Dr Jurij Karlovsek and Associate Professor Fred Fialho Teixeira are Chief Investigators on Trade Digital Upskill Research: Establishing a Scalable Digital Engineering Framework in Queensland's Trades. Supported by the TAFE Centre of Excellence Construction Tech, the project brings together UQ, TAFE Queensland and industry partners to explore practical approaches to digital upskilling across the construction sector.
The research will investigate how digital engineering, Common Data Environments (CDEs), geospatial technologies and model-based workflows can be integrated into training and workplace practice. It will also identify the software, equipment, platforms and digital capture technologies needed to support hands-on learning and industry implementation.
Industry engagement will be central to the project. Through workshops, interviews, site-based observations and practical demonstrations, the research will work with tradespeople, employers, contractors, suppliers and technology providers to identify capability gaps, barriers to digital adoption and opportunities for improving digital workflows in practice.
These findings will inform practical pilot programs in training and workplace environments, as well as future training pathways, technology requirements and strategies for wider implementation. The broader goal is to establish an evidence-based and repeatable framework that can support digital capability development across construction trades, employers and regions throughout Queensland.
The project complements broader research at the UQ VisLab, where spatial data, immersive visualisation, digital environments and digital twin applications are explored across research, education and industry engagement. Together, these areas contribute to a growing focus on how digital technologies can support more connected, data-informed approaches to the built environment.
