient infrastructures

Research expertise in resilient healthcare infrastructure

Our research focuses on the resilient healthcare infrastructure development. Approximate one seventh to one fifth COVID-19 patients and majority of infected healthcare workers attracted the disease in hospitals in the UK. The effects of complex hospital built environments on infectious disease epidemiology are investigated through computer simulations including agent-based modelling which provides useful information to evaluate the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing. It also gives a new perspective to develop hospital indoor spaces in a more flexible way so it can be better adapted to the future uncertainties, and this can be further enhanced with modular construction and prefabrication.

This research is supported by the ICE Research and Development Enabling Fund which provides support to develop new and innovative ideas designed to tackle problems in civil engineering design and construction.

International workshop on resilient hospital design, 22 July 2021

Fully-functioning hospitals are the backbone of society. The present UK hospital design procedure over-emphasises empirical knowledge and experimental research, but a lack of abilities to address new infectious diseases and the increasing global connectedness. During the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, most of the infected healthcare workers were found to be associated with healthcare-associated infections. There is a pressing need to develop more resilient hospital built environments concerning the health and safety of frontline healthcare workers and patients. 

This international workshop, run at Brunel University London on 22 July 2021, brought together academic and industry experts to share their knowledge. View their presentations below: 

• Welcome to the International workshop on Resilient Hospital Design, Professor Maria Kolokotroni
• Resilient hospital design through agent based modelling and expandable modular construction, Dr Kangkang Tang
• The use of CFD modelling to support pandemic-resilient design in the built environment, Paul Lynch, Arup
• Using people movement simulation to scenario test the resilience of healthcare facilities, Tony Nichol, People Movement Specialist at Arup
• IPPR’s approach to the ‘Integration of Normal and Epidemic Situations’, within healthcare facilities, Xiaolin Ma, IPPR
• Airborne infection control in the indoor environment, Zhiwen (Vincent) Luo, School of the Built Environment, University of Reading and Yuguo Li, University of Hong Kong 
• Maximising modular design within healthcare, Andy King – Director of Wernick Buildings
• Advancing capabilities in hospital infrastructure project delivery, Dr Grant Mills, University College London