Supporting Construction and Material Use in the Self-Storage Business: A Literature and Industry Review

Overview

The self-storage industry is expanding, driven by urbanisation, population mobility, and changing customer preferences. Operators face practical challenges around construction costs, zoning and geographic constraints, supply-demand dynamics, site layouts, unit mix, and performance benchmarking. This project, linked to a Building 4.0 CRC collaboration between QUT, CRC, and the Self Storage Association of Australasia, will guide students through an applied literature and industry review to investigate how construction approaches, material choices, modular design, and site planning can support efficient, sustainable, and adaptable self-storage facilities. Drawing on the SSAA/QUT background work on a user-centred digital platform, the project will identify evidence and practical examples that can inform design guidance and decision-support tools for operators of different sizes and geographic contexts.

Research engagement

The student will engage with the design and execution of an applied literature and industry review, covering all phases from developing search strategies to synthesising findings. This will include identifying and screening relevant academic and industry sources, extracting information on construction methods, material systems, modular components, site-layout approaches, zoning considerations, and operational implications. The student will construct comparative tables, summarise relevant case studies and guidance, participate in regular meetings to discuss progress and insights, and contribute to drafting the final report or academic outputs. There may be opportunities to engage with interdisciplinary discussions alongside experts in virtual design and construction, property economics, urban planning, information systems, and the self-storage industry.

Research activities

The student will conduct an applied review focused on construction and material-use strategies for self-storage facilities. Activities will include developing search strategies, screening literature and industry guidance, extracting and cataloguing data on materials, building systems, modular construction, lifecycle and sustainability considerations, costs, site layouts, and operational impacts. The student will also map how these findings could inform SSAA/QUT digital-platform functions such as site feasibility assessment, demand forecasting, unit-mix planning, geospatial analysis, and construction decision support. The student will work closely with the project supervisors and may draw on de-identified SSAA stakeholder insights or existing datasets where available and appropriate.

Research skills

Through this project, the student will develop skills in:

• Applied literature and industry review techniques
• Academic and industry database searching and source screening
• Data extraction, coding, synthesis, and comparative analysis
• Evaluation of construction systems, material choices, and modular design principles
• Translating stakeholder needs into digital-platform requirements
• Science communication and report writing for industry and academic audiences

Outcomes

The main aim is to synthesise practical evidence on how construction approaches and material use can support self-storage businesses. Expected outcomes include:

• A structured review of construction methods, material systems, modular options, and site-layout approaches relevant to self-storage facilities
• A comparative table linking materials and construction strategies to cost, efficiency, sustainability, flexibility, and operational outcomes
• Summaries of relevant case studies, standards, guidance, and industry practices
• Recommendations for how construction and material-use insights could be embedded in SSAA/QUT digital-platform tools
• Potential academic or industry-facing outputs (e.g., report, poster, dashboard requirements, or conference submission)

Skills and experience

Ideal candidates will have an interest or background in the built environment, construction management, architecture, urban planning, property economics, engineering, materials science, or sustainability. No prior experience with the self-storage sector is required, but attention to detail and motivation to learn applied research methods are important. Familiarity with academic research, basic data organisation, construction terminology, or digital tools is helpful. The ideal candidate will be organised, inquisitive, and eager to contribute to practical knowledge that supports more efficient, sustainable, and data-informed self-storage development.

Start date

2 November, 2026

End date

19 February, 2027

Location

Gardens Point Campus, D Block

Keywords

• Self-storage
• Construction materials
• Modular construction
• Site layout
• Digital platform
• Geospatial analytics
• Industry review

Contact

Umberto Baresi

431520412

u2.baresi@qut.edu.au