Loughborough University

Artificial Intelligence for the Built Environment (AI4BE)

Loughborough UniversityLoughborough, United Kingdom

Course overview

Artificial Intelligence (AI) already contributes in many ways to improve the built environment in all its life-cycle stages: design, build, operate, decommission. But AI is used in fragmented, specialist, proprietary ways which is preventing the delivery of joined-up outcomes expected by society from the built environment. The lack of integrated information thinking has led to failures in built environment solutions and holds back the potential to create adaptive solutions that can flex based on changing contexts.

The AI4BE Loughborough Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) will develop AI-skilled, future global leaders who embrace systems thinking, collaborative sharing, and inter-disciplinary pluralism. These skills are essential for AI-informed solutions to a range of built environment challenges, from climate change, globalisation and localisation, to security and resilience, and value for money. Research will explore ways in which AI can be developed and used in critical ways that use continuous, dynamic self-measurement and evaluation of multiple impacts.

Projects will be wide ranging but will apply AI to solve challenges in: The AI4BE is a new centre straddling Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough Business School, and the School of Science. Your supervisors are likely to come from different disciplines. The centre will be led by Professor Liz Varga who has a chair in complex systems and leads globally on research into infrastructure and buildings.

You will be part of a cohort and offered a stimulating programme of participative learning, collaborative problem solving and skills development. Your focus will be to establish and maintain research integrity ensuring your outputs are relevant for stakeholders to solve real world challenges. 94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

REF 2021

Key highlights

  • Doctoral training centre applying AI across design, build, operate and decommission
  • Interdisciplinary supervision spanning architecture, civil engineering, business and science
  • Cohort-based training with participative learning and collaborative problem solving
  • Research tackles climate change, security, resilience and value for money
  • Centre led by a professor holding a chair in complex systems
  • 94% of research impact rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)

Entry requirements

  • Degree: 2:1 — 2:1

Scholarships

  • Alumni Bursary

    10% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.

    Up to 10% of fees

  • Alumni Discount

    UK students: £1,500 tuition fee discount for one academic year. International students: £3,000 tuition fee discount for one academic year.

  • Care Leaver's Scholarship

  • Excellence Scholarships

    UK students: £3,000 off tuition fees; International students: £6,000 off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.

  • International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary

    Our International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary offers a £12,000 tuition fee discount (set against the tuition fees of your chosen postgraduate taught programme ONLY).

    Up to £12,000

  • London 10th Anniversary Award

    £5,000 off tuition fees.

    Up to £5,000

  • Loughborough Business School Scholarship

    £1,500 (UK students) and £3,000 (international students) off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.

  • MBA Progress with Purpose Scholarship

    50% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.

    Up to 50% of fees

  • Qatari Ghanim Al-Muftah Excellence Scholarship

Careers this course leads to

  • Academic researcher in AI for the built environment
  • Digital construction specialist
  • Infrastructure data scientist
  • Smart buildings consultant
  • Built environment policy adviser
  • Research and development lead in engineering consultancy

Cost of study

International: £29,500

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Loughborough University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.

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