Transforming Construction with Off-site Methods and Technologies 2026

Modern technologies, including reality capture and data sensing technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing and additive manufacturing, and robotics, are transforming industries worldwide.

In the context of construction, these technologies have the potential to revolutionize processes and increase productivity. The integration of these advanced technologies and off-site methods of construction needs to be fostered to overcome the productivity challenges faced by the construction industry.

Join us at Transforming Construction with Off-Site Methods and Technologies (TCOT 2026), where we're pushing the boundaries of traditional construction practices and embracing the future of building.

This conference is a collaboration between Northumbria University, the University of New Brunswick Off-site Construction Research Centre (OCRC), and CIB International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction.

The conference will be held in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, from August 18-20 2026, at Northumbria University. Plenary sessions, presentations of peer-reviewed papers, engaging keynote speakers, technical workshops and industry case studies will inform individuals and organisations of the latest uses of innovative technologies and off-site methods that are critical to the future of the construction industry.

Dates: Tuesday 18 - Thursday 20 August 2026

Location: Business and Law School, City Campus East (CCE1), Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1XA, UK

Venue Access: The main entrance is step-free with automatic doors and there is lift access to all floors. More information on building access can be found on our AccessAble pages.

Transport: More information on travelling to CCE1 and Newcastle upon Tyne can be found here.

Registration fees:

Full conference: £500 (early bird) / £600 (standard)

One day: £250 (early bird) / £300 (standard)

Target Delegates: 200 participants from industry, academia and government

Keynote Sessions: Four pioneering plenary talks and keynote speeches

Previous Conference information: Transforming Construction with Off-site Methods and Technologies, University of New Brunswick, August 20 - 22, 2024.

CONFERENCE TOPICS

Transforming Construction with Off-Site Methods and Technologies (TCOT2026) adopts a socio-technical systems perspective to explore how offsite construction research and practice are shaping the future of the built environment. The conference aims to bring together, academic, industry and policy communities to examine the transition toward more industrialised, digitalised, sustainable and resilient systems of practice.

TCOT2026 invites contributions that advance understanding, innovation and implementation across the people, process and technology dimensions. Submissions are welcomed focusing on, but not limited to, the following three overarching themes and their associated sub-topics.

Advanced Technologies & Data

Building Information Modelling (BIM) for offsite construction.
Digital fabrication in offsite production.
Reality capture technologies in construction engineering and management.
Extended reality (MR/AR/VR) applications in offsite construction.
Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor technologies in offsite construction.
Digital twins in offsite construction.
Applications of artificial intelligence in offsite construction.
Data analytics, simulation, and optimization of offsite construction processes.
Smart building systems and integration in offsite construction.

OSC Processes and Systems

Modularisation and industrialisation of construction processes.
Design for offsite manufacturing and assembly.
Supply chain management in offsite construction.
Quality control and assurance in offsite manufacturing.
Automated and robotic processes in offsite construction.
Management and coordination in offsite construction projects.
Integrated offsite-onsite construction processes.
Facility layout design and optimization.
Lean construction practices in offsite construction.
Sustainable offsite processes.
Advanced materials for offsite construction.

People and Management for OSC

Human factors in offsite construction.
Collaboration and communication in offsite construction.
Education, training, and competency building in offsite construction.
Engagement and leadership in offsite construction.
Procurement and modern project delivery systems in offsite construction.
Safety in offsite construction.
Performance modelling and measuring in offsite construction industry.
Competition and innovation benchmarking and assessment in offsite construction.
EDI and sustainable practices in offsite construction.
Regulatory frameworks and standards for offsite construction.
Ergonomics and construction workers
Organisational and ecosystem resilience

Submission Option

Task

Deadline

Option 1:

Academic Full Papers

(7-10 Pages)

300 Words -

Abstract Submission

30/01/26

Notification of

Abstract Acceptance

15/02/26

Full Paper

Submission

27/03/26

Notification of

Full Paper Acceptance

27/04/26

Camera-Ready

Submission

15/05/26

Option 2:

Short Papers

(3-4 Pages)

300 Words -

Abstract Submission

30/01/26

Notification of

Abstract Acceptance

16/02/26

Final Short Paper

Submission

13/03/26

Notification of

Short Paper Acceptance

27/04/26

Camera-Ready

Submission

15/05/26

Option 3:

Presentation Only -

Industry Speakers

300-500 Words -

Abstract Submission

24/04/26

Notification of

Abstract Acceptance

11/05/26

Presentation Slides

Submission

10/08/26

Workshop Proposals

(CfW)

Workshop Proposal

Submission

20/02/26

Notification of

Workshop Selection

09/03/26

Workshops Registration

Open

01/04/26

Workshops Registration

Deadline

17/07/26

Workshop Delivery

Day

17/08/26

Important Dates

(all options)

Early Bird Registration

Opens

01/04/26

Early Bird Registration

Deadline

07/06/26

Regular Registration

Deadline

04/08/26

Author/Presenter

Registration Deadline

19/06/26

All authors/presenters must register by June 19 2026, otherwise submissions will be withdrawn.

CALL FOR SUBMISSION

We invite contributions from academic researchers and industry practitioners addressing the conference’s thematic areas and sub-topics. Three types of submissions are available:

Full paper (7-10 pages) – Intended for academic contributions.
Short paper (3-4 pages) – Suitable for emerging studies, case reports, or conceptual developments
Presentation Only – Offered only for industry practitioners wishing to share practical insights without submitting a written paper.

All accepted submissions will be included in the conference proceedings and will be considered for conference awards.

For full paper (type 1) and short paper (type 2) submissions, abstract submission is encouraged but not mandatory. For presentation only (type 3) submissions, an abstract submission is required by the stated deadline.

The official language of the conference is English and the formatting instructions for preparing the three types of submissions can be found under the Submission Guidelines (below).

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All submissions must be original and not simultaneously under review by another journal or conference.

Submissions are invited under the following three options:

Options 1 & 2: Full Paper and Extended Abstract

These options are recommended for academic researchers but open to all contributors. Please follow the submission steps below:

Step 1 – Abstract submission (Encouraged)

Deadline: 30 January 2026

Abstracts must not exceed 300 words. Notification of abstract acceptance will be issued on 15 February 2026.

Step 2 – Paper Submission (Required)

Deadline: 27 March 2026

Full scientific papers (7-10 pages) should present original research method and theoretical contributions.

Short papers (3-4 pages) may include scientific insights or case studies with intellectual merit.

Both must use the official paper template and follow the formatting instructions provided.

Step 3 – Camera-Ready Submission (Required)

Deadline: 15 May 2026

Authors upload the final revised version of their paper in the required format, accompanied by the signed Copyright Agreement Form, which will be available through ConfTool.

Step 4 – Presentation Slides Submission

Deadline: 7 August 2026 (Required)

Presentations will be 15 minutes total. A template slide deck and submission instructions will be shared upon paper acceptance.

Option 3: Presentation Only

This option is recommended for industry practitioners wishing to present practical applications and project case studies, without submitting a paper.

Step 1 – Abstract submission (Required)

Deadline: 24 April 2026

Abstracts must be 300 - 500 words. Notification of abstract acceptance will be issued by 11 May 2026.

Step 2 – Presentation Slides Submission (Required)

Deadline: 10 August 2026

Presentations will be 15 minutes total. A template slide deck and further submission instructions will be provided after the acceptance.

CONTACT

For any questions regarding submissions, please contact:

v olkan.ezcan@unb.ca

Programme to follow.

Exhibitor and Sponsorship Opportunities

TCOT 2026 offers a variety of partnership opportunities to advertise your organisation and/or products to members of the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Facilities Management industry. Our delegates will include industry leaders, academics, students and government and public sector officials. Partnering with this conference will allow your organisation to benefit from association with Northumbria University, IC3 (International Centre for Connected Construction), the University of New Brunswick OCRC, and CIB, while reaching out to a unique, captive audience in an engaging environment. There are many different partnership packages and benefit opportunities available at the conference, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss custom partnership packages that best suit your needs.

Download our Conference Partnership Opportunities Brochure

Keynote speakers will be added as they are confirmed.

Conference committee

The conference is being organised by the conference committee below and the Northumbria University Event Management Team - Venues at Northumbria.

Special Conference Hotel Rates

Thanks to our partners at the NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), attendees can take advantage of special, discounted hotel rates across a range of conveniently located city hotels. Don't miss out — view the hotel selection, compare rates, and book now!