The Global Observatory of Healthy and Sustainable Cities (GOHSC) received the 2025 Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST) Sustainability Award for Outstanding Research and Development for Intelligent and Sustainable Urban Solutions. UQ|UP is proud to share that our member, Sara Alidoust, is part of the GOHSC Policy Indicators Steering Committee! GOHSC is an international and interdisciplinary initiative established in 2022. Its … Continue reading
UQ|UP, under the leadership of Sébastien Darchen and Sara Alidoust, is playing an active role in organising the upcoming State of Australasian Cities Conference (SOAC), to be held in Brisbane from 9–12 December 2025. The objectives of the conference are as follows: The conference will host around 400 scholars in urban planning including 80 HDR … Continue reading
As part of UQ’s Research and Innovation Week, the School of Architecture, Design and Planning (ADP) hosted an engaging Research Information Session that brought students and staff together to explore the diverse opportunities for research within the school. The event, hosted by UQ|UP’s Sara Alidoust, welcomed students from across ADP programs, including those considering the … Continue reading
A huge congratulations to the UQ|UP team for our outstanding efforts during UQ Open Day! Everyone’s energy, professionalism, and passion for urban planning shone through in every interaction — whether guiding prospective students, answering questions about our programs, or showcasing the real-world impact of our research. Here’s to building better cities and a stronger and … Continue reading
This report outlines how Brisbane Local Government Area performs on a selection of spatial and policy indicators of healthy and sustainable cities. As part of the 1000 Cities Challenge, we examined the spatial distribution of urban design and transport features and the presence and quality of city planning policies that promote health and sustainability. The … Continue reading
In China, over 80% of the urban population resides in gated communities. In 2016, the Chinese government issued a directive aimed at restricting the creation of new gated communities and gradually opening existing ones. This directive faced strong public resistance, prompting the government to discreetly set it aside. To elucidate the persuasiveness of public discourse … Continue reading
Globally, urbanisation and population growth trends are fundamentally reshaping cities. More compact vertical urban forms are emerging in a greater diversity of locations. However, research since the 1960s has consistently raised questions about the health and wellbeing consequences of living the “high life”. The Covid-19 pandemic also brought into sharp focus potential vulnerabilities. A quantitative … Continue reading
Congratulations to School of Architecture, Design and Planning students Lauren Hall and Katie Pearce for their outstanding achievements at the Queensland Awards for Planning Excellence! Lauren and Katie were recognised for their exceptional contributions and commitment to the field of planning, showcasing the talent and dedication they bring to their studies and future careers. It … Continue reading
Congratulations to Sean Byster-Bowles, who has officially started his PhD journey in Research Quarter 4, 2024! Sean’s research will focus on building resilient cities, with a particular emphasis on Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and housing. Sean’s supervisory team include: Dr Sara Alidoust, Prof Ali Cheshmehzangi, and A/Prof Dorina Pojani. We look forward to seeing the impact … Continue reading
Developing Resilient and Liveable Cities: Learning from the Covid-19 Pandemic The Covid-19 Pandemic revealed the deficiency of the current planning system in coping with disturbances and the inability of cities to maintain their level of liveability during the time of crises. Building on a systematic review of 28 liveability policies developed by local governments from … Continue reading