KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) had the honor of hosting Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laura Florez-Perez, a distinguished academic from University College London (UCL), for an enlightening online talk titled “Data-Driven Decision Making and Digital Innovation in Construction Management.” The session attracted a diverse audience of postgraduate students, academic staff, and researchers interested in construction engineering, digital technologies, and sustainable infrastructure development.
The event was organized by the Construction Quality & Maintenance (CQM) Research Group within the Department of Smart Engineering and Advanced Technology (SEAT) at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), UTM Kuala Lumpur. This talk was part of the faculty’s knowledge-sharing initiative, which aims to expose students and researchers to global thought leadership and cutting-edge research in the built environment.
Dr. Laura’s presentation centered on a comprehensive modeling framework used in construction projects, which includes descriptive, predictive, prescriptive, and reporting models. She explained how these frameworks form the backbone of advanced decision support systems that assist engineers and managers in navigating complex construction environments.
A key theme of her talk was the application of data analytics to improve productivity, focusing on enhancing team efficiency, resource optimization, and process performance. Dr. Laura emphasized the importance of integrating project information into digital models to enable more responsive, accurate, and proactive planning strategies.
Additionally, she discussed the role of materials selection and sustainable practices in construction, outlining how decision-making models can support project stakeholders in choosing environmentally friendly materials based on lifecycle analysis, performance data, and cost efficiency.
Dr. Laura also addressed intelligent automation and the role of digital tools in enhancing project control systems, which facilitate smarter scheduling, real-time monitoring, and improved resource allocation. These insights were informed by her extensive academic research and collaborations with industry partners across the United Kingdom and internationally.
Participants engaged with Dr. Laura during the Q&A session, raising questions about the future of AI integration in construction planning, challenges in implementing data-driven systems, and the real-world implications of digital construction models.
The session was particularly beneficial for UTM postgraduate students in construction-related fields, allowing them to gain exposure to practical frameworks and global best practices. One participant remarked, “Dr. Laura’s talk was eye-opening. It connected what we’re learning in class to real-world digital construction applications, giving us a clearer vision of where the industry is heading.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohamad Syazli Fathi, research lead of the CQM group and session moderator, remarked, “Dr. Laura’s contribution enriches our academic dialogue at FAI and strengthens our commitment to research excellence in smart construction and digital engineering. We are proud to connect with global experts like her to inspire our students and build international bridges for future collaboration.”
This talk not only enhanced academic collaboration between UTM and UCL, but also laid the groundwork for future opportunities in joint research, publications, and academic mobility. Discussions are underway to invite Dr. Laura for an in-person visit to UTM Kuala Lumpur, where she could further contribute through workshops and research networking sessions.
UTM is committed to providing its students and faculty with continuous opportunities to engage with international thought leaders, keeping pace with the rapid digital transformation in the engineering and construction industries.