CIB is pleased to announce the winner of the CIB Keith Hampson ECR-Industry award 2025 is Samudaya Nanayakkara of Western Sydney University. Samudaya will use his award to further research on AI and Large Language Model (LLM)-powered tool designed to simplify Environmental Product Declaration (EPD.
SimplyEPD is an AI and Large Language Model (LLM)-powered tool designed to simplify Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) data for the construction industry. EPDs contain essential sustainability information, but their complexity often makes them difficult to use. This project develops a digital assistant that interprets and compares EPDs in a clear and consistent way, helping industry professionals make more informed, low-carbon material decisions.
This award provides valuable support for advancing the LLM-based SimplyEPD prototype through enhanced industry collaboration, model development, and validation. It also strengthens Samudaya’s capacity to lead impactful research at the intersection of digital innovation and sustainable construction.
“I am honoured to receive the CIB Keith Hampson ECR-Industry Award, an internationally recognised honour that acknowledges the contributions of emerging researchers driving industry-focused innovation in the built environment, sustainability, and modern digital technologies such as AI.”
Samudaya Nanayakkara
The CIB Keith Hampson ECR-Industry award is generously endowed by Keith Hampson, CIB President from 2019 to 2022, and aims to encourage industry collaboration by ECRs. This is the fourth awarding of the prize which was first announced during the World Building Congress 2022 hosted by RMIT in Melbourne.
