Urbanism research

Urbanism research at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning advances understanding of cities and urban change through internationally recognised scholarship and policy engagement.

We work towards more equitable, resilient and liveable cities and regions.

Our research spans housing, urban governance and planning, urban design, infrastructure and transport, digital urbanism, population change, and health and sustainable urban development.

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Our research strengths

Title : Urban and regional planning, governance and policy

Description : Advancing evidence-based planning and governance approaches that improve urban outcomes across cities and regions.

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Title : Housing, affordability and housing futures

Description : Examining how housing systems, markets, technologies and policy settings shape access to affordable, secure and equitable housing.

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Title : Infrastructure, digital technologies and smart urbanism

Description : Investigating how infrastructure, digital innovation and emerging technologies are transforming urban development, governance and everyday life.

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Title : Urban design, place making and urban Futures

Description : Investigating how theory and practice of urban design, placemaking and design governance support better urban futures.

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Title : Renewable energy transitions

Description : Planning for more inclusive, place-based energy transitions across Australian cities and regions.

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Title : Urban health, environment and planetary wellbeing

Description : Advancing interdisciplinary research on the interactions between urban systems, ecological processes and human wellbeing to support healthier, more sustainable and resilient futures.

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Our funded projects

An interaction model for human–machine creative collaboration

Exploring how interactive systems can enhance creative productivity
Article URL /content/dam/brand-and-marketing-assets/conceptual-images/adp-research-project---human-machine-creative-collaboration.jpg 800.600.2x.jpeg 1600w, 220.165.2x.jpeg 440w, 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 440.330.2x.jpeg 880w
Australian Rental Vulnerability Index

Improving our understanding of renting to improve conditions for renters
Article URL /content/dam/corporate/images/news-and-opinion/news/2024/september/regional-housing.jpg 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 1440.809.2x.jpeg 2880w, 800.449.2x.jpeg 1600w, 440.247.2x.jpeg 880w, 220.124.2x.jpeg 440w
Future of Australia's Industrial Regions

Integrated research on industries and communities amid energy transitions
Article URL /content/dam/faculty-and-school-restricted-use-images/sydney-school-of-architecture-design-and-planning/research/bluescope-cropped.jpeg 220.117.2x.jpeg 440w, 1440.756.2x.jpeg 2880w, 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 440.231.2x.jpeg 880w, 800.420.2x.jpeg 1600w, 2000.1050.2x.jpeg 4000w
Governing the city in the age of AI

Steering the use of AI towards fair and sustainable urban outcomes
Article URL /content/dam/corporate/images/architecture/research/governing-the-city-in-the-age-of-ai.png 2000.1124.2x.png 4000w, 1440.809.2x.png 2880w, 800.449.2x.png 1600w, 220.124.2x.png 440w, 440.247.2x.png 880w
Infrastructure Governance Incubator

Investigating Australia’s urban infrastructure
Article URL /content/dam/faculty-and-school-restricted-use-images/sydney-school-of-architecture-design-and-planning/infrastructure-governance-incubator.jpg 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 440.293.2x.jpeg 880w, 1440.960.2x.jpeg 2880w, 800.533.2x.jpeg 1600w, 220.147.2x.jpeg 440w
Locating Giurgola

From Philadelphia School to Global Practice
Article URL /content/dam/historical-and-archival/locating-giurgola-launch.jpg 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 440.443.2x.jpeg 880w, 800.805.2x.jpeg 1600w, 220.221.2x.jpeg 440w
Seeding the Urban

Small-scale interventions for large-scale positive change
Article URL /content/dam/physical-environment/other-cities/seeding-the-urban.jpg 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 440.293.2x.jpeg 880w, 800.533.2x.jpeg 1600w, 220.147.2x.jpeg 440w
Smart regional spaces: Ready, set, go!

Supporting regional and rural NSW in the smart places race
Article URL /content/dam/corporate/images/news-and-opinion/news/2024/september/regional-housing.jpg 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 1440.809.2x.jpeg 2880w, 800.449.2x.jpeg 1600w, 440.247.2x.jpeg 880w, 220.124.2x.jpeg 440w
The New South Wales private property frontier

A history of land alienation in New South Wales private property
Article URL /content/dam/physical-environment/sydney-and-surrounds/third-party-stock-images/adp-research-project---the-new-south-wales-private-property-frontier.jpg 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w
The university and the city

What is the university’s place in fast-changing urban civil societies and economies?
Article URL /content/dam/corporate/images/national-centre-for-cultural-competence/hero-banners/spine-3-radiance_dale-harding_red-wall_artwork_city-road_camperdown-campus_university-of-sydney_2020_1.jpg 220.146.2x.jpeg 440w, 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 440.293.2x.jpeg 880w, 800.533.2x.jpeg 1600w
Transforming Ageing Housing through Co- and Re- design

The most sustainable building is the one that already exists, made better
Article URL /content/dam/physical-environment/other-cities/2018/HPB.jpg 1440.573.2x.jpeg 2880w, 800.318.2x.jpeg 1600w, 1280.1280.jpeg 1280w, 440.175.2x.jpeg 880w, 220.88.2x.jpeg 440w
Voicing First Nations Country, culture and community in urban policy

AHURI researchers from the University of Sydney, RMIT University and University of NSW lead research to examine the relationship of First Nations peoples in Australia to urban policy and planning.
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