The Architecture of Academic Research. In pursuit of increased and more innovative research there has been substantial expenditure in the construction of research environments yet little independent evaluation of their impact. The results of this project are crucial in determining future best practice in the design and operation of research environments. It will support the Australian design industry to achieve better outcomes in tertiary facilities here and abroad. More broadly, the architectur ....The Architecture of Academic Research. In pursuit of increased and more innovative research there has been substantial expenditure in the construction of research environments yet little independent evaluation of their impact. The results of this project are crucial in determining future best practice in the design and operation of research environments. It will support the Australian design industry to achieve better outcomes in tertiary facilities here and abroad. More broadly, the architectural profession and university sectors will gain critical insights into each other's working methods and needs. Ultimately, this project will help to improve the effectiveness of research in Australian universities. Read moreRead less
Governance for Environmental Sustainability: The Case of Public- Private Partnerships. The research will add to our knowledge of the structures, policies and processes required to control and coordinate partnerships formed to enable environmental sustainability whilst promoting creative problem solving and business profitability. Outcomes will advise Australian policy makers on design, development and implementation of the next generation of collaborative partnerships for sustainability between ....Governance for Environmental Sustainability: The Case of Public- Private Partnerships. The research will add to our knowledge of the structures, policies and processes required to control and coordinate partnerships formed to enable environmental sustainability whilst promoting creative problem solving and business profitability. Outcomes will advise Australian policy makers on design, development and implementation of the next generation of collaborative partnerships for sustainability between government and business. With such interorganisational partnerships becoming ever more prevalent and complex, the study will provide invaluable information that will help facilitate the long-term success of Australian businesses and promote Australia's economic development without compromising its environmental sustainabilityRead moreRead less
An Integrated Information Model to Support Metropolitan Planning, Management and Analysis. This project will be the first in Australia to integrate diverse types of urban data using an open-standard geospatial information model to research the outcomes of major urban renewal proposals in collaboration with both a state and local government planning instrumentalities.
Since the issues being addressed are common to every planning body in Australia, the flow-on benefits will be of national signif ....An Integrated Information Model to Support Metropolitan Planning, Management and Analysis. This project will be the first in Australia to integrate diverse types of urban data using an open-standard geospatial information model to research the outcomes of major urban renewal proposals in collaboration with both a state and local government planning instrumentalities.
Since the issues being addressed are common to every planning body in Australia, the flow-on benefits will be of national significance for future urban planning and management.
The research will place Australia at the forefront of international research to improve spatial information management that will inform planning decisions at the local and state level.Read moreRead less
Gender, Local Governance, and Violence Prevention: Making the Links. Violence results in enormous social and economic costs to individuals and to Australian society. Part of the problem is that crime and violence in public space, and violence in homes, are considered separate issues in research and policy. This project will pilot innovative integrated violence prevention programs in four local government areas (including one rural-urban fringe and one rural municipality). Training materials a ....Gender, Local Governance, and Violence Prevention: Making the Links. Violence results in enormous social and economic costs to individuals and to Australian society. Part of the problem is that crime and violence in public space, and violence in homes, are considered separate issues in research and policy. This project will pilot innovative integrated violence prevention programs in four local government areas (including one rural-urban fringe and one rural municipality). Training materials and workshops based on these programs will be developed that can inform local, state, and national violence prevention strategies in both urban and rural/regional areas.Read moreRead less
Natural Hazard Vulnerability: A study of risk, vulnerability, behaviour, attitudes and perceptions of warnings. This project builds on original research into community vulnerability, awareness and preparedness for natural hazards. During the second half of the United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, the trend in emergency management and disaster mitigation research has been towards the social and community impacts of natural disasters. The aim of the project is to exa ....Natural Hazard Vulnerability: A study of risk, vulnerability, behaviour, attitudes and perceptions of warnings. This project builds on original research into community vulnerability, awareness and preparedness for natural hazards. During the second half of the United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, the trend in emergency management and disaster mitigation research has been towards the social and community impacts of natural disasters. The aim of the project is to examine risk perception amongst hazard vulnerable communities. The expected outcomes include an improved awareness campaign and a better understanding of the ways in which warnings and forecasts are filtered and distorted by the public.Read moreRead less
Building communities: managing public assets to provide social value. Local government facilities have a social value for the community beyond the immediate provision of service or amenity. However, this aspect is not generally considered in the formal planning and management of public facilities, which concentrate on economic considerations and community service needs. This project explores the links between public assets, their social value and community well-being. The research will provide a ....Building communities: managing public assets to provide social value. Local government facilities have a social value for the community beyond the immediate provision of service or amenity. However, this aspect is not generally considered in the formal planning and management of public facilities, which concentrate on economic considerations and community service needs. This project explores the links between public assets, their social value and community well-being. The research will provide a rationale, model, and set of indicators to assess social value for facilities, assisting local government decision-making, including regional and rural communities, and contribute to the development of meaningful long-term infrastructure and community plans.Read moreRead less
The character of urban intensification: Protecting and Creating Place Identity in Activity Centres. This project will contribute to the improved environmental and social sustainability of Australian cities and to an enhanced sense of place and community. It will raise awareness and understanding of social factors associated with urban change and provide theoretical and practical tools to facilitate more effective policy development, urban regulation and urban design. Although based in Melbourne, ....The character of urban intensification: Protecting and Creating Place Identity in Activity Centres. This project will contribute to the improved environmental and social sustainability of Australian cities and to an enhanced sense of place and community. It will raise awareness and understanding of social factors associated with urban change and provide theoretical and practical tools to facilitate more effective policy development, urban regulation and urban design. Although based in Melbourne, the methodology and findings can be applied to other Australian cities and internationally. Read moreRead less
An investigation of the relationship between buildings, building users and organisational effectiveness in the hospital sector. Significant changes in the Australian health-care environment are creating a mismatch between health-care priorities and building facilities. Many hospital buildings do not meet user needs by providing the flexible spaces needed for changing operating models and technologies. This is threatening the quality and cost effectiveness of health-care provision. This research ....An investigation of the relationship between buildings, building users and organisational effectiveness in the hospital sector. Significant changes in the Australian health-care environment are creating a mismatch between health-care priorities and building facilities. Many hospital buildings do not meet user needs by providing the flexible spaces needed for changing operating models and technologies. This is threatening the quality and cost effectiveness of health-care provision. This research will investigate the relationship between buildings, building users and organisational performance in hospitals. A model will be produced to explain these relationships and thereby, help managers more effectively manage building facilities. It will also redress a deficiency in management theory, which has ignored buildings as a factor of production.Read moreRead less
Assessing the adaptive capacity of hospital facilities to cope with climate-related extreme weather events: A risk management approach. Given Australia's and New Zealand's relatively high exposure to climate extremes, the social, economic and health benefits of better managed hospital facilities are significant. Floods, bushfires, heatwaves and cyclones cost Australia over $1.4bn/year and New Zealand over NZ$43m/yr in disruption to communities, business productivity and damage to infrastructure. ....Assessing the adaptive capacity of hospital facilities to cope with climate-related extreme weather events: A risk management approach. Given Australia's and New Zealand's relatively high exposure to climate extremes, the social, economic and health benefits of better managed hospital facilities are significant. Floods, bushfires, heatwaves and cyclones cost Australia over $1.4bn/year and New Zealand over NZ$43m/yr in disruption to communities, business productivity and damage to infrastructure. This research will help to mitigate these costs by protecting populations from the health risks associated with such events. The potential benefits will be most significant for those vulnerable communities at high risk such as the aged, the obese, the ill and those geographically exposed to more extreme weather events.Read moreRead less
WHAT IS URBAN CHARACTER? Defining, Constructing and Regulating Urban Place Identity. Urban character has become a key concept in the discourse and practice of urban development, used to defend valued places against what is seen as inappropriate development. This project will study the 3-way relations between design practice, urban regulation and urban character outcomes. How is urban character experienced in everyday life? How is it defined and constructed in public discourse? How is it created ....WHAT IS URBAN CHARACTER? Defining, Constructing and Regulating Urban Place Identity. Urban character has become a key concept in the discourse and practice of urban development, used to defend valued places against what is seen as inappropriate development. This project will study the 3-way relations between design practice, urban regulation and urban character outcomes. How is urban character experienced in everyday life? How is it defined and constructed in public discourse? How is it created through design innovation and protected through planning regulation? The project will produce a critical re-thinking of the complex issues framing the urban character debate and contribute to the development of sustainable, equitable and innovative urban futures.Read moreRead less