Designing smart communities

How can we improve the relationship between people and their physical environment?

Some of our research in improving built environments includes:

Using timber in large scale structures

There is a growing demand from architects, developers and clients to create buildings from engineered timber products. Timber is both aesthetically appealing and environmentally advantageous, however, fire safety considerations are frequently cited as a major constraint on the use of timber within buildings.

UQ researchers are actively working to provide engineers with the knowledge and understanding required to building safely in timber – and at a large scale. We’re developing concepts for timber skyscrapers, characterising the fire dynamics associated with timber structures, assessing the fire performance of novel timber composite products and characterising the structural response of timber in fire conditions.

Using spinifex as a sustainable biomaterial for the built environment

Spinifex grass has long been a prime building material for shelters constructed in remote, arid-zone Aboriginal communities – available in abundance, it is strong and waterproof with good “sticking” qualities.

Using the combined expertise of social scientists, botanists, and engineering and architectural researchers, along with Aboriginal knowledge of ecology and sustainable harvesting, UQ has found spinifex to be eminently suitable for blending with other biomaterials (such as polymers) to create new bio-composites.

This research has led to the potential launch of a whole new sustainable industry: cellulose biomaterials for the built environment, a new commercial venture for remote Aboriginal communities in western Queensland for its harvesting, farming and bioprocessing.

What can we do to restore and improve urban infrastructure?

Some of our research in restoring and improving urban infrastructure

Where should we live – analysing and improving transport systems

UQ research is facilitating sustainable transport planning and infrastructure development for a greener future. Currently, governmental authorities collect data about the travel behaviour of households using paper, phone or web-based surveys which is inaccurate, costly and outdated.

Using smart phones, our Civil Engineers have developed an accurate, easy and affordable means of data collection for transport planning. Atlas II automatically records individuals’ trips when running on their phones, without an unnecessary interaction with participants or an interference with the ordinary phone usages.

This data plays an important role in planning sustainable transport infrastructure by addressing the needs of future generations, and also relies more on greener means of transportation such as walking, riding and public transport.

What can we do to restore and improve urban infrastructure?

Some of our research in quality supply of water and food for all communities includes:

Transitioning to water sensitive cities

Living in the world’s driest populated continent, the value of water to Australians has never been greater. As the population of Australia continues to increase, so does the growth of urban centres and inner-city dwellings, placing ever larger demands upon the existing water supply, waste-water and drainage systems.

The question of how to future-proof Australia and create liveable, productive, sustainable and resilient cities has become a national priority.

UQ, along with 84 other universities, government entities and private-sector organisations have developed the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities (CRCWSC) to address this challenge.

It is this broad and integrated approach to managing the urban water cycle that encompasses a diversity of stakeholders and disciplines, and that is what makes the CRCWSC unique in its vision to develop increasingly effective water sensitive cities of the future.