CIB is pleased to announce the winner of the CIB Best Doctoral Dissertation Award 2024 is Hongying Zhao of RMIT University, Australia.
Following a round of presentations from the 5 shortlisted candidates to a panel of judges appointed by CIB, Hongying’s work on Energy, Economic and Environmental Performances of BIPV Façade in Urban Environment: a Machine Learning Based Urban Morphology Method was judged to be worthy of the award.
On being awarded the CIB Best Doctoral Dissertation award 2024 Hongying said
Winning the CIB Best Doctoral Dissertation Award 2024 is an incredible honour and recognition of my research. It inspires me to continue developing practical solutions for sustainable urban development. By combining machine learning with building-integrated solar technology, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Invited to outline her dissertation Hongying explained
“My research focuses on evaluating the energy, economic, and environmental potential of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) facades in urban environments. By incorporating urban morphology—such as building height and density—into a GIS-based simulation and machine learning framework, my work provides faster and more accurate assessments of BIPV performance.
This innovative methodology addresses the challenges of shadows, complex urban structures, and time-consuming evaluations, which facilitates the creation of a decision-making matrix to support early-stage urban planning. The results highlight BIPV’s potential to contribute to sustainable urban development by generating clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and achieving economic feasibility”.
The judging panel consisted of Kathy Michell of the University of Cape Town, Kalle Kahkonen of Tampere University and Jeremy Gibberd of the University of the Witwatersrand. In making the award the judges noted the excellent quality of all the dissertations – “…your work is absolutely incredible in each of your individual fields, and we thoroughly enjoyed listening to the highlights”.
In addition to the winner, who receives a cash prize of €1,500, two runners-up also receive a €500 cash prize each. The two runners up prizes were awarded to Benjamin Oluleye and Ania Khodabakhshian.
Shortlisted candidates
The candidates shortlisted for the award and invited to present to the judging panel were:
- Hongying Zhao, RMIT University Student Chapter
- Dissertation title: Energy, Economic and Environmental Performances of BIPV Façade in Urban Environment: a Machine Learning Based Urban Morphology Method
- Ania Khodabakhshian – Politecnico di Milano Student Chapter
- Dissertation title: Machine Learning for Risk Management in Construction Projects
- De-Graft Joe Opoku – Western Sydney University Student Chapter
- Dissertation title: A methodology for digitally optimising energy consumption in buildings
- Olufisayo Adewumi Adedokun, Newcastle University Student Chapter
- Dissertation title: Incentives for Encouraging Householders’ Self-Evacuation from Bushfire Prone Areas in NSW, Australia
- Oluleye Ifeoluwa Benjamin, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Student Chapter
- Dissertation title: Assessment model and decision support system fo the adoption and implementation of circular economy in the building construction industry in Nigeria
The shortlisted candidates recorded a brief introductory video to their research which are available to view below.
| PhD thesis – Machine Learning for Risk Management in Construction Projects – Ania Khodabakhshian Politecnico di Milano | | Incentives for Encouraging Householders Self-Evacuation from Bushfire-Prone Areas in New South Wales – Olufisayo Adedokun |
| Energy, Economic and Environmental Performances of BIPV Façade in Urban Environment: a Machine Learning Based Urban Morphology Method – Hongying Zhao | A methodology for digitally optimising energyconsumption in buildings – De Graft Joe Opoku |
Their full presentations along with judges feedback can be viewed below
