With more than half of the world’s population living in cities, a growing body of research is showing the role of urban environments in promoting the wellbeing of communities. This paper conducted a systematic review of 28 planning policy documents from 6 different countries. It explored how ‘community wellbeing’ is defined by local governments across … Continue reading
Xuanbo joined UQ|UP from China, via the University of New South Wales. He commenced as an MPhil student and, thanks to his excellent progress, was upgraded to PhD candidate status. Xuanbo is researching the social effects of gated communities in Shanghai. His supervisors are Drs Sara Alidoust and Dorina Pojani. Continue reading
Sufian joined UQ|UP from Imam Muhammad bin Saud University, one of the most prestigious universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has received a full scholarship to study in Australia. His research will focus on car-free lifestyles among residents of sprawling cities in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Sufian is supervised by Drs Dorina Pojani … Continue reading
Master Planned Community (MPC) Developments are a dominant form of urban growth and housing development. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature on the associations between MPCs and community health. Our review of 39 peer-reviewed journal papers suggested that the MPC physical features (public spaces/facilities, built form, spatial segregation, and location), social dimension … Continue reading
Sara Alidoust in conversation with Adam Stephen in ABC’s QLD Regional Drive radio show, and Cassie McCullagh in ABC Radio Sydney’s Mornings radio show. She talks about her latest research on informal housing and the rise of house-sitting among older Australians. Listen to the full interviews: ABC’s QLD Regional Drive radio show: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/northqld/programs/north-qld-drive/drive/13751672 ABC Radio … Continue reading
Smart densification is a metric that holistically integrates the quantitative (percentage/unit-to-area-ratios) and qualitative (context, perception, user experience) dimensions. The definition extends beyond the numerical relationship between physical space and the occupants who use that space. It incorporates the qualitative aspects of context, user perception, and experience to determine the appropriate configuration and scope of density … Continue reading
The severe lack of affordable housing is hurting Australians right across the community – from young renters, to families seeking to buy and older people needing a stable home. The number of Australians over 55 who are homeless jumped by 28% between the 2011 and 2016 censuses. An increasing lack of affordable housing is forcing some older people … Continue reading