Vision: To develop a highly productive, integrated and technologically advanced construction sector that can build faster and more sustainably, while optimising limited manpower and resources

Key Research Themes:

• Additive manufacturing – Advance the use of 3D printing technology for construction in Singapore’s tropical climate and densely populated high-rise environment
• Robotics and automation – Facilitate robotics deployment and develop technologies to streamline processes such as Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)
• Advanced materials for the Built Environment – Develop cost-effective and sustainable construction materials with enhanced materials properties
• Safe and productive construction – Develop productive innovations to enhance safety and improve construction productivity
• Advanced project management – Enhance coordination across the construction value chain and optimize resource utilization by leveraging on smart/digital technologies

Vision: To create a robust, flexible and well-maintained city, to ensure our infrastructure remains reliable and cost-effective throughout their lifespan

Key Research Themes:

• Building inspection and repair – Enhance traditional inspection and repair methods through the use of emerging smart/digital technologies
• Reliable M&E services – Enhance reliability and durability of key M&E services
• Advanced building materials to improve maintenance and durability – Enhance the durability and performance of building and repair materials

Vision: To ensure sufficient space capacity to support Singapore’s continued economic and population growth, yet maintain a liveable environment

Key Research Themes:

• Mitigating environmental impact of land reclamation – Develop methodologies to map the carbon footprint in land reclamation works to mitigate the possible environmental impacts
• Alternative reclamation materials and methods – Develop alternative materials and monitoring methods for reclamation to reduce reliance on conventional reclamation materials and improve productivity 
• Innovative mooring solutions – Develop innovative mooring solutions that are scalable and can be applied to optimise sea anchorage space
• Underground mapping – Develop innovative solutions to map underground geology and services quickly, accurately, and in a cost-effective and non-invasive manner
• Construction and maintenance of underground developments – Develop cost-effective underground construction and maintenance solutions to address issues such as water seepage

Vision: To achieve a high quality living environment that is inclusive, resource-efficient and adaptive to climate change

Key Research Themes:

• Enhancing liveability – Develop solutions to enhance liveability and create a more pleasant living environment
• People-centric urban design – Deepen our understanding of the social environment, develop planning and design principles to promote health and well-being, and create more inclusive and resilient communities
• Sensing of social sentiments and needs – Enhance understanding of sentiments and emerging trends to address people and communities’ needs
• Mitigating urban heat island (UHI) effect – UHI mitigation and adaptation measures for the Built Environment to enhance thermal comfort
• Coastal adaptation – Develop alternative coastal protection systems and materials to improve Singapore's readiness toward climate change impacts

Vision: To support our national ambition to create a ‘City in Nature’ through enhancing and leveraging natural capital to meet sustainability goals

Key Research Themes:

• Integrating rich and resilient biodiversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems – Develop tools and techniques to enhance conservation of native flora, fauna and natural environments, improve biodiversity monitoring and build ecological resilience
• Safe, sustainable and productive methods in enhancing multi-functional greenery – Develop solutions to improve urban greenery operations and management, and its integration with the built infrastructure
• Managing human-nature relationships – Develop biophilic solutions to improve physical and mental well-being, and enhance monitoring of human-wildlife interactions
• Nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation – Develop nature-based solutions to mitigate, adapt to, and build resilience against climate change

Vision: To develop capabilities and technologies to enable data-informed planning decisions, more targeted and optimal planning strategies as well as improved productivity and service delivery in the planning process

Key Research Themes:

• Data Analytics, Modelling and Simulation
• Land Use Activity and Mobility – Enable more integrated and efficient land use-transport modelling to enable continued optimization of land use allocation, travel demand and urban logistics
• Impact of the Built Environment on Health & Wellbeing – Develop data-driven methodology to quantify relationship between wellbeing and different aspects of the built environment, and propose urban planning and design solutions to create more liveable neighbourhoods and foster healthy communities
• Polycentric Development – Simulate impact of future polycentres on existing developments to inform development quantum phasing and related policy decisions
• Connectivity for People and Ecology – Promote positive user experiences of recreation spaces through data-informed urban planning and design approach, and mitigate negative human-wildlife interactions
• Al Technologies for Urban Planning – Develop AI-enabled decision support systems for planning formulation, implementation and maintenance

Vision: To gain insights into dynamic and complex urban problems through application of complexity science, by understanding the interdependency of urban systems and parameters that affect urban planning

Key Research Themes:

• Liveable City: Adaptive and Inclusive Towns for All Ages – Develop planning parameters to strengthen adaptability of the built environment in response to residents’ changing needs and foster more robust community networks
• Circular Economy for Sustainable Development – Understand the resource flows, networks and interdependency among businesses to augment resource circularity and efficiency
• Healthy Environment: Green and Healthy Places – Identify synergies between components of urban-nature system to enhance urban greenery initiatives for a healthier and more comfortable environment
• Resilient and Adaptable City; Planning for the Post-COVID City – Develop strategies for urban planning and development using a complexity science approach to build resilience for future disruptions

Vision: To build a high-quality built environment through facilities management which integrates across FM disciplines, aggregates demand, and drives execution in an efficient manner

Key Research Themes:

• Centralised network intelligence for optimal FM operation – Understand behaviour and inter-dependency of FM systems and develop predictive measures to optimise operations
• Coordinated deployment of FM robotics – Develop solutions to better manage FM operations through leveraging on AI technologies and deployment of robots