Eric joined Manchester Metropolitan University in March 2018 as a Reader in Project Management, and currently serves as the Faculty Head of International. He is a passionate academic and researcher with enthusiasm towards internationalisation of his work and service. Dr Lou’s research is internationally recognised though his success in Newton Fund, British Council and Royal Academy of Engineering grants and journal publications with partners globally. He also served his community as a Primary School Governor.
Dr Lou spent a decade in construction, higher education, information technology and environmental industries; and completed over £60 million in building refurbishment and new build projects before joining academia. Eric leads the MSc Engineering Project Management programme and serve as the International Lead for the Department of Engineering. He also acts as an External Examiner at the Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership with the University of Cumbria, UK; and previously at the School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK.
Dr Lou previously worked at the University of Manchester as the Director of Internationalisation and Lecturer in Project Management at the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE). He was the Joint Programme Director for (MSc) Project Management Asia Pacific and Deputy Programme Director for (MSc) Nuclear Technology Management.
Dr Lou’s research interest encompasses the trichotomy of people-process-technology in the areas of project management, sustainability and environmental planning, BIM and IT management within the built environment industry. His current research takes him into the remit of 3D scanning, spectral imaging and heritage management. Eric obtained his degree in Computer Science (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), and MSc in IT Management in Construction with Distinction (University of Salford). He then completed his part-time PhD in E-Readiness in Construction at the University of Salford.
Dr Lou’s work has earned admiration among peers in the industry - Winner of Business Innovation and Highly Commended SME of the Year in the UK North West Regional Construction Awards (NWRCA); National Finalist for Innovation in the Constructing Excellence National Awards; and Finalist in 6 categories in the NWRCA. Individually, Eric was the Business Leader of Tomorrow nominee in the UK national TSB-KTP Awards and the NWRCA Young Achiever of the Year finalist.
Dr Lou was recently awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering: Engineering Skills Where They are Most Needed (ESMN) Mission grant in Additive E-Platform for Digital Skills Development in Construction. This followed his successes with British Council Vietnam Higher Education Partnership with the National University of Civil Engineering Vietnam investigating Disruptive Innovation and Technology; British Council Newton Fund Researcher Links research grant with the National University of Malaysia investigating Heritage Refurbishment Assessment Schemes (HeRAS); and the British Council Newton Fund Institutional Links research grant with University of Malaya researching Sustainability-Led design by Building Information Modelling (SuLeD-BIM).
Ph.D. E-Readiness in Construction (ERiC): Readiness of UK Construction Organisations to Adopt Information Technology
University of Salford, UK
2007 - 2013 (part time)
MSc. Information Technology Management in Construction
Award - Distinction / 1st Class
Thesis title: Implementation of Collaborative Environments (Extranets) - Factors Influencing People and Process in E-Tendering Practices in the UK Construction industry
University of Salford, UK
2003 - 2004
BSc.(Hons) Computer Science (Computer Graphics)
Thesis title: Solar System Movement Simulation (Form 3 Syllabus)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) - Technology University of Malaysia
1999 - 2003
Advanced Diploma & Diploma Quantity Surveying
Stamford College Malaysia - University of Northumbria in Newcastle, UK
1997 - 1999
University of Manchester, Manchester, UK School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE)
2014 - 2018
Create Construction Ltd, Blackpool, UK
2011 - 2014
University of Salford, Salford, UK School of Built Environment (SoBE)
(previously Research Institute for the Built and Human Environment [BuHu])
2007 - 2011
CIDB E-Construct Services Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2005 - 2007
International Lead - Department of Engineering
Programme Lead - MSc Engineering Project Management
Ms Farisya Abu Bakar
PhD Management of Projects, Heath & Safety in Construction 4.0, University of Manchester, UK. 2021 - present.
Mr Felipe Mellado
PhD Civil Engineering, Improving Project Performance in the Built Environment Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Integration of Concepts and Technologies, University of Manchester, UK. 2017 - present.
Dr Al-Amin Mohamed Sultan
PhD Mechanical Engineering, Green supply chain management in distributed re-manufacturing, University of Manchester, UK. 2014 - 2018.
Dr Kinjiro Amano
Post-Doctorate Research Assistant, Work Package 1: 3D Scanning & Image Processing
Sustainability Led Design through Building Information Modelling for non-domestic buildings (SuLeD-BIM), Newton-Ungku Omar Fund. Completed Jun 2016.
Dr Anas Bataw
Post-Doctorate Research Assistant, Work Package 2: BIM & Sustainability Modelling
Sustainability Led Design through Building Information Modelling for non-domestic buildings (SuLeD-BIM), Newton-Ungku Omar Fund. Completed Jun 2016.
Dr Phui Fung Wong
Post-Doctorate Research Assistant, Work Package 3: New Sustainability Scheme
Sustainability Led Design through Building Information Modelling for non-domestic buildings (SuLeD-BIM), Newton-Ungku Omar Fund. Completed Jun 2016.
Sustainability & the Environment
My research looks into sustainability-led design for buildings with specific interest in refurbishment, retrofit and restoration of existing buildings. My expertise is in the areas of embodied energy and carbon management of materials.
Information Modelling & Digitisation
My interest lies in the interoperability of data for the built environment. I explore technological advancements of big data, advanced imaging and building information modelling (BIM) - all to create computing intelligence for the built environment.
People - Process - Technology
The trichotomy of people-process-technology never been fully explored. This started the philosophy in rethinking, readiness and resiliance in organisations. I consider this the new 'iron triangle' for project management success.
EM. Kamal, ECW. Lou, N. Yusof, A. Osmadi (2022). Absorptive capacity of Malaysian SME construction organisations. Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 18(3), pp.313-324.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, YM. Lim (2021). Stakeholder preference mapping: the case for built heritage of Georgetown, Malaysia. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 12(3), pp.291-308.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, AJ. Welfle, AL. Abdullahi (2021). Testing the Nexus between C&D Waste Management Strategies & GHG Emission Performances: The Case of UK Student Accommodation Refurbishment Projects. Journal of Building Engineering. 34, pp.101812-101812.
F. Mellado, ECW. Lou (2020). Building Information Modelling, Lean and Sustainability: an integration framework to promote performance improvements in the construction industry. Sustainable Cities and Society. 61, pp.102355-102355.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, J. Goulding (2020). E-readiness in construction (ERiC): self-assessment framework for UK small and medium enterprise building services providers. Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 16(1), pp.3-22.
PF. Wong, FC. Chia, MS. Kiu, ECW. Lou (2022). Potential integration of blockchain technology into smart sustainable city (SSC) developments: a systematic review. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. 11(3), pp.559-574.
ECW. Lou, N. The Quan, K. Park (2022). Guest editorial: Disruptive and innovative technologies for sustainable development in the built environment. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation. 40(3), pp.301-304.
EM. Kamal, ECW. Lou, N. Yusof, A. Osmadi (2022). Absorptive capacity of Malaysian SME construction organisations. Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 18(3), pp.313-324.
TQ. Nguyen, ECW. Lou, BN. Nguyen (2022). A theoretical BIM-based framework for quantity take-off to facilitate progress payments: the case of high-rise building projects in Vietnam. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation.
NDA. Mohammad Shuhaimi, S. Mohamed Zaid, M. Esfandiari, E. Lou, N. Mahyuddin (2021). The impact of vertical greenery system on building thermal performance in tropical climates. Journal of Building Engineering. 45, pp.103429-103429.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, YM. Lim (2021). Stakeholder preference mapping: the case for built heritage of Georgetown, Malaysia. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 12(3), pp.291-308.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, AJ. Welfle, AL. Abdullahi (2021). Testing the Nexus between C&D Waste Management Strategies & GHG Emission Performances: The Case of UK Student Accommodation Refurbishment Projects. Journal of Building Engineering. 34, pp.101812-101812.
F. Mellado, ECW. Lou (2020). Building Information Modelling, Lean and Sustainability: an integration framework to promote performance improvements in the construction industry. Sustainable Cities and Society. 61, pp.102355-102355.
ECW. Lou, PW. Chan, N. Hamzah (2020). Heritage adaptation beyond the technical: conflicts and compromise between social, environmental and economic sustainability. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation. 38(2), pp.257-261.
F. Mellado, PF. Wong, K. Amano, C. Johnson, ECW. Lou (2020). Digitisation of existing buildings to support building assessment schemes: viability of automated sustainability-led design scan-to-BIM process. Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 16(2), pp.84-99.
F. Mellado, ECW. Lou, CLC. Becerra (2020). Synthesising performance in the construction industry: An analysis of performance indicators to promote project improvement. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. 27(2), pp.579-608.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, J. Goulding (2020). E-readiness in construction (ERiC): self-assessment framework for UK small and medium enterprise building services providers. Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 16(1), pp.3-22.
OA. Omoya, KA. Papadopoulou, E. Lou (2019). Reliability engineering application to pipeline design. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management. 36(9), pp.1644-1662.
RE. Edwards, E. Lou, A. Bataw, SN. Kamaruzzaman, C. Johnson (2019). Sustainability-led design: Feasibility of incorporating whole-life cycle energy assessment into BIM for refurbishment projects. Journal of Building Engineering. 24, pp.100697-100697.
K. Amano, ECW. Lou, R. Edwards (2019). Integration of point cloud data and hyperspectral imaging as a data gathering methodology for refurbishment projects using building information modelling (BIM). Journal of Facilities Management. 17(1), pp.57-75.
SN. Kamaruzzaman, ECW. Lou, PF. Wong, R. Edwards, N. Hamzah, et al. MK. Ghani. (2019). Development of a non-domestic building refurbishment scheme for Malaysia: A Delphi approach. Energy. 167, pp.804-818.
SN. Kamaruzzaman, ECW. Lou, PF. Wong, R. Wood, AI. Che-Ani (2018). Developing weighting system for refurbishment building assessment scheme in Malaysia through analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach. Energy Policy. 112, pp.280-290.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, A. Welfle (2017). Greenhouse gases (GHG) performance of refurbishment projects – Lessons from UK higher education student accommodation case studies. Journal of Cleaner Production. 154, pp.309-317.
AA. Mohamed Sultan, E. Lou, PT. Mativenga (2017). What should be recycled: An integrated model for product recycling desirability. Journal of Cleaner Production. 154, pp.51-60.
D. Samad, N. Zainon, FAM. Rahim, E. Lou (2017). Malaysian affordability housing policies revisited. Open House International. 42(1), pp.44-51.
SN. Kamaruzzaman, ECW. Lou, N. Zainon, NS. Mohamed Zaid, PF. Wong (2016). Environmental assessment schemes for non-domestic building refurbishment in the Malaysian context. Ecological Indicators. 69, pp.548-558.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, S. Wu, G. Mathison (2014). Responsible construction?. International Journal of Sustainable Strategic Management. 4(4), pp.342-342.
JS. Goulding, ECW. Lou (2013). E-readiness in construction: An incongruous paradigm of variables. Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 9(4), pp.265-280.
E. Lou, A. Lee, G. Mathison (2012). Corporate Responsibility Application–UK Construction SME. International Journal of e-Education, e-Business, e-Management and e-Learning. 2(5), pp.436-442.
ECW. Lou, KAM. Kamar (2012). Industrialized building systems: Strategic outlook for manufactured construction in Malaysia. Journal of Architectural Engineering. 18(2), pp.69-74.
ECW. Lou, JS. Goulding, M. Alshawi, F. Khosrowshahi, J. Underwood (2012). Leveraging IT-Based Competitive Advantage: UK Industry Perspective. Journal of Architecture, Planning and Construction Management. 2(1), pp.27-62.
ECW. Lou, JS. Goulding (2010). The pervasiveness of e-readiness in the global built environment arena. Journal of Systems and Information Technology. 12(3), pp.180-195.
ECW. Lou, M. Alshawi (2009). Critical success factors for e-tendering Implementation in construction collaborative environments: people and process issues. Electronic Journal of Information Technology in Construction. 14, pp.98-109.
ECW. Lou, JS. Goulding (2008). Building and construction classification systems. Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 4(3-4), pp.206-220.
TN. Huynh, ECW. Lou (2023). Evaluation of Sustainable Drainage Systems in the Mekong Delta: A Case Study of Vinh Long City, Vietnam. In: Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering. Springer Nature Singapore, pp.171-183.
E. Lou, A. Bataw (2017). Advances in Construction ICT and e-Business. S. Perera, B. Ingirige, K. Ruikar, E. Obonyo. In: Advances in Construction ICT and e-Business. Routledge, pp.153-181.
E. Lou, M. Alshawi, JS. Goulding (2012). E‐readiness in Construction. In: Construction Innovation and Process Improvement. Wiley, pp.363-383.
H. Salleh, E. Lou (2011). Building for the Future. In: Cases on E-Readiness and Information Systems Management in Organizations. IGI Global, pp.84-113.
Y. Al Saleh, E. Lou (2011). Banking for the Future. In: Cases on E-Readiness and Information Systems Management in Organizations. IGI Global, pp.114-137.
E. Lou, H. Salleh (2011). Readiness in Systems Implementation. In: Cases on E-Readiness and Information Systems Management in Organizations. IGI Global, pp.15-51.
H. Mansour, E. Aminudin, T. Mansour, NI. Adiana Binti Abidin, E. Lou (2022). Resource-Based View in Construction Project Management Research: A Meta-Analysis. In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. pp.012057-012057.
R. Subramaniam, V. Ponniah, S. Sanmargaraja, E. Lou, MABN. Adli, et al. MK. Gunasegaran. (2021). A Case Study of an Office Building to Identify Energy Consumption and Carbon Management Solutions Using Physical Data and Simulation Software. In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. pp.012049-012049.
TQ. Nguyen, ECW. Lou, PH. Chen (2021). Preface: International conference on construction digitalisation for sustainable development: Transformation through innovation. In: AIP Conference Proceedings. Hanoi, 24/11/2020.
PF. Wong, FC. Chia, MS. Kiu, ECW. Lou (2020). The potential of integrating blockchain technology into smart sustainable city development. In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. Bangkok, Thailand, 11/12/2019.
SEN. Lau, R. Zakaria, E. Aminudin, CC. Saar, NIA. Abidin, et al. AF. Roslan, Z. Abd Hamid, MZ. Mohd Zain, E. Lou. (2019). Review: Identification of roadmap of fourth construction industrial revolution. In: IOP Conference Series : Materials Science and Engineering. Stuttgart, Germany, 30/9/2019.
M. Alshawi, ECW. Lou, F. Khosrowshahi, J. Underwood, JS. Goulding (2019). Strategic positioning of IT in construction: The way forward. In: EG-ICE 2010 - 17th International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering.
M. Alshawi, ECW. Lou, F. Khosrowshahi, J. Underwood, JS. Goulding (2019). Strategic positioning of IT in construction: The way forward. In: EG-ICE 2010 - 17th International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering.
K. Amano, E. Lou (2016). BIM for existing facilities: Feasibility of spectral image integration to 3D point cloud data. In: MATEC Web of Conferences. Kuala Lumpur, 7/3/2016.
D. Samad, N. Zainon, FAM. Rahim, E. Lou, SBA. Karim (2016). Malaysian Affordability Housing Policies Revisited. In: MATEC Web of Conferences. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7/3/2016.
SN. Kamaruzzaman, H. Salleh, ECW. Lou, R. Edwards, PF. Wong (2016). Assessment Schemes for Sustainability Design through BIM: Lessons Learnt. In: MATEC Web of Conferences. Kuala Lumpur, 7/3/2016.
A. Bataw, R. Kirkham, E. Lou (2016). The Issues and Considerations Associated with BIM Integration. In: MATEC Web of Conferences. Kuala Lumpur, 7/3/2016.
ECW. Lou, A. Lee, G. Mathison (2011). Recapitulation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for construction smes in the UK. In: Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2011 - Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference. Bristol, UK., pp.673-682.
C. Egbu, ECW. Lou (2011). Foreword. In: Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2011 - Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference.
C. Egbu, E. Lou (2010). Foreword. In: Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2010 - Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference.
ECW. Lou (2010). E-readiness: How ready are UK construction organizations to adopt IT. In: Association of Researchers in Construction Management, ARCOM 2010 - Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference. pp.947-956.
ECW. Lou, JS. Goulding (2010). Organisational e-readiness in the built environment: People, process, technology. In: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND SOLUTIONS IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION. Las Vegas, NV, 22/9/2009. pp.965-968.
Selected:
with Create Construction Ltd.