Dr Hong Xiao
Hong obtained his BEng in Industrial and Civil Buildings in 1985, and MSc in Construction Management in 1988 from Hunan University, China. He lectured there until 1998. He came to the UK in 1998 as an academic visitor sponsored by the Chinese Government, and then began his PhD study at the University of Wolverhampton. His PhD research project was ‘A Comparative Study of Contractor Performance Based on Japanese, UK and US Construction Practice’, and he obtained his PhD in 2002.
On June 2003, Hong joined the Birmingham City University as a Research Assistant to conduct a DTI sponsored research project, ‘An approach to knowledge management for SMEs’. Upon the successful completion of the research project, he moved to a lecturing post and has been teaching and researching since.
Areas of Expertise
- Construction project management
- Knowledge management
- Flood risk management
- Property flood resilience
- Post conflict reconstruction
- H&S management
- Modular construction
Qualifications
- PhD in Construction Management
- MSc in Construction Management
- MA in Higher Education
- BEng in Civil Engineering
Memberships
- Senior Fellow of HEA
- Member of CIOB
Teaching
Hong teaches on:
- MSc Construction Project Management
- MSc Quantity Surveying
- MSc Research in Built Environment
Research
- Flood resilience and risk management
- Post conflict reconstruction
- Modular construction
- Sustainable construction
- Knowledge management
Postgraduate Supervision
Supervising postgraduate students at both PhD and MSc levels.
The successfully completed PhD projects under Hong’s supervision include:
- Oluwayemi Abiodun Oladunjoye (2021) A Cost-Benefit Analysis Appraisal of the retrofit of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in Public Buildings
- Taiwo Adedeji (2022) Towards a methodology for measuring the property flood resilience (PFR) of individual homes
- Sunan Babar Khan (2023) The motivation of operatives in small construction firms towards health and safety
- Heba Iskandarani (2023) Towards improving the project planning stage of post-conflict housing reconstruction projects
- Nagashree Holalkere Prabhudevaiah (2026) Strategies to strengthen stakeholder engagement in the implementation of property flood resilience (PFR) within commercial properties
- Ruth Awara (2026) An evaluation of the legislative and policy processes for blue green infrastructure in England
The on-going PhD project:
- Hasnaa Fethallah (2026) The impact of nutrient neutrality requirements on the UK housing projects
Publications
- Awara, R., Carter, C., Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D. (2026) Stakeholder collaboration in delivering Blue Green infrastructure: Urban and rural flood management lessons from England, in Ahadzie, D.K., Proverbs, D., Soetanto, R. and Oladokun, V.O. (ed.) New Insights in Flood Risk Management: Learning from Global Case Studies of Stakeholder Partnerships, P228-253, Routledge, London https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003607144
- Iskandarani, H., Proverbs, D.G., and Xiao, H. (2025) A critical examination of current planning practices in post-conflict housing reconstruction in Iraq, International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-05-2024-0057
- Xiao, H., Proverbs, D., Joseph, R., and Adedeji, T.J. (2025) Property Flood Resilience (PFR): Exploring the experiences of commercial property owners, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-08-2023-0122
- Adedeji, T. J., Proverbs, D. G., Xiao, H. and Oladokun, V. O. (2024) The evolution of flood risk management strategies and the role of property flood resilience: current research trends and directions, in Lamond, J., Proverbs, D. and Bhattacharya, M. (ed.) Research Handbook on Flood Risk Management, Edward Edgar Publishing, Cheltenham https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839102981.00017
- Xiao, H., Higgins, D., Joseph, R., Adedeji, T. J. and Proverbs, D. (2023) Assessing property flood resilience for commercial buildings: some recommendations, Property Research Trust, London https://www.propertyresearchtrust.org/assessing-property-flood-resilience-for-commercial-buildings.html
- Adedeji, T. J., Proverbs, D. G., Xiao, H. and Oladokun, V. O. (2022) Measuring Property Flood Resilience (PFR) in UK Homes, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-06-2022-0092
- Iskandarani, H., Proverbs, D.G., and Xiao, H. (2022) Towards improving the design and planning of post-conflict housing reconstruction projects: a conceptual framework, Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 13(2), 253-69 https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-03-2022-0047
- Oladunjoye, O., Proverbs, D.G. & Xiao, H.(2022) Retrofitting sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS): a cost-benefit analysis appraisal, Water, 14(16), 2521; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14162521
- Khan, S.B., Proverbs, D.G. and Xiao, H. (2022) The motivation of operatives in small construction firms towards health and safety – a conceptual framework, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 29(1), 245-261, https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-06-2020-0399
- Adedeji, T. J., Proverbs, D. G., Oladokun, V. O. and Xiao, H., (2019) Making Homes More Resilient to Flooding: A New Hybrid Approach. In: Noroozinejad, F.E. et al. (eds.) Resilient Structures and Infrastructure. Springer, Singapore, pp. 159-176 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7446-3
- Adedeji, T.J., Proverbs, D.G., Xiao, H., Cobbing, P. & Oladokun, V.O. (2019) Making Birmingham a Flood Resilient City: Challenges and Opportunities, Urban Water Management Issue, Water, 11(8), 1699 https://doi.org/10.3390/w11081699
- Oladunjoye, O., Proverbs, D., Collins, B. & Xiao, H.(2019) A cost-benefit analysis model for the retrofit of sustainable urban drainage systems towards improved flood risk mitigation, International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 38(3), pp. 423-439 https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-12-2018-0105
- Adedeji, T.J., Proverbs, D.G., Xiao, H. & Oladokun, V.O. (2018) Towards a Conceptual Framework for Property Level Flood Resilience. International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering, 8(4), 473-483 https://doi.org/10.2495/SAFE-V8-N4-493-504
- Xiao, H. and Boyd, D. (2010) Learning from cross-cultural problems in international projects: a Chinese case, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 17(6), 549-62 https://doi.org/10.1108/09699981011090189
- Boyd, D. and Xiao, H. (2006) Turning problems into knowledge-events: Knowledge management for construction SMEs, Construction Information Quarterly, 8(1), 7-11
- Boyd, D. and Xiao, H. (2005) Knowledge-Event Management – Demonstrator’s Handbook, University of Central England
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D. (2004) An international investigation into factors influencing construction time performance, Journal of Building and Construction Management, 9(1), 26-34
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D.G. (2003) Contractor relationships: a comparison in Japan, the UK and the US. Journal of Construction Procurement, 9(2), 52-64
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D.G. (2003) Factors influencing contractor performance: an international investigation. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 10(5), 322-32 https://doi.org/10.1108/09699980310502937
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D.G. (2002) An investigation into factors influencing construction costs based on Japanese, UK and US contractor practice. The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, 2(2), 27-35 https://doi.org/10.5130/AJCEB.v2i2.2898
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D.G. (2002) The performance of contractors in Japan, the UK and the US: an evaluation of construction quality. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 19(6), 672-87 https://doi.org/10.1108/02656710210429564
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D.G. (2002) Construction time performance: an evaluation of contractors from Japan, the UK and the US. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 9(2), 81-9 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-232x.2002.00236.x
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D.G. (2002) The performance of contractors in Japan, the UK and the US: a comparative evaluation of construction cost. Construction Management and Economics, 20, 425-35 https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190210145859
Conference papers:
- Awara, R., Carter, C., Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D. (2026) From Statutes to Systems: Evaluating Legal and Policy Coherence for Blue-Green Infrastructure, Adapting to Global Change: Innovation Approaches to Flood Management and Resilience, ICFM10, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada, May 20-22, 2026, p909-916 https://icfm10.com/proceedings/papers/papers_numbered/ch5.1_6.pdf
- Xiao, H., Proverbs, D., Joseph, R. and Adedeji, T. (2020) Improving the flood resilience of commercial buildings through property flood resilience (PER) measures, FRIAR 2020 7th International Conference on Flood and Urban Water Management, 28-30 September 2020, pp13-21 https://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/FRIAR20/FRIAR20002FU1.pdf
- Oladunjoye, O., Proverbs, D., Collins, B. and Xiao, H. (2020) Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) retrofit: a case study, FRIAR 2020 7th International Conference on Flood and Urban Water Management, 28-30 September 2020 https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/14459/1/EI040102f.pdf
- Proverbs, D., Oladokun, V.O., Xiao, H. and Adedeji, T.J. (2018) A conceptual model for measuring flood resilience at the individual property level, COBRA Conference, RICS HQ, London, UK https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/publications/a-conceptual-model-for-measuring-flood-resilience-at-the-individu/
- Xiao, H. and Noble, T. (2014) BIM’s impact on the project manager. In: Raiden, A (Ed.) and Aboagye-Nimo, E (Ed.), Proceedings 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 693–702 https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/1930/
- Xiao, H. and Milambo, A. (2012) Implementing Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) Level 6 in the UK’s social housing sector, CIB International Management of Construction Research to Practice Conference, Montreal, Canada, 26-29 June 2012, 965-976 http://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB_DC25738.pdf
- Goode, R. and Xiao, H. (2012) Is BREEAM suitable for small and medium refurbishment / maintenance projects? Associated Schools of Construction 48th Annual International Conference, Birmingham, UK, 11-14 April 2012 http://ascpro0.ascweb.org/archives/cd/2012/paper/CPRT117002012.pdf
- Boyd, D. and Xiao, H. (2010) Understanding Chinese and British construction: a problem of metaphors, ARCOM Twenty-Sixth Annual Conference 2010, Leeds, 371-80 https://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2010-0371-0380_Boyd_and_Xiao.pdf
- Xiao, H. and Boyd, D. (2008) Analysing culture problems in international projects, ARCOM Twenty-Fourth Annual Conference 2008, Cardiff, pp. 423-31 https://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2008-423-431_Xiao_and_Boyd.pdf
- Xiao, H. and Boyd, D. (2007) A Cross-culture Analysis of Construction Practice through Knowledge Events, ARCOM Twenty-Third Annual Conference 2007, Ulster University, pp. 181-90 https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/78649348895
- Xiao, H. and Boyd, D. (2006) What can we learn from ‘knowledge events’? CIB 2006 Joint W55, W65 and W86 Symposium, Rome, pp. 356-7
- Xiao, H. and Boyd, D. (2006) Using Personal Construct Theory to Challenge Knowledge Management Practice in Construction, ARCOM Twenty Second Annual Conference 2006, University of Central England, pp. 981-90 https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/78649373584
- Boyd, D., Xiao, H. and Chinyio, E. (2005) Can Knowledge-Event Approach Work in Construction SMEs? ARCOM Twenty First Annual Conference 2005, SOAS, London, pp.1279-88 https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84861027584
- Egbu, C., Lee, C., Boyd, D., Xiao, H., and Chinyio, E. (2005) Graphical Conveyance of Knowledge Amongst Construction SMEs, CIB W102, Information and Knowledge Management in Global Economy, 19-20 May 2005, Lisoa, Portugal, 475-85 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Boyd-9/publication/41115849_Graphical_conveyance_of_knowledge_amongst_construction_SMEs/links/0c96053738c9d1c1e1000000/Graphical-conveyance-of-knowledge-amongst-construction-SMEs.pdf
- Lee, C., Egbu, C., Boyd, D., Xiao, H., and Chinyio, E. (2005) Information Technology Tool For Building Knowledge Assets For The Small Medium Enterprises, CIB W102, Information and Knowledge Management in Global Economy, 19-20 May 2005, Lisoa, Portugal, 151-62 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cynthia-Lee-9/publication/41141348_Information_technology_tool_for_building_knowledge_assets_for_the_small_medium_enterprises/links/5744186f08ae9ace841b4730/Information-technology-tool-for-building-knowledge-assets-for-the-small-medium-enterprises.pdf
- Lee, C., Egbu, C., Boyd, D., Xiao, H., and Chinyio, E. (2005) Knowledge Management for Small Medium Enterprise: Capturing and Communicating Learning and Experiences. CIB W99 Working Commission 4th Triennial International Conference Rethinking and Revitalizing Construction Safety, Health, Environment and Quality, Port Elizabeth – South Africa, 17-20 May 2005, 808-20 https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/OutputFile/1501741
- Boyd, D., Egbu, C., Chinyio, E., Xiao, H. and Lee, C.C.T. (2004) Learning from SME site managers through debriefing. Responding to Change, COBRA 2004, RICS, PP. 139 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ezekiel-Chinyio/publication/41183302_Learning_from_SME_site_managers_through_debriefing/links/0f317533ef0dfceb6b000000/Learning-from-SME-site-managers-through-debriefing.pdf
- Boyd, D., Egbu, C., Chinyio, E., Xiao, H. and Lee, C.C.T. (2004) Audio diary and debriefing for knowledge management in SMEs. ARCOM Twentieth Annual Conference 2004, Heriot Watt University, pp. 741-747 https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/116861226/Audio_20Diary_20and_20Debriefing_20for_20Knowledge_20Management_20in_20SMEs-libre.pdf?1721253707=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DAudio_Diary_and_Debriefing_for_Knowledge.pdf&Expires=1786969746&Signature=Tv1Z-uGF4dtEEdQyAYwNShNQPN-WL5DjfPv-OSNgzddNHEN28M7RQQP0h7gfeVgWc~lfe~dfqJztag1y3xzCr~ktxhf-TQ6I2c94tFW0IT~kzxWFlBO403lH9tBTzwL-vxyx5MtUvXWmd2CMFBm4MPr6siKVHBUj2Wq-Sn7WpDzbj4y~NHVuE-xoZEZXPnMerIAln7yCWZyE5V~W~Aq94qakT4wymEsCshw0j3JX9CJsc~u-LxCD-rw~NIEyESl9w-9eBFmYu16maK5yo71iLUilgQeyO5lE3aol56ycfrbOIYHeqPgfvz0~Rulx4Oeh7ERYmvOlAGKdij7L2V85Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D. (2003) Cost certainty and time certainty: an international investigation. ARCOM Nineteenth Annual Conference 2003, University of Brighton, pp. 22-32 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Proverbs/publication/266873132_COST_CERTAINTY_AND_TIME_CERTAINTY_AN_INTERNATIONAL_INVESTIGATION/links/584dfb8a08aed95c25032cde/COST-CERTAINTY-AND-TIME-CERTAINTY-AN-INTERNATIONAL-INVESTIGATION.pdf
- Xiao, H., Proverbs, D.G. and Heesom, D. (2003) The Development of Appropriate Measurements for the International Comparison of Contractor Performance. The 2003 Construction Research Congress, Honolulu, Hawaii, March 19-21, 2003 https://doi.org/10.1061/40671(2003)19
- Xiao, H. and Proverbs, D. (2001) A Comparison of Contractor Performance in Japan, the UK and the US: Some Preliminary Findings from a New Approach. ARCOM Seventeenth Annual Conference 2001, Salford University, pp. 661-9 https://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2001-661-669_Xiao_and_Proverbs.pdf
- Xiao, H., Proverbs, D., Shaw, T. and Holt, G. (2000) A new approach to comparing the performance of contractors internationally. ARCOM Sixteenth Annual Conference 2000, Glasgow Caledonian University, pp. 117-25 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Proverbs/publication/266420395_A_new_approach_to_comparing_the_performance_of_contractors_internationally/links/584dfb8408aeb98925264b89/A-new-approach-to-comparing-the-performance-of-contractors-internationally.pdf
- Xiao, H., Proverbs, D., Shaw, T. and Holt, G. (2000) A conceptual methodology for international comparison of contractor performance. Proceedings of Bizarre Fruit Postgraduate Research Conference in the Built and Human Environment in the UK, University of Salford, 9-10 March 2000, pp. 188-97
Work With Industry
- In 2004, Hong as a research assistantparticipated a research project titled ‘An approach to knowledge management for SMEs’, which is funded by DTI (Department of Trade and industry). This research develops and tests a practical and effective method by exploring daily events on site to facilitate construction SMEs to capture, share and store the valuable knowledge to improve their practice.
- In 2023, Hong as the principle investigator conducted a research project titled as ‘Assessing property flood resilience for commercial buildings’ which is funded by Property Research Trust. Flood risk in the UK has become more severe and more frequent. The impacts of flooding on businesses includes financial damages, business interruption and ultimately business failure. This research investigates the application of property level flood resilience measures in commercial buildings and provides recommendations to key stakeholders on how to improve flood resilience in commercial properties.
- In 2025, Hong as a co-investigator participated a research project titled ‘Framework for advancing IC adoption in National Highways projects’, which is funded by National Highways. This research develops a systematic method to assess the IC (Industrialised Construction) adaptation in all National Highways’ project phases, particularly in the early design stages, for faster project delivery, higher quality and consistency, sustainability and resource efficiency, cost-effectiveness and improved healthy and safety.