'Sea change' communities: inter-generational perception and sense of place. The aim of this research is to establish a more rigorous method of evaluating the impact of the sea change process on the built and natural environments of coastal settlements. It will assist those communities to implement effective, place-sensitive sustainable planning and associated development practices.
Making better decisions about built assets: learning by doing. This research will assist the built environment professions and their clients to make better decisions about new developments through a novel 'learning by doing' approach. Used successfully in other fields such as natural resource management, this idea will capitalise on the large number of asset investments undertaken to benchmark original stakeholder intentions and aspirations against the reality of current performance. Decisions w ....Making better decisions about built assets: learning by doing. This research will assist the built environment professions and their clients to make better decisions about new developments through a novel 'learning by doing' approach. Used successfully in other fields such as natural resource management, this idea will capitalise on the large number of asset investments undertaken to benchmark original stakeholder intentions and aspirations against the reality of current performance. Decisions will be re-evaluated in the context of contemporary economic, social and environmental criteria to enable existing multi-criteria models to deliver more sustainable outcomes that are also feasible and in the national interest, and consequently minimise the industry's current exposure to future climate change.Read moreRead less
Strategic Assessment of Building Adaptive Reuse Opportunities. This research will review a large database of existing buildings, many of which have exceeded their useful life. An innovative model will be developed to enable Australia's building and property industries to identify the most viable opportunities for building adaptive reuse. The model will integrate financial, environmental and social sustainability, enabling community stakeholders to make informed decisions with widespread benefits ....Strategic Assessment of Building Adaptive Reuse Opportunities. This research will review a large database of existing buildings, many of which have exceeded their useful life. An innovative model will be developed to enable Australia's building and property industries to identify the most viable opportunities for building adaptive reuse. The model will integrate financial, environmental and social sustainability, enabling community stakeholders to make informed decisions with widespread benefits. The research is aligned with the national priority area: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia: Transforming Existing Industries. The expertise developed in this project will be regionally and internationally applicable, providing momentum for the growing adaptive design and conservation market.Read moreRead less
Embodied energy modelling of individual commercial buildings. This research will develop a method for modelling the energy embodied in individual commercial building construction. Construction material manufacturing emissions are well known in most industries, but the total embodied energy of the construction supply chain is difficult to model for individual buildings. For efficient commercial buildings, the embodied energy can represent up to 40 years of operational energy. The results will be ....Embodied energy modelling of individual commercial buildings. This research will develop a method for modelling the energy embodied in individual commercial building construction. Construction material manufacturing emissions are well known in most industries, but the total embodied energy of the construction supply chain is difficult to model for individual buildings. For efficient commercial buildings, the embodied energy can represent up to 40 years of operational energy. The results will be used to develop cost effective strategies for optimising the total life cycle energy of individual commercial buildings. This will in part improve the environmental performance of the Australian construction industry.Read moreRead less
Embedded emissions accounting: frameworks for trade in a net-zero world. This project aims to inform Government on potential accounting frameworks for greenhouse emissions embedded in tradable products. Public frameworks are urgently needed given the emergence internationally of trade-related climate policies such as carbon border adjustment mechanisms. The project expects to contribute to global knowledge on embedded emissions frameworks by combining economic, engineering, science and policy pe ....Embedded emissions accounting: frameworks for trade in a net-zero world. This project aims to inform Government on potential accounting frameworks for greenhouse emissions embedded in tradable products. Public frameworks are urgently needed given the emergence internationally of trade-related climate policies such as carbon border adjustment mechanisms. The project expects to contribute to global knowledge on embedded emissions frameworks by combining economic, engineering, science and policy perspectives. Expected outcomes include improved: capability within Government; understanding among Australian stakeholders; and integration with international approaches. Expected benefits include lower regulatory barriers to global emissions reductions, and fairer access to international markets for Australian producers. Read moreRead less
Carbon neutral communities: making the transition. This project has well defined National benefits, both economic and social, for the collaborative partners, the business community, policy makers, community groups and the broader Australian community. It contributes toward NRP 1, through developing practical measures for reducing GHG emissions in Australian urban areas, and strategies for overcoming barriers to greater uptake of energy efficiency and alternative technologies; and helping Austra ....Carbon neutral communities: making the transition. This project has well defined National benefits, both economic and social, for the collaborative partners, the business community, policy makers, community groups and the broader Australian community. It contributes toward NRP 1, through developing practical measures for reducing GHG emissions in Australian urban areas, and strategies for overcoming barriers to greater uptake of energy efficiency and alternative technologies; and helping Australia to meet its greenhouse reduction targets. The project economic benefits to through energy savings; stimulating innovation in urban design, building design and transport use; promoting new business opportunities; and encouraging more sustainable lifestyle decisions. Read moreRead less
Remembering the Wars: Community Significance of Western Australian War Memorials. The project will provide an enriched understanding of war commemoration, community meanings, the design of war memorials and recommendations of practical strategies for their interpretation and conservation. The research from this project will add to the social understanding of our national war commemorative practices, the connections between community meaning and memorial design and the importance of war memorials ....Remembering the Wars: Community Significance of Western Australian War Memorials. The project will provide an enriched understanding of war commemoration, community meanings, the design of war memorials and recommendations of practical strategies for their interpretation and conservation. The research from this project will add to the social understanding of our national war commemorative practices, the connections between community meaning and memorial design and the importance of war memorials as instruments of citizenship. Results will be used to formulate a strategy to raise regional community awareness and regard for local war memorials through publications and through the direct action of local RSL Branches and community interest groups with a view to application on a national scale through the RSL. Read moreRead less
Cultural Heritage Site Significance, Management and Interpretation in China and Australia: A Comparative Analysis in a Cross-Cultural Framework. The Nara Document 1994 asserts that East Asians see 'cultural heritage' differently from Westerners and that conservation practice should reflect the culture in which it takes place. Given Australia's growing tourism links with China, and China's growing importance in the Asia-Pacific, it is timely to reflect on the Chinese understanding of cultural her ....Cultural Heritage Site Significance, Management and Interpretation in China and Australia: A Comparative Analysis in a Cross-Cultural Framework. The Nara Document 1994 asserts that East Asians see 'cultural heritage' differently from Westerners and that conservation practice should reflect the culture in which it takes place. Given Australia's growing tourism links with China, and China's growing importance in the Asia-Pacific, it is timely to reflect on the Chinese understanding of cultural heritage. Conversely China's relatively new cultural heritage industry can learn from Australian practice. This project aims at better mutual understanding by researching key issues of site significance, management and interpretation. The research will fill a gap in the literature and provide a model for further cross-cultural heritage analysis.Read moreRead less
Lifetime Affordable Housing in Australia: Integrating environmental performance and affordability. Existing dwellings and the locations of suburban housing with respect to employment centres result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Water and other environmental issues are also important in housing performance, and there is currently a perceived trade-off between these factors and the affordability of housing. For the first time in Australia, this study will focus on overcoming this appare ....Lifetime Affordable Housing in Australia: Integrating environmental performance and affordability. Existing dwellings and the locations of suburban housing with respect to employment centres result in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Water and other environmental issues are also important in housing performance, and there is currently a perceived trade-off between these factors and the affordability of housing. For the first time in Australia, this study will focus on overcoming this apparent policy dilemma. The research will inform future housing policy in strengthening Australia's economic and social fabric, while contributing towards Australia's National Research Priority 1 'Environmentally Sustainable Australia'. Outcomes will provide significant national economic, social, water use and greenhouse gas benefits for Australia.Read moreRead less
Modelling environmental and financial performance of construction. This project will investigate the relationships between environmental and financial parameters associated with decisions made during the building design process. The outcomes of this research will assist the construction industry to transform itself towards ecological sustainability. We will provide a means by which the construction industry can more comprehensively assess the environmental impacts associated with building design ....Modelling environmental and financial performance of construction. This project will investigate the relationships between environmental and financial parameters associated with decisions made during the building design process. The outcomes of this research will assist the construction industry to transform itself towards ecological sustainability. We will provide a means by which the construction industry can more comprehensively assess the environmental impacts associated with building design decisions. In general, this will lead to a more effective construction industry, with solutions being evaluated simultaneously against environmental and financial criteria. The project is thus aligned with the priority area: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia: Transforming existing industries.Read moreRead less