ACT-UK simulation centre: opportunities and challenges for research

Advanced Construction Technology Simulation Centre (ACT-UK) has recently been established at Coventry University, to provide an innovative facility for training future construction managers, enabled by semi-immersive virtual reality model of construction sites. In a typical training session, the trainees will face one snap-shot of construction site situation, called 'scenario' with the presence of various actors who will introduce site problems. By referring to information presented to them and interacting with the actors, the trainees will need to make decisions, and will receive feedback once the session ends. This innovative training presents important research challenges, especially due to many less well understood factors of the formation of skills afforded by this approach and the impact on performance in the workplace. The focus on 'soft' skills (rather than 'hard' technical skills) further heightens the complexity of understanding and 'measuring' the efficacy of this training. Within this context, the paper aims to propose a research framework, via a critical synthesis of key literature in related domains. The conceptual framework stands on three key sequential stages of pre-, on- and post-training, with one or more research themes in each stage. The framework integrates several research themes for harnessing the utility and realizing efficacy of this innovative learning approach. The research activities emanating from the framework will help to widen opportunities for the use of the ACT-UK in the future.