Dr Subarna Sivashanmugam
- Position: Research Fellow
- Areas of expertise: Building Information Modelling; Semantic Web Technology; Linked Data; Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment; Construction Waste Management; Circular Economy
- Email: S.Sivashanmugam@leeds.ac.uk
- Location: 1.11 School of Civil Engineering
- Website: LinkedIn | Googlescholar | ORCID
Profile
Subarna Sivashanmugam is a researcher specialising in digital and sustainable construction, with a focus on leveraging data-driven digital technologies to enhance sustainability performance in the built environment. Her work sits at the intersection of construction innovation, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making. Her primary research themes include Building Information Modelling (BIM), linked data, life cycle assessment (LCA), and the circular economy, reflecting a strong commitment to advancing low-carbon and resource-efficient construction practices. Her research contributions have been recognised through multiple awards, including the Bill Curtin Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers.
She holds a PhD for thesis titled ‘A BIM-integrated Semantic Framework for Construction Waste Optimisation,’ in which she developed an ontology and a 6D BIM tool. The innovation and novelty of this framework have led to several applications, including its direct implementation in the Horizon Europe project RECONSTRUCT. She worked as a Research Associate on this project prior to joining the University of Leeds in November 2025. She is currently engaged in research applying LCA to quantify the embodied carbon and energy demand of cast in-situ and composite slab systems.
In addition to her research, Subarna is actively involved in teaching higher education students, delivering modules on digital construction technologies, sustainable design and construction, and integrated construction project management. She is also frequently invited to develop and deliver Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses on sustainability in the built environment, covering topics such as LCA, sustainability certification schemes, and sustainability indicators. She is experienced in the use of LCA software and is certified as construction product LCA analyst by OneClickLCA.
Subarna has an active publication record, contributing to journal articles, conference proceedings, and books.
In addition to her academic and professional work, Subarna contributes to the research community as a peer reviewer for several journals, including Automation in Construction, Green Technologies and Sustainability, and Smart and Sustainable Built Environment.
Qualifications
- PhD in Construction
- MSc in Construction Project Management with Building Information Modelling
- Bachelors in Civil Engineering
Professional memberships
- Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy