Built Environments
Introduction
Open space in the city
This team contributes knowledge and understanding of urban systems that supports developers, local authorities and communities to make our cities and towns places we proudly call 'home'. It focuses on investigating approaches to urban design and development that enhance wealth and well-being without degrading the natural environment and depleting the resources on which they depend. Research themes cover urban design, urban futures, stormwater management, urban ecology, urban economics, urban society, toxicology and risk assessment. A large proportion of our work falls within the low-impact urban design programme (LIUDD).
Research themes
- Sustainable urban design
Primary contact: Robert Vale
Finding ways to make buildings and urban environments that can contribute to a more sustainable future. - Toxicology and risk assessment
Primary contact: Louis Tremblay
Investigating pollution effects and impacts on human health and native species. - Urban ecology
Primary contact: Bruce Burns
Determining the importance of biodiversity to urban quality and methods to reduce urban impacts on existing biota; and to integrate new eco-structure within urban infrastructure. - Urban economics
Primary contact: Michael Krausse
Investigating the benefits and costs of alternative approaches to urban development. - Urban futures
Primary contact: Daniel Rutledge
Urban Futures contributes to the understanding, measurement, and monitoring of the cultural, economic, environmental, and social performance of different urban forms with the broad goal of fostering more sustainable urban communities. - Urban society
Primary contact: Alison Greenaway
Our social research explores people’s relationships with the biophysical and built environments. We document processes of social and environmental change while building knowledge networks for sustainable urban development. A core focus is analysing and supporting community engagement in integrated urban environmental management. - Urban stormwater management
Primary contact: Robyn Simcock
Developing environmentally effective and cost-effective technologies that mitigate impacts of urban stormwater.
Tools & Services
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Assessment of contaminated land
This work is largely undertaken for central and local government and involves the development of soil guideline values for the protection of human health and the environment. -
Urban mapping
Using remotely sensed data to derive information about size and arrangement of greenspace areas and connectivities, industrial and retail developments, and urban infill and sprawl.
Science leader
 | Michael Krausse Email  |
Landcare Research | |
Phone: 09 574 4100 |