Dr Samuel Frimpong
Associate Lecturer
- PhD. Built Environment (UNSW Sydney, Australia)
- MSc. Construction Management (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana)
- BSc. (Hons) Building Technology (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana)
Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA)
School of Built Environment
I am an Associate Lecturer in the UNSW School of Built Environment, with a passion for shaping healthier, more innovative, and future-ready construction and STEM industries. I joined UNSW in 2022 as a sessional academic and became a full-time academic in 2024, bringing with me more than thirteen years of industry experience as a construction manager and quantity surveyor.
Throughout my professional journey, I have worked across industry, government, and not-for-profit sectors, particularly in initiatives that support the wellbeing and development of young people in construction. These experiences continue to shape my research, teaching, and engagement with industry and community partners. I am inspired by the enormous capacity of the construction industry to create meaningful social impact – not only through the delivery of the built environment, but also through job creation, skills development, innovation, and the advancement of communities and economies.
My research and outreach interests span construction management, mental health and wellbeing, digitalisation, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). I am especially passionate about translating research into practical and accessible knowledge that benefits industry and society.
Beyond academia, I am committed to inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. Through public engagement and STEAM outreach, I enjoy communicating ideas in robotics, AI, and emerging technologies to children and young people, with the goal of encouraging curiosity, creativity, and future participation in STEM fields.
My work has received recognition for its contribution to digital innovation, health and safety, sustainability, stakeholder management, and professionalism within the construction industry. I am passionate about building bridges between academia, industry, and the wider community to create positive and lasting impact.
E-mail
Location
Room 2023, Level 2, West Wing
Anita B. Lawrence Centre (H13)
UNSW SYDNEY 2052
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2024
-
Digital Makers Micro Grant, 2024 – Micro grant (AUD1250) awarded by UNSW Founders to support further research on the application of AI technology (PsycheGuard chatbot) for health and risk management in the construction industry (with Emmanuel Boateng, Riza Yosia Sunindijo, Cynthia Changxin Wang, and Carol Hon).
2024
-
Digital Makers Social Impact Award 2024 (UNSW Founders), UNSW Sydney – AUD500 team award (with Emmanuel Boateng, Riza Yosia Sunindijo, Cynthia Changxin Wang, and Carol Hon) received for the best social impact made through the application of digital technology (PsycheGuard chatbot) in the construction industry.
-
Digital Makers People’s Choice Award 2024 (UNSW Founders), UNSW Sydney – AUD1000 team award (with Emmanuel Boateng, Riza Yosia Sunindijo, Cynthia Changxin Wang, and Carol Hon) received for the development of a chatbot that provides mental health support for construction workers.
I have keen interest in the following research topics:
Robotics, AI, and Digital Innovation in Construction
- Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IoT applications in construction
- Human-centred and social robotics
- Sustainable and intelligent construction technologies
Construction Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
- Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in construction
- Youth wellbeing and workforce resilience in the construction industry
Built Environment Education and Future Skills
- Future-ready construction workforce education and training
- Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
- Game-based learning and metacognitive development
- Postgraduate research skills and future workforce capability development
I am a member of the following organisations:
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
Role: Tomorrow’s Leaders Champion, Oceania Region (Sydney, Australia)
My activities include:
- Championing WHS and sustainability initiatives in the construction industry
- Helping to organise Tomorrow’s Leaders events
- Liaising with stakeholders in industry and academia to develop policies and programs for promoting learning and professionalism in the construction industry
Rotary Club of Sydney
Role: Higher Education Lead
My activities include:
- Leading higher education outreach initiatives to support student engagement and future career pathways
- Supporting the planning and delivery of initiatives focused on youth development, leadership, and education opportunities
International Society of Global Health (ISOGh)
I serve on the following panels:
- Global Mental Health
- Digital Health
- Global Health Governance, Leadership, Management and Policies
My Research Supervision
I am currently supervising the following topics:
- Developing an assessment tool for IoT sensor-driven predictive maintenance in hospital HVAC systems for energy efficiency (Oluseyi Olagoke - PhD Candidate)
- Factors influencing environmental information disclosure in state-owned construction organisations in China (Xulun Dai - PhD Candidate)
- Developing a framework for the sustainable adoption of Artificial Intelligence-based mental health interventions among young construction professionals in developing countries. A case study of Nigeria (Abiola Oyediran – PhD Candidate)
Completed supervisions:
2026
- A predictive–comparative framework for construction cost control using long short-term memory and digital twin technologies (Yuxing Wu - master's thesis)
- Construction professionals’ perceptions of AI based health and safety technologies in Australian construction organisations (Jahanvi Shaw - master's thesis)
- Evaluating the impact of construction activities on the productivity of work-from-home residents in Sydney (Tiffany Abragan - master's thesis)
- The role of lean construction practices in creating social value in affordable housing projects in Sydney (Lekha Reddy Mohan - master's thesis)
2025
- Exploring the adoption of technology for reducing project delays in residential construction projects in Australia (Sara Ziaee - master's thesis)
- Impact of remote work on causes scope creep in Australian construction projects (Nupoor Yogesh Wadghule - master's thesis)
- AI adoption in the construction industry: the case of India (Aditya Verma - master's thesis)
- Housing affordability for Chinese international students in Sydney (Yee Ching Wong - master's thesis)
2024
- A review of energy storage strategies for enhancing renewable energy infrastructure in Australia (Dmitriy Iumartov - master's thesis)
- Gentrification and its effects on local housing market in Australia (Yue Peng - master's thesis)
- Exploring female career development challenges in the Chinese construction industry: perspectives from male and female managers (Luna Jing - master's thesis)
- Safety leadership in the Australian railway industry: evaluating factors which influence the safety perception of rail workers (James Andonenas - master's thesis)
My Teaching
I am teaching or have taught the following courses:
- Modern Methods of Construction (Undergraduate)
- Construction Materials (Undergraduate)
- Industrial and Infrastructure Construction (Undergraduate)
- Construction Risk, Health and Safety Management (Undergraduate)
- Construction Risk Management and Business Analytics (Postgraduate)