The Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) hosted a seminar for leading researchers, engineers and construction professionals from Qatar and the region, titled “Research and Construction; the Good, the Bad and the Irrelevant”, earlier this week.

During the event, sustainability specialists examined the role of research in the construction sector and discussed the importance of implementing academic research that facilitates the timely implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030.

The gathering forms part of an ongoing series of workshops and events hosted by the QGBC to promote awareness of sustainability issues and provide a constructive platform to discuss environment-friendly practices and policies.

QGBC director Meshal al-Shamari welcomed the participants and stressed the significance of exchanging ideas and collaborating to create a sustainable future.

“Over the last decade, Qatar’s construction sector has delivered a large number of national projects and many more will soon be launched,” said al-Shamari. “We consider sustainability and innovation two of the most vital elements in our path towards achieving Qatar National Vision 2030.

“At Qatar Green Building Council, we are committed to working alongside our members, national stakeholders and international research institutes in order to build a viable platform for the exchange of creative ideas in the construction sector.”

To bring about wider benefits and drive the industry forward, participants delved into the contribution and economic significance of the building sector and explored several critical subjects, including how to better streamline the research undertaken at academic and commercial institutes.

In addition, audience members reflected on whether the day-to-day problems faced by industry professionals were widely acknowledged and understood.

Steven Humphrey, the director of Programme Cost Consultancy at Aecom in Doha, raised several pertinent questions and presented the seminar participants with a commentary about the current state of play in the construction industry.

Humphrey said: “Has there really been any landmark development in construction technology or innovations in the past 100 years?

“While historic references to engineering feats are still not fully explained, new advances have been slow to come to the general construction industry.

“When compared with other industries and market sectors, huge leaps forward have been seen, but why has this not occurred in construction?”

“Why does the construction industry traditionally spend insignificant amounts on research and development compared with other sectors, and what drives the research that does take place?” Humphrey pointed out.

Meanwhile, in a workshop with Building Research Establishment (BRE) Global, QGBC explored ways to apply innovation to the built environment.

The workshop brought together experts from the QGBC and BRE Global, who were keen to discuss the latest research findings and methods influencing the design, construction and management of the built environment.

Participants also assessed the studies and work being done in the built environment across Qatar and the GCC region.

The QGBC and BRE plan to continue collaborating and advocating green building solutions in order to raise awareness and pave the way for sustainable research strategies.

The QGBC is a member of the Qatar Foundation.