Alongside the conferences he has founded and chaired, Professor Ghaffarian has built lasting structures that connect AUT, its students and the international research community: a new CIB Task Group on digital twin governance under his leadership, and two student organisations at AUT linked to CIB and to the lean construction community.
Selected Initiatives
3 entries
2026
CIB Task Group: Digital Twin Governance, Interoperability and Lifecycle Decision-Making in the Built Environment
Founding Leading Coordinator (proposer)
Conceived and leads the proposal to establish a new CIB Task Group with the governance, interoperability and lifecycle accountability of digital twins as its primary focus, a gap the proposal identifies as not held as a primary focus by existing CIB commissions W078, TG126, W098 or W116. The proposal has been approved in principle by CIB and is being formalised.
Objectives: map and evaluate national and sectoral digital twin governance frameworks; treat interoperability as a governance problem; develop lifecycle decision-making accountability frameworks; produce guidance for policy, standards and practice
Three year work plan: two member meetings and a CIB branded webinar each year, a jointly authored research roadmap, and a dedicated session at the CIB World Building Congress
Engagement with CIB Student Chapters and early career researchers, and proposed special issues with CIB encouraged journals
Organisation
International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB)
W078 Information Technology for Construction; TG126 Artificial Intelligence in Construction; W098 Intelligent and Responsive Buildings; W116 Smart and Sustainable Built Environments
2026
AUT CIB Student Chapter
Led and supported its formation
Led and supported the formation of the CIB Student Chapter at AUT as Head of the School of Future Environments, giving AUT’s built environment students a direct link to CIB’s international research network. The Chapter was officially launched at AUT in July 2026.
Official launch, 8 July 2026, WZ Building, AUT City Campus, Auckland
A hub for built environment research and global connection for AUT students
Led and supported the formation of LCSA at AUT in 2025, a student association connecting engineering and built environment students with peers, industry leaders and Lean Construction Australia and New Zealand. LCSA has since partnered with GDI 2025 and the Future Environments Thought Leadership Series.
Open to postgraduate and undergraduate students; workshops, site visits and research opportunities with LCANZ
Industry partner
Lean Construction Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ)