With increasing world population, urbanisation, and climatic changes impacting liveability there is a growing awareness of the urgent need for more sustainable and ecological approaches to urban settlements, city planning and infrastructure.
This has led to the evolution of urban assessment tools that are visionary, holistic and designed to address complex issues facing global communities and cities today.
Director Suzette Jackson has published a paper highlighting international urban rating tools that have been developed to assist with the regeneration of sustainable communities and cities, particularly those supported for use in Australia.
The Curtin University Masterplan by Curtin University in consultation with Aecom and Donaldson and Warn. Curtin University was awarded Australia’s first 5 Star Green Star – Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. (Image: Courtesy Curtin University)
The paper is designed to provide awareness of the range of urban assessment tools available for use in Australia and to assist in an appropriate selection. The article covers the structure, themes and output of the tools, as well as the use in Australia.
Of the twelve international urban assessment tools summarised, five are currently supported for use in Australia with local staff and training. These include the Circles of Sustainability, EnviroDevelopment, Green Star Communities, Living Community Challenge and One Planet Communities.
WestWyck EcoVillage (Stage Two). WestWyck Ecovillage is Australia’s first internationally endorsed One Planet Community. One Planet Community is a program of Bioregional Australia. (Image: Courtesy of WestWyck)
The paper has been published by the Australian Institute of Architects ‘Environment Design Guide’. A copy of the paper can be downloaded from the AIA EDG website here.
Innate Ecology 