Coordinator(s)

Vivian Tam
Western Sydney University
Australia

Linna Geng
Western Sydney University
Australia

Yijun Zhou
Massey University
New Zealand

Mingxue Ma
RMIT
Australia

Lei Liu
Western Sydney University
Australia

Overview

W116 promotes the integrated development of smart technologies and sustainability to create higher-performing built environments. It supports international collaboration, research and knowledge exchange on smart and sustainable buildings and infrastructure, sharing best practice and developing solutions for researchers, practitioners and other stakeholders.

Objectives

CIB W116 – Smart and Sustainable Built Environment brings together researchers and academics to advance international research, knowledge exchange and collaboration on smart technologies and sustainability in built environments. As a CIB Working Commission, W116 contributes to a worldwide network of experts who meet, collaborate and exchange knowledge in a defined scientific area. The Commission’s objectives are to:

  • encourage global networking, foster awareness and promote understanding of smart technologies and sustainability in built environments;
  • identify, collect, create, discuss, evaluate and disseminate information and knowledge on strategies and best practices for smart and sustainable buildings and infrastructure;
  • analyze, develop and apply relevant knowledge and transfer it to stakeholders across research, education and practice;
  • support multidisciplinary approaches that integrate smart and sustainable aspects of the built environment and contribute to high-performance, innovative solutions for enhanced sustainability.

Work Programme

The 2025-2028 work programme is structured around three linked phases: engagement, outputs and impact.

In Year 1: Engagement (2025-2026), W116 will build and activate its international research network. Planned activities include two hybrid workshops: Human–Robot Collaboration for Sustainable Construction, embedded within CRIOCM 2026 (13–17 July 2026, Sydney, Australia), Sustainable End-of-Life Pathways for Wind Turbine Blades Workshop (25 August 2026, Auckland, New Zealand), and Smart and Resilient Built Environments, embedded within the New Zealand Built Environment Research Symposium (NZBERS) 2026 (13 November 2026, Wellington, New Zealand).

In Year 2: Outputs (2026-2027), W116 will translate engagement into collaborative scholarly outputs. The programme includes the development of a book on sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient urbanism through collaboration between TG97, W096, W101 and W116; two online meetings with W116 members on this theme; and a W116- and CIB-branded special issue in the International Journal of Construction Management.

In Year 3: Impact (2027-2028), W116 will consolidate research outcomes and strengthen the continuity of leadership and collaboration. Planned activities include two webinars on focused research areas; mentoring emerging leaders to support leadership succession and capacity building within the Commission; and organising an in-person session at the 24th CIB World Building Congress in Beijing, China.

Outputs

W116’s expected outputs for 2025-2028 are:

  • An active international research network connecting W116 members across priority regions, supported by membership expansion, member meetings, webinars and ongoing communication.
  • Focused academic engagement activities, including online seminars, webinars, workshops and in-person meetings that support knowledge exchange on smart technologies, sustainability and climate-resilient urbanism in the built environment.
  • Cross-commission collaboration with CIB groups including TG97, W096, W101 and W116 on sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient urbanism, with further cross-commission collaboration encouraged as an ongoing activity.
  • Collaborative scholarly publications, including a planned a W116- and CIB-branded book and a special issue in the International Journal of Construction Management.
  • Academic visibility through conferences and congresses, including a dedicated W116 session at CRIOCM 2026 in Sydney, NZBERS 2026 in New Zealand and an in-person session at the CIB 24th World Building Congress in Beijing, China
  • Capacity building and leadership continuity, including support for ECR networks and mentoring of emerging leaders to sustain future W116 activity.

The full list of CIB working commissions and task groups can be viewed here.