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Dr Alba Fuertes

Alba Fuertes profile picture
Organisations, People and Technology research group lead

Office

127 

Building location

Chancellor's Building

Areas of interest

Originally trained in construction management and engineering, my research has often focused on improving construction processes for a more sustainable and healthier built environment. I am particularly interested in climate change adaptation in the construction industry. This includes understanding: the level of awareness amongst construction professionals; the ability of businesses to systematically analyse climate change risks and their impact on their processes and operations;  and current and future adaptation actions. In addition to mitigation measures, the construction sector must take significant adaptation actions to minimise the effects of climate change, including higher temperatures, extreme weather events, flooding and poorer air quality. To do so, construction organisations will need to systematically identify the short-term and long-term vulnerabilities of their managerial practices and operational processes, and analytically assess climate change related risks (e.g. heat-related H&S risks on workers, supply chain reliability, project delays and profit) and provide actions to address these risks.    

I am particularly interested in establishing research collaborations with industry and attracting research funding that can benefit both academia and construction organisations. Specific research areas of interest are:

  • Climate change adaptation and resilience
  • Effects of weather on construction workers’ H&S and wellbeing
  • Effects of weather on construction productivity
  • Climate change risk assessment in construction projects

Postgraduate supervision

  • Ayoubi, Q.: Mitigating the effects of rising temperatures on construction labourers’ health and wellbeing in the UK. ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø
  • Hau, R.: Applications of smart site safety system in preventing and mitigating heat stress of construction workers in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Ohara, M.-C.: Impact of climate change risks on construction contracts and projects. ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø
  • Lingwood, A.: A framework for carbon emissions assessment and reporting in groundwork projects. ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø
  • Jones, S.: An investigation of the association between construction, indoor air quality and health. University of Plymouth
  • Akinbami, A.: Effects of daylight on health and productivity of healthcare personnel. University of Plymouth
  • Ulrich de Alencastro, J.P.: Impact of quality management on the thermal performance of social housing in UK. University of Plymouth
  • Dangana, Z.: A decision support framework for selecting innovative sustainable technologies for delivering low carbon retail buildings. University of Plymouth
  • Tamang, P.: Organisational implications of robotics and automation in construction supply chains. ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø
  • Al Mazrooei, K.: Automation adoption readiness of Oman’s construction industry. ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø

Teaching

Convenorship:

  • CE2EST - Building Environmental Systems and Technology (UG Year 2)
  • CE3CPE - BEM Project (UG Year 3)
  • CE3CPM - Construction Management Project (UG Year 3)

Contributing to:

  • CE2CPD – Projects and Digitalisation (UG Year 2)
  • CE3RSD – Research Skills and Dissertation (UG Year 3)
  • CEM10A - Research Skills (PGT)
  • CEM10B – Research Dissertation (PGT)

Research centres and groups

Research projects

  • Heat Awareness Toolkit for construction companies (Principal Investigator). Research Engagement Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation (REKEC) and Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), 2025 – 2026
  • , RAP2025016 (Co-Investigator). EPSRC and ESRC via EDRC, 2025 – 2026
  • (Co-Investigator). European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), 2019 – 2023
  • (EnerGAware) (Principal Investigator). European Commission Horizon2020, 2015 – 2018.
  • (Co-Investigator). European Commission (FP7), 2011 - 2012
  • (Co-Investigator). European Commission (JTI-CP-ARTEMIS), 2011 - 2012
  • Development of an Homogenous Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) model for the evaluation of the energy consumption and emissions of buildings (Co-Investigator). Ministry for Infrastructure and Buildings, Spanish Government, 2007 – 2010

Background

  • Associate Professor. Department of Construction Management and Engineering, School of the Built Environment, ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, UK (2023 – Present)
  • Associate Professor. Department of Built Environment. School of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Plymouth, UK (2012 – 2022)
  • Lecturer. Department of Construction Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain (2008 – 2012)
  • PhD Researcher. Department of Construction Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain (2008 – 2012)

Academic qualifications

  • PhD, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain, 2012.
  • MSc Construction Project Management, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC, Spain) and Università degli Studi di Firenze (UNIFI, Italy), 2007
  • MEng Industrial Engineering (Construction specialisation), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain, 2006

Professional bodies/affiliations

  • Fellow of Higher Education Association (FHEA)
  • Member of Scientific Association of Experts in Occupational Health and Safety, Spain.
  • Member of Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM)

Websites/blogs

Publications

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