Urban Design

The Urban Design Pathway focuses on the contribution of urban design to precinct-scale net zero trajectories. The pathway is investigating how urban form, Water Sensitive Urban Design, green infrastructure and place quality influence emissions, climate resilience, liveability, affordability and development feasibility.

A key research activity is the development of Envision Tomorrow Australia (ETOz), an open-source precinct-scale scenario planning and decision-support tool adapted from the United States–based Envision Tomorrow platform. Designed for Australian planning and development contexts, ETOz will enable planners, developers and governments to explore and compare pathways towards net zero aligned, affordable and financially viable precinct development.

Drawing on digital twin research, scenario modelling and case studies from across Australia, the pathway will produce practical guidance for designing precincts that balance economic viability with sustainability objectives. ETOz will also be applied to the investigation of Net Zero Corridors, examining how coordinated land-use, transport and infrastructure planning can reduce emissions and support connected, low-carbon cities. Collectively, the research aims provide an integrated framework to improve decision-making and accelerate the delivery of net zero precincts across Australia.