Franco Cheung
Associate Professor in Quantity Surveying
Franco is an experienced quantity surveyor and active researcher specialising in cost modelling and forecasting techniques. His research studies have been published in leading refereed journals in construction management domain such as Building and Environment, Construction Management and Economics, and Automation in Construction.
He is currently interested in seeking funding opportunities to develop knowledge exchange mechanism and support industrial led research projects together with industrial participants from national construction companies to specialist small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He has managed and contributed to a number of industry-led research studies including two recently completed projects funded by EPSRC and Innovate UK. Currently, he is a committee member of the West Midlands BIM Region.
Area of expertise:
- Cost modelling;
- Risk analysis;
- BIM applications;
- Value co-creation.
Biography
Franco Cheung joined Birmingham City University in 2016. Coming from a professional background as a quantity surveyor for a consultant and contractors specialising in cost planning, he developed his specialism in cost modelling and forecasting techniques through his PhD study. Franco from a professional background with experience in consulting, contracting and developing, he develops his knowledge expertise in the areas of risk analysis, building information modelling (BIM) cost management, value co-creation, and embodied energy assessment.
- PhD, Queensland University of Technology, Australia (2005)
- BSC in Quantity Surveying (Commendation), Hong Kong Polytechnic University (1994)
Externally funded research projects(successfully completed while Franco worked at Oxford Brookes University)
Future Directions of BIM (Canadian $8K Funded by George Brown College, Canada under RICS Trust Fund (10/14 – 04/15)) – A comparative study that analyses the factors shaping the development of BIM in North America, China and the UK. Franco led the UK chapter of the study.
Report available: http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/research/research-reports/utilization-of-bim/
BIM-enabled Collaborative Platform for Innovative Low Impact School Procurement (£540K Funded by Innovate UK (05/13 – 04/16)) – As a co-Investigator, Franco contributes to the bid development in particular on the work package design and financial model, lead the delivery of the work package on process and product performance analysis, and manage cost reports.
Project Webpage: https://sites.google.com/a/brookes.ac.uk/bim-enabled-collaborative-platform-for-low-impact-schools/
Integrated Carbon, Waste, Time and Cost Modelling for the Design of Low Impact Buildings (£375K Funded by Innovate UK and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (02/10 – 01/12)) – As a co-investigator, Franco contributes to the bid development in particular on the cost modelling element and the financial model, manage the academic element and the overall delivery, lead the delivery of the elements regarding cost modelling and the related data structure, manage cost reports, design the dissemination activities and outputs.
Project Videos: //www.youtube.com/user/tsbLIB
Project Webpage: https://sites.google.com/site/lowimpactbuildingsproject/
Refereed Journal Papers:
Cheung, F., Kurul, E. & Oti, A. (in press) A case study of hybrid strategies to create value for a contracting business in the education sector in England & Wales, Construction Management and Economics. Kurul, E., Smith, A. & Cheung, F.(in press) A Live Project to Improve Energy Performance of Retail Organisation, accepted for publication in the Live Projects Special Issue, Brookes eJournal of Learning and Teaching (BeJLT). Abanda, F., Tah, J. & Cheung, F. (2013) Mathematical modeling of embodied energy, greenhouse gases, waste, Time-Cost parameters of building projects: A Review. Building and Environment, 59, 23-37. Cheung, F., Rihan, J., Tah, J., Duce, D. & Kurul, E. (2012) Early stage multi-level cost estimation for schematic BIM models. Automation in Construction, 27, 67-77. Kurul, E., Tah, J. H. & Cheung, F. (2012) Does the UK built environment sector have the institutional capacity to deliver sustainable development? Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 8, 42-54. Cheung, F., Wong, M. W. & Skitmore, M. (2008) A study of clients’ and estimators’ tolerance towards estimating errors. Construction Management and Economics, 26, 349-362. Skitmore, M. & Cheung, F. (2007) Explorations in specifying construction price forecast loss functions. Construction Management and Economics, 25, 449-465. Cheung, F. & Skitmore, M. (2006) Application of cross validation techniques for modelling construction costs during the very early design stage. Building and Environment, 41, 1973-1990. Cheung, F. & Skitmore, M. (2006) A modified storey enclosure model. Construction Management and Economics, 24, 391-405. Cheung, S., Cheung, F., Yeung, D. & Wong, P. (2005) Enhancing contract knowledge of cost engineers through the web. Cost engineering, 47, 24-33. Cheung, F., Kuen, J. & Skitmore, M. (2002) Multi-criteria evaluation model for the selection of architectural consultants. Construction Management & Economics, 20, 569-580. Refereed Conference Papers Kurul, E., Oti, H. & Cheung, F. (2016) Level 3 BIM For Standardised Design Delivery, Refinement And Optimisation: Is It A Real Option In The UK?. CIB World Congress 2016, 30 May- 3 June, Tampere, Finland. Oti, H., Kurul, E., Cheung, F. & Tah, J. (2016) The Utilization Of BMS In BIM For Facility Management. CIB World Congress 2016, 30 May- 3 June, Tampere, Finland. Kurul, E., Abanda, F., Tah, J. & Cheung, F. (2013) Rethinking the Build Process for BIM Adoption. Proceedings of the 19th CIB World Building Congress. Queensland University of Technology. May 13. Abanda, H., Tah, J., Cheung, F. & Zhou, W. (2010) Measuring the embodied energy, waste, CO2 emissions, time and cost for building design and construction. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering. The University of Nottingham, UK. June 10. Abanda, H., Tah, J. H. M., Cheung, F. & Zhou, W. (2010) Measuring the Embodied Energy, Waste and CO2 Emissions from Construction Activity: An Overview. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering. The University of Nottingham, UK. June 10. Zhou, W., Tah, J. H. M., Abanda, H. & Cheung, F. (2010) Towards a holistic modeling framework for embodied carbon and waste in the building lifecycle. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering. The University of Nottingham, UK. June 10. Cheung, F. & Skitmore, M. (2005) Refinement of Storey Enclosure Forecasting Method. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). New Orleans. Au-Yeung, R., Cheung, S. O., Suen, H. C. H. & Cheung, F. (2003) Case Based Reasoning Approach to Aid Dispute Resolution Process Selection. 7th Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors Congress. Cheung, F., Cheung, S. O. & Drew, D. S. (2002) Value Optimization of Building Components in Design Process.Proceedings of First International Conference of Construction in the 21st Century. Miami, Florida. Cheung, S.-O., Yeung, D. K., Cheung F. & Suen, H. C. (2002) A planning framework for conditions of contract for use in partnering projects. Proceedings of the 18th ARCOM Conference. Northumbria University. Cheung, F. & Cheung, S. O. (2001) Cost Planning and Control in Hong Kong: Current Practice and the Future Directions. 2001 International Conference on Project Cost Management. Beijing, China. Drew, D. S. & Cheung, F. (1996) Market Share of Contractors according to Type and Size of Contract. CIB W65 International Symposium in 1996. Volume One, 158-167. Invited Conference Paper Cheung, F. & Cheung, S. O. (2003) Customers-Oriented Housing Development by Application of Quality Function Deployment Methodology. 7th Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors Congress. Professional Report Kissoon, C., Willis, C., Regmi, T., Zhang, J. & Cheung, F. (2015) Utilization of BIM in Construction Cost and Project Management Practices: North America, China and the UK, RICS Research Report, RICS, June 15.
Cheung, F., Kurul, E. & Oti, A. (in press) A case study of hybrid strategies to create value for a contracting business in the education sector in England & Wales, Construction Management and Economics. Kurul, E., Smith, A. & Cheung, F.(in press) A Live Project to Improve Energy Performance of Retail Organisation, accepted for publication in the Live Projects Special Issue, Brookes eJournal of Learning and Teaching (BeJLT). Abanda, F., Tah, J. & Cheung, F. (2013) Mathematical modeling of embodied energy, greenhouse gases, waste, Time-Cost parameters of building projects: A Review. Building and Environment, 59, 23-37. Cheung, F., Rihan, J., Tah, J., Duce, D. & Kurul, E. (2012) Early stage multi-level cost estimation for schematic BIM models. Automation in Construction, 27, 67-77. Kurul, E., Tah, J. H. & Cheung, F. (2012) Does the UK built environment sector have the institutional capacity to deliver sustainable development? Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 8, 42-54. Cheung, F., Wong, M. W. & Skitmore, M. (2008) A study of clients’ and estimators’ tolerance towards estimating errors. Construction Management and Economics, 26, 349-362. Skitmore, M. & Cheung, F. (2007) Explorations in specifying construction price forecast loss functions. Construction Management and Economics, 25, 449-465. Cheung, F. & Skitmore, M. (2006) Application of cross validation techniques for modelling construction costs during the very early design stage. Building and Environment, 41, 1973-1990. Cheung, F. & Skitmore, M. (2006) A modified storey enclosure model. Construction Management and Economics, 24, 391-405. Cheung, S., Cheung, F., Yeung, D. & Wong, P. (2005) Enhancing contract knowledge of cost engineers through the web. Cost engineering, 47, 24-33. Cheung, F., Kuen, J. & Skitmore, M. (2002) Multi-criteria evaluation model for the selection of architectural consultants. Construction Management & Economics, 20, 569-580. Refereed Conference Papers Kurul, E., Oti, H. & Cheung, F. (2016) Level 3 BIM For Standardised Design Delivery, Refinement And Optimisation: Is It A Real Option In The UK?. CIB World Congress 2016, 30 May- 3 June, Tampere, Finland. Oti, H., Kurul, E., Cheung, F. & Tah, J. (2016) The Utilization Of BMS In BIM For Facility Management. CIB World Congress 2016, 30 May- 3 June, Tampere, Finland. Kurul, E., Abanda, F., Tah, J. & Cheung, F. (2013) Rethinking the Build Process for BIM Adoption. Proceedings of the 19th CIB World Building Congress. Queensland University of Technology. May 13. Abanda, H., Tah, J., Cheung, F. & Zhou, W. (2010) Measuring the embodied energy, waste, CO2 emissions, time and cost for building design and construction. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering. The University of Nottingham, UK. June 10. Abanda, H., Tah, J. H. M., Cheung, F. & Zhou, W. (2010) Measuring the Embodied Energy, Waste and CO2 Emissions from Construction Activity: An Overview. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering. The University of Nottingham, UK. June 10. Zhou, W., Tah, J. H. M., Abanda, H. & Cheung, F. (2010) Towards a holistic modeling framework for embodied carbon and waste in the building lifecycle. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering. The University of Nottingham, UK. June 10. Cheung, F. & Skitmore, M. (2005) Refinement of Storey Enclosure Forecasting Method. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). New Orleans. Au-Yeung, R., Cheung, S. O., Suen, H. C. H. & Cheung, F. (2003) Case Based Reasoning Approach to Aid Dispute Resolution Process Selection. 7th Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors Congress. Cheung, F., Cheung, S. O. & Drew, D. S. (2002) Value Optimization of Building Components in Design Process.Proceedings of First International Conference of Construction in the 21st Century. Miami, Florida. Cheung, S.-O., Yeung, D. K., Cheung F. & Suen, H. C. (2002) A planning framework for conditions of contract for use in partnering projects. Proceedings of the 18th ARCOM Conference. Northumbria University. Cheung, F. & Cheung, S. O. (2001) Cost Planning and Control in Hong Kong: Current Practice and the Future Directions. 2001 International Conference on Project Cost Management. Beijing, China. Drew, D. S. & Cheung, F. (1996) Market Share of Contractors according to Type and Size of Contract. CIB W65 International Symposium in 1996. Volume One, 158-167. Invited Conference Paper Cheung, F. & Cheung, S. O. (2003) Customers-Oriented Housing Development by Application of Quality Function Deployment Methodology. 7th Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors Congress. Professional Report Kissoon, C., Willis, C., Regmi, T., Zhang, J. & Cheung, F. (2015) Utilization of BIM in Construction Cost and Project Management Practices: North America, China and the UK, RICS Research Report, RICS, June 15.