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How to include physical activity related health benefits in the economics of urban planning

Belen Zapata-Diomedi, Lennert Veerman. Attributes of the built environment, such as street connectivity, diversity of land uses and transportation infrastructure can positively influence physical activity of urban populations, which results in health and economic benefits. However, decisions within the built environment are usually made without a full consideration of health outcomes. While health effects related to road trauma and exposure to poor air quality are included in the appraisal process in the transport sector, physical activity is not assessed on a routine basis. This incomplete picture may result in a bias towards built environments that are not supportive of physical …

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Low Carbon West

Councils are taking responsibility to reduce carbon emissions – leading the way by reducing their own emissions and assisting community action. But to transform a whole region to a low carbon economy, councils need to do more. They can collaborate on large-scale projects across municipalities, create opportunities for businesses from sustainable, low-carbon growth, and coordinate programs to increase their reach to communities, strengthen their messages and improve liveability. The Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action (WAGA) is a partnership of eight councils in the west of Melbourne, representing a cross-section from urban (Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley), to growth …

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Transformative Urban Development Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Marc Bartsch BTRP M.L.Arch RPIA RLA Since the delivery of the presentation ‘Public Transport Revolution: The Making of Place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’ in Brisbane in 2015, work on the Riyadh Metro has continued at a rapid pace, and by early 2017 most of the required tunnelling is complete. At the surface, throughout the city there are numerous access shafts and structures which will provide for station access. The disruption to the already chaotic traffic of testosterone fuelled Riyadh (remember only men can drive, badly) is not really evident. A few advertisements in the city newspapers was the sum of …

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Expressed emotion and the hospital environment

Expressed emotion and the hospital environment: An update on consumer perceptions of mental health environments Consumer perceptions of safety within mental health treatment environments was found to be a significant determinant of therapeutic engagement as outlined in Expressed emotion and the hospital environment.  Consumer perceptions of built environments were further examined through qualitative analysis in conjunction with an examination of existing built therapeutic environments. The information attained was used to develop a series of design recommendations for architects/designers to utilise when designing therapy and counselling spaces. Despite the literature affirming links between good design practice and mental well-being , existing …

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Step outside for a moment: the value of pedestrians in healthcare precincts

Michaela Sheahan, Researcher, HASSELL Bump space, serendipitous encounters: whatever the label, the name of the game in healthcare design is connecting people. But the focus on internal collaboration has some unintended side effects: buildings get bigger, and people spend more time inside. External space is shrinking as large clinical and research buildings bring teams closer together via soaring atria, internal streets, and sky-bridges. Good connections are vital to a well-functioning hospital, but as public realm diminishes, so does walkability and street activity. Nothing kills a precinct quite like a deserted street. My research shows that as these precincts grow, two …

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SymbioResort Update Feb 2017

Since the Australian Regional Development Conference was held in September 2016, QUT researchers have been busy working with the renowned resort master planner Mr Paul Ma on new regional tourism developments and refurbishments throughout Australia using the “SymbioResort” design techniques as outlined to delegates at the conference. A number of greenfield projects are being planned for Tasmania at Burnie and Bridestowe whilst the new owners of existing tourism resorts at Couran Cove and Kooralbyn are exploring the economic, social and environmental benefits of undertaking refurbishments using this new place-based design protocol to help breathe life back into these once dormant …

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CONNECTING COMMUNITIES: SHIFTING THE SILOS

In changing times, the pressure on community organisations to respond and adapt to the needs of families, children and communities is high. With traditional funding streams concurrently being reviewed, many agencies are feeling caught between the high demands of grass roots work with their client group and the need to spend more quality time developing partnerships and planning alternative models to accommodate the changing service system landscape. The Canopy, a growing multi-focus community organisation based in Lake Macquarie NSW, had existed for 23 years as a small family support agency with 4 staff.  Where agencies had traditionally collaborated with a …

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THE ROLE OF URBAN RESERVES IN PROMOTING SUSTAINABIILITY

THE ROLE OF URBAN RESERVES IN PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PORTLAND, OREGON METROPOLITAN REGION By Edward J. Sullivan, Adjunct Professor of Urban Studies and Planning Portland State University Oregon has developed a unique comprehensive urban growth strategy.  Rural areas are separated from urban areas by an urban growth boundary (UGB) concentrating most urban uses within the boundary and fostering policies to provide urban levels of facilities and services, as wells as varying use intensities for residential, industrial, employment, recreational and commercial uses.  The UGB encompasses existing and anticipated urban uses over a rolling 20-year period.  Expansion of the UGB requires extensive …

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Business signage: one sign, multiple perspectives.

Dr. Mandy Rudge, Senior Lecturer, Ideaschool, Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), Taradale, Aotearoa / New Zealand In 2012 and in 2015, a group of researchers surveyed a sample of business signage in 43 North island communities and 10 communities in the South island of Aotearoa / New Zealand. It was in the process of gathering, analysing and contextualising this data that I (one of the researchers) became aware of the varied and diverse ways that people view business signage. For graphic designers it is vital that commercial signage is detectable, conspicuous, legible and comprehensible (Signage Foundation, 2012) but it should …

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Innovation Comes In Many Forms

Innovation comes in many forms, all of which can give you a competitive edge in the marketplace.  It is therefore important to at least consider protecting your innovations, both to prevent others from gaining any advantage from them, but also to facilitate subsequent negotiations and licenses with third parties. Three forms of IP rights are often used to protect innovations – patents, trade marks and registered designs.  Patents protect how a product functions, whist registered designs protect its “look” and trade marks protect the brand used to sell it.  It is often important to lodge IP rights at IP Australia …

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