Marcus Sandberg

About me

Biography

My research profile is a blend of technology, informatics, engineering and management in the field of construction. To be able to do research about methods and processes for computer support development one need to understand how computer technology works, how the building structure works (engineering), how to handle information (informatics) and the needs and challenges of the organizations (management).

Since I was a PhD student, my research has been about how development processes, such as design and product development, can be enhanced by means of computer support by automating repetitive tasks or enabling evaluation of manufacturability, costs and structural integrity. When I started working with the Construction engineering and management group in 2013, my research profile was widened to also include sustainability in the projects: (Attract), energy efficiency, temperature measurements (Green Power), Geographical information systems and urban planning (Food on the roof), farming (Green Power, Kiruna Sustainability Center - KSC), off-site construction (Digitalized construction), optimisation (Life-cycle energy optimization of new and retrofitting buildings, Computer-driven optimizations for improving sustainability performances of buildings), innovation stimulated by digitalisation (Skills innovation hub, Customer focused service development based on automation), and structural engineers possibility to do climate calculations (Digital work flow for sustainability-optimized and correctly climate-declared residential building). The common dominator is development of methods or processes based on virtual models to create decision bases for designers or planners in the building process. I use the term Virtual construction since it is about use of digital models, e.g. building information models, simulation models for energy and structural integrity or cost models for optimal building design, with the aim to mitigate costly surprises during construction. It is cheaper to do the mistakes in the virtual model instead of at the site or in the factory.

My research is applied meaning that academic methods, e.g. frameworks and processes, are developed in iteration with real case prototype development. This is a basis for understanding the needs of the society and spreading research results. I like research problems that connects technology with societal needs, that there are people with different needs that our methods need to consider creating chances for change and enhancements.

My industry collaborators since being a PhD student have been Volvo Aero Corporation (today GKN Aerospace) and, since I started at the Division for Industrial and Sustainable Construction WSP, PEAB, Tyréns, DesignEvolution, Sweco Architects, RISE, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Martinsons, Technical Services in Kiruna AB, Boden Municipality, Luleå Municipality, Hydro 66, HSB among others. With them, I have worked in several projects within virtual construction for multi-residential building, datacenters and greenhouses.

Since 2021 I am CENEs representative in the Vice chancellor's quality council and since 2023 I'm the coordinator for contract education at CENE.

Current projects

• FaçadeDigital - Smart built environment (Formas)
  
• Infrastructure for lifelong learning - The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, Region Norrbotten

Undergraduate teaching

• P0011B - Computer tools in engineering
• P7006B - Virtual construction
• W0007B - CAD & VR
• W0009B - BIM for visualization and VR
• W7010B - Construction management II
• X7005B - Degree project in Architectural Engineering, specialization Building Design, Master of Science in Engineering
• X7006B - Degree project in Civil Engineering, specialization Lean Construction, Master of Science in Engineering

Misc.

• Member of the LTU quality advisory board as representatitve for the Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural resources Engineering (CENE).
• Coordinator for contract education at CENE