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Nicholas Bill

Dr Nicholas Bill

Senior Lecturer

School of Engineering

Email
BillN@cardiff.ac.uk
Campuses
Queen's Buildings - South Building, Room S4.07, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

Dr Nicholas A. Bill is a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering currently working within the Resilient Structures and Construction Materials (RESCOM) research group in the Department of Civil Engineering, Cardiff University.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) with Honours from The University of Melbourne, together with a doctorate (PhD) from the University of Cambridge. In addition, he is a Chartered Engineer (CEng, MICE) with over 17-years’ experience working as a consultant in industry and teaching across several universities.

Dr Bill aims to bridge the divide between academia and industry through his interests in the design and construction of high-rise structures (i.e. tall buildings), timber structures and in particular, historic structures. He currently acts as the Department’s Industrial Liaison Lead.

Research

Dr Bill's research focuses on the historic built environment, which is broadly divided into the three inter-linking strands:

1. Engineering and Construction History –

  • Contextualising historic construction technology.
  • Recording historic building details.
  • Understanding previous design philosophies

2. Analysis and Adaptation of Historic Structures –

  • Care and restoration of historic structures.
  • Life extension / Change of use / Avoiding demolition.
  • Understanding barriers to refurbishment
  • Justify existing structures to current codes.

3. Improving Future Structures –

  • Learning Lessons from history.
  • Rediscovering forgotten technology.
  • Avoiding previous mistakes.

Various forms of construction have developed over time, with their origins predating the establishment of the architectural and engineering professions. Despite accounting for the majority of the existing building stock, there is relatively limited published guidance available to properly understand them. Moreover, as engineering develops with the introduction of new analytical tools and construction methods, the next generation of engineers often lose touch with the technology of their predecessors. Given many of our buildings have outlasted their designers and have no available records of their design or construction, a considerable knowledge gap is developing.

By understanding the context in which structures were designed and built, it is then possible to develop rational analytical and design methods to assess the condition and behaviour of structures, either for their modification or extending their design life. It is also possible to develop novel repair techniques which are effective and sympathetic to heritage structures. This is vital as we try to address the issues surrounding the Climate Emergency, both limiting our carbon emissions and safeguarding our built heritage.

Looking at our past achievements and failures also provides lessons for the development of new structures. Many technical innovations faltered due to external factors (economics, politics, etc.). It is possible that old, forgotten building technology may have become viable and perhaps even more beneficial as these external factors change. A key theme in this strand is the development of viable timber structures for buildings and infrastructure.

 

Teaching

I currently teach on the following modules:

EN2315 Professional Studies and Construction

EN3104 Construction and Construction Management

EN3300 Major Project

EN4102 Integrated Building Design

Biography

Professional memberships

Chartered Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (CEng, MICE)

Academic positions

2021 – present: Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University

2018 – 2021: Stipendiary Lecturer, St Peter's College, University of Oxford

2013 – 2015: Stipendiary Lecturer, Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford

2012 – 2013: Teaching Associate, University of Bristol

2009 – 2011: Tutor (Sessional), University of Cambridge

Committees and reviewing

2022 – present: Journal Co-Editor, Construction History

2020 – present: Journal Reviewer, Proceedings of the ICE: Engineering History & Heritage

2017 – present: Journal Reviewer, Construction History

2016 – present: Journal Reviewer, Proceedings of the ICE: Civil Engineering

2014 – 2016: Magazine Editor, The Construction Historian

External profiles