Research

Now more than ever - our community is calling out for accelerated action on climate change. Western Sydney University’s Urban Transformations Research Centre is dedicated to working on the real issues that you face every day.

The UTRC is home to three interrelated Research and Innovation programs addressing key challenges in sustainable and resilient regional growth:

Systems Innovation and Demonstration

This program tackles the complex interconnected aspects of energy, water, transport, and resource systems. It draws on systems expertise from across the university, with an emphasis on life cycle and circular economy assessment, net zero analysis and urban metabolism modelling. The program contributes to net zero buildings and precincts by guiding the use of materials and their provenance towards education of waste, reuse, and recycling at scale.

People-Centred Sustainable Precinct Design

This program centres on the delivery of healthy, inclusive, and resilient urban places. It draws on the university’s interdisciplinary excellence, from geography and urban planning, culture and society, design thinking, health, and environmental science disciplines. The program contributes to the effective integration of sustainable design principles into planning practices, and thereby enabling the creation of sustainable development outcomes at scale.

Resilient Construction and Infrastructure

This program centres on developing safe and resilient infrastructure, with enhanced resilience to extreme weather and natural disasters. It draws on the university’s established strengths in the areas of construction sustainability, structural engineering, infrastructure safety, advanced engineering materials, advanced manufacturing, and construction management. The program contributes to improved and sustainable building materials and construction methods adopted at scale.

The programs are dynamic and work in synergy across a multitude of disciplines to inform, educate and demonstrate how the region can tackle its myriad ongoing challenges across key areas such as policy, research, engineering, and construction.