Shaping social and cultural spaces: the application of computer visualisation and machine learning techniques to the design of architectural and urban spaces. The proposed research project provides a previously unavailable level of understanding of the experiential and symbolic characteristics of complex urban and architectural spaces. In a country that is experiencing increasing urban density there is an urgent need for the development of new tools, theories and design approaches that can produ ....Shaping social and cultural spaces: the application of computer visualisation and machine learning techniques to the design of architectural and urban spaces. The proposed research project provides a previously unavailable level of understanding of the experiential and symbolic characteristics of complex urban and architectural spaces. In a country that is experiencing increasing urban density there is an urgent need for the development of new tools, theories and design approaches that can produce spaces which are socially and culturally responsive.
The research project produces a leading-edge computational tool for analysing space, along with a conceptual advance in design theory. Both the tool and the theoretical advance will assist design practitioners, scholars, town planners and policy writers to shape rich, responsive and inclusive urban environments.Read moreRead less
Exploring synergies with innovative Green Technologies for Advanced Renovation: Redefining a Bioclimatic approach for multi residential and office buildings in warmer climates. Building energy consumption accounts for nearly 27% of all energy related greenhouse gas emissions. By 2010, emissions' from buildings is estimated to increase by 48% above 1990 levels. This projected trend is alarming given that Australia's obligation under the Kyoto Protocol is only 8% above 1990 levels. Renovation of e ....Exploring synergies with innovative Green Technologies for Advanced Renovation: Redefining a Bioclimatic approach for multi residential and office buildings in warmer climates. Building energy consumption accounts for nearly 27% of all energy related greenhouse gas emissions. By 2010, emissions' from buildings is estimated to increase by 48% above 1990 levels. This projected trend is alarming given that Australia's obligation under the Kyoto Protocol is only 8% above 1990 levels. Renovation of existing buildings is necessary to achieve this target. Research will address this problem by providing principles, strategies and solutions demostrating improvement of environmental performance and cost benefits. The application of new principles will assist with transforming the building industry to meet Kyoto targets.Read moreRead less
Towards a Quality of Life Model for Sustainable Housing in South East Queensland. Current reports, on Quality of Life in South East Queensland and the Queensland Governments State of the Environment demonstrate a paradox, - high quality of life but also increasing environmental impact. How to address this paradox is a major research question addressed in this project. Through examining examples of best practice sustainable housing it is possible to address this question. The key factors of quali ....Towards a Quality of Life Model for Sustainable Housing in South East Queensland. Current reports, on Quality of Life in South East Queensland and the Queensland Governments State of the Environment demonstrate a paradox, - high quality of life but also increasing environmental impact. How to address this paradox is a major research question addressed in this project. Through examining examples of best practice sustainable housing it is possible to address this question. The key factors of quality of life will be identified for housing, which will assist policy makers plan for a sustainable future. Read moreRead less
Integrated Autonomous Housing for Remote Australian Communities: Analysis, Synthesis and Testing. At remote mining communities, little consideration is given to comfort or energy efficiency in housing - services have not been optimised to minimise greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and solid waste. This project will address these environmental issues and the associated social problems by combining the resources of BHP Billiton and the University of Newcastle to develop a model for remot ....Integrated Autonomous Housing for Remote Australian Communities: Analysis, Synthesis and Testing. At remote mining communities, little consideration is given to comfort or energy efficiency in housing - services have not been optimised to minimise greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and solid waste. This project will address these environmental issues and the associated social problems by combining the resources of BHP Billiton and the University of Newcastle to develop a model for remote housing. The project aims to design and test an integrated low impact or autonomous transportable house. The results of this research are applicable to remote defence sites, small rural townships and Aboriginal communities as well as for international export.Read moreRead less
Demonstrating the feasibility of designing sustainable buildings using evolutionary systems. The design approach proposed in this research will result in two key areas of national benefit. First, the research will enable Australian built environment design professions to become more competitive in both domestic and international markets. There is a growing demand for environmentally-friendly buildings and the proposed design approach will enable Australian firms to be at the cutting edge of sust ....Demonstrating the feasibility of designing sustainable buildings using evolutionary systems. The design approach proposed in this research will result in two key areas of national benefit. First, the research will enable Australian built environment design professions to become more competitive in both domestic and international markets. There is a growing demand for environmentally-friendly buildings and the proposed design approach will enable Australian firms to be at the cutting edge of sustainable design. Second, the research will enable the Australian built environment to become more sustainable. The proposed approach will enable buildings to be designed that perform well, that are cost effective and that minimise their environmental impact. Read moreRead less
Improving thermal performance of low-cost houses for better health of occupants and to reduce costs of temperature control. Recent projects in rural and remote Australian Indigenous communities show that internal house temperatures can vary from accepted temperature ranges that promote well-being, particularly in young children, by up to 20ºC in both summer and winter.
Low-cost housing with poor thermal performance often results in reliance on 'active', often costly-to-run, heating and cooli ....Improving thermal performance of low-cost houses for better health of occupants and to reduce costs of temperature control. Recent projects in rural and remote Australian Indigenous communities show that internal house temperatures can vary from accepted temperature ranges that promote well-being, particularly in young children, by up to 20ºC in both summer and winter.
Low-cost housing with poor thermal performance often results in reliance on 'active', often costly-to-run, heating and cooling appliances.
Measured internal temperatures, energy and water-use data from Indigenous houses will be analysed to demonstrate the link between low-cost house design and poor thermal performance. A methodology and prioritised guidelines for improving temperature control in existing and new low-cost housing will be formulated.
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The Ageing of Aquarius: Designing new housing solutions for Australia's baby-boomers. The economically most powerful demographic group in Australian society is the relatively wealthy baby-boomer cohort as it enters a period of unprecedented and extended retirement activity. This period will create unique housing demands and require new insights into the nature of dwelling provision and preferences for this group. The housing industry is historically hampered by an inability to innovate and prov ....The Ageing of Aquarius: Designing new housing solutions for Australia's baby-boomers. The economically most powerful demographic group in Australian society is the relatively wealthy baby-boomer cohort as it enters a period of unprecedented and extended retirement activity. This period will create unique housing demands and require new insights into the nature of dwelling provision and preferences for this group. The housing industry is historically hampered by an inability to innovate and provide these types of solutions. This research will establish design-based methodologies and practices that would enable industry to discern and provide for the future housing needs of this group, and contribute to the development of innovation in the industry generally.Read moreRead less
Drivers and barriers to sustainability in residential and commercial buildings. In acknowledging that climate change is one of the greatest moral and economic challenges of our time, the federal Government is committed to Australia's internationally agreed target of limiting greenhouse gas emissions. In its efforts to achieve this, the Government is supporting various initiatives including the development of renewable energy technology. In Australia, buildings contribute almost one-quarter of ou ....Drivers and barriers to sustainability in residential and commercial buildings. In acknowledging that climate change is one of the greatest moral and economic challenges of our time, the federal Government is committed to Australia's internationally agreed target of limiting greenhouse gas emissions. In its efforts to achieve this, the Government is supporting various initiatives including the development of renewable energy technology. In Australia, buildings contribute almost one-quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions. This research will identify methods that assist in the nationwide uptake of sustainability practices, including the use of micro-generation technology, to help improve building performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.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
Building and Ethics: Understanding A Corpus of Contemproary Australian Award-Winning Houses as Responses to Ecological, Social and Built Contexts. The project aims to construct an understanding from an ethical framework of the interrelationships between attitudes, perceptions, rhetorical statements about and actual behaviours of a small corpus of contemporary award-winning Australian houses. The project is significant as it will create a conceptual advance in understanding the ways in which note ....Building and Ethics: Understanding A Corpus of Contemproary Australian Award-Winning Houses as Responses to Ecological, Social and Built Contexts. The project aims to construct an understanding from an ethical framework of the interrelationships between attitudes, perceptions, rhetorical statements about and actual behaviours of a small corpus of contemporary award-winning Australian houses. The project is significant as it will create a conceptual advance in understanding the ways in which noted Australian houses respond in a cohesive ethical manner to ecological, social and built contexts. The expected outcomes include documentation of an (ethical) methodology for a cohesive analysis of buildings to assist the building design and construction industry to make informed decisions in housing design and construction in the Australian context(s).Read moreRead less