Architecture, Building and Planning - Research Publications
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ItemExcellence or Exit: Ensuring Anangu Futures through Education(School of Social and Policy Research, Charles Darwin University, 2009)The discussion and recommendations in this document aim to present Anangu leaders, schools and the enabling policy community that supports schools, with key points for debate and consideration, as the platform to develop an ambitious charter for education reform. The review advocates the need to change the approach to schooling at primary, middle and senior school levels as the key means to transform training, learning and employment ‘pathways’ into journeys that lead to exciting destinations and not disappointing dead ends.
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ItemEBD: Ecological Business District(VEIL, 2010)New mixed-use developments present a unique opportunity for an innovative response to the challenge of climate change. We can now build new communities that demonstrate ways of living within the limits for greenhouse gas production proposed for 2050. Such communities can model desirable low-carbon lifestyles – ways of living better while consuming less – and test innovative products and services that could form the basis of our coming low-carbon economy. The EBD [Ecological Business District] is a design vision from the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL). VEIL was established in 2006, funded through the Victorian Government Sustainability Fund. A collaboration of four leading design universities and a network of design professionals, VEIL forms an ‘open laboratory’ for new ideas for technical and social innovation for a ‘lowcarbon’ economy and a resilient infrastructure. VEIL delivers future concepts and prototypes for goods, services, built infrastructure, systems and lifestyles, for a sustainable Melbourne in 25 years time. This six-month EBD project, for the site known as ‘E-Gate’ (between Docklands and North Melbourne), culminated in a substantial exhibition of work in the Docklands in February 2009. That vision, for a new high-density ‘eco-city’ next to the CBD, can claim considerable influence on the direction in which development of that site is now taking. In the words of Minister Tim Pallas (Roads, Ports and Major Projects) at the opening of the EBD exhibition: “…What could be done with this new land? This is where projects such as Eco City have great value. All good strategic planning begins with a discussion and I, for one, believe that this dialogue is always improved by the number of intelligent voices involved. In this case we have a brains trust of students and academics from four leading universities, as well as local and international experts generating some very exciting ideas…[VEIL’s] ideas will have a real influence on the site’s future.” This booklet lays out the vision for this innovative and experimental ‘city within a city’, with design work across a range of scales from the urban to the domestic that are able to support a diverse, low consumption, highly productive and truly sustainable community.
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ItemAn Overview of Development in Distributed Energy with country, state and city examples from EU and USA(VEIL, 2008)Distributed energy is not a new idea. However, advances in technology and rising awareness of major sustainability challenges are creating new opportunities. At one end of the spectrum, distributed energy refers to small and medium scale technologies that generate electricity and heat. The term is often used to describe energy generated by units that are close to the location of use (either independent of, or connected to, ‘the grid’). On the other hand, distributed energy can be understood more as a structural transformation of grid-connected electricity systems, away from highly centralised technologies towards distributed and diversified systems relying far more on renewable energy sources. This has implications for both production and consumption of electrical energy. The purpose of this short briefing paper was to review the current status of (and expectations for) distributed energy in the EU and the USA, as well as to highlight the opportunities and challenges for a large expansion of distributed energy in the near future. The report is principally concerned with systems that are grid-connected. There are 2 main themes that run throughout the report. These include: • Business intelligence: What are the market trends for distributed energy? • Policy instruments: What policies and programs are at the forefront of promoting distributed energy? The themes identified represent a rather demanding challenge, and this paper goes only a small way to responding to this challenge. It is a first step of a longer investigation, and reveals a number of areas for further research work and discussion. This paper explores knowledge, experiences and programs on distributed energy in the EU, and two progressive states in the USA, namely California and Texas. In the EU, the focus is on a number of countries, including Denmark, the UK, the Netherlands and Sweden. In the case of Sweden, the spotlight shifts to towns, which have heavily invested in distributed energy.
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ItemDistributed Systems: A Design Model for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure(VEIL, 2010)How do we prepare now for a future of unprecedented resource scarcity and environmental change? Unless we take radical steps to increase the resilience and sustainability of critical infrastructure, access to vital systems and services is at risk. This paper highlights the dynamic forces increasing the vulnerability of current infrastructure and services and presents the case for distributed systems as an alternative design model. We suggest this model exists in the natural environment and in production and consumption systems that have already begun adapting to conditions of increased uncertainty, resource scarcity and a ‘low-carbon’ future. A distributed approach to system design offers many benefits over traditional infrastructure models. Research and case studies strongly suggest such an approach can: - Increase the physical resilience of infrastructure - Foster social and institutional flexibility and innovation - Reduce the environmental footprint of production and consumption
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ItemUnderstanding Victoria’s Fruit and Vegetable Freight Movements(VEIL, 2010)This report outlines the methodology and results of Part 2 of a three-part project initiated by the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL), which aimed to shed light on greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerabilities in Victoria’s food freight systems. The operations of the food industry can transform agricultural raw materials into safe, convenient, good tasting and nutritious products for consumers. However, to continue profitably doing so, it is becoming increasingly important to be more environmentally sustainable (particularly in terms of GHG emissions) and resilient to a changing agricultural landscape, oil price fluctuations, markets and weather variability. While the greenhouse emissions from agriculture (12.9% of Victoria’s total emissions) are increasingly well understood, emissions generated throughout the supply chain are considerably less so. Post-farmgate activities include packaging, processing, transport, storage, retail etc. These supply chains are complex and variable. A summary of existing knowledge is contained within this report and that from Part 3 of the project. The horticulture industry in Australia is valued at $3.5 billion and in Victoria is worth $1.3 billion per annum. An improved understanding of the factors affecting greenhouse emissions, fuel use and potential vulnerabilities in the supply chains of these products will be important to their ongoing viability. The analysis outlined in this report is intended to contribute to an increased understanding of how fruit and vegetables are moved from production to consumers in Victoria and the greenhouse emissions implications of this operation. The analysis is focused only on the transport components of the supply chain, including refrigeration within transport where required, but it does not include energy use of emissions from production, processing, packaging etc. It should not be understood as a lifecycle analysis, it is intended only to increase understanding regarding the transport components of food (particularly fruit and vegetable) supply chains in Victoria.
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ItemLocalised Solutions: Building capacity and resilience with distributed production systems(VEIL, 2010)In the national debate about how to address climate change, the role of individuals and small organisations is rarely considered. Yet households, communities, local governments and small business represent the largest body of consumers of energy and critical resources and have the most to lose from climate change and resource scarcity. Equally concerning is the way the opinion and ideas of these smaller stakeholders rarely enters the debate. Communities tend to be seen as only reactive to new government initiatives, rather than vital participants in climate innovation. At a time when many recognise individual and community creativity as the greatest source of innovation, it would be wise to learn from those tackling climate change and resource problems at a local or community level. Growing evidence points to a recent and significant growth in local initiatives that tackle social and environmental challenges. This development is significant, for it indicates community-scale actors are showing leadership on issues that are often cast as national or global in scale - beyond their ‘sphere of influence’. Furthermore, initiatives are occurring despite the inertia of state, national and international level actors. Also significant is the way these solutions involve a re-localisation of resource and service systems such as energy, food and water infrastructure. These initiatives represent a shift to more distributed methods of production and consumption and are a radical break from conventional services. To understand the nature of these ‘localised solutions’, the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) and the McCaughey Centre organised a forum in Melbourne at the end of 2009. That event explored the value and implications of local initiatives that follow the distributed systems model. The forum brought together perspectives from the private sector, utilities, non-profit organisations and research bodies - reflecting the diversity of examples in Victoria. This paper presents key findings structured around three themes: • The shape of localised solutions and parallels with distributed systems • Implications for adapting to climate change and resource scarcity • The factors enabling and limiting further development of localised solutions
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ItemVision: Broadmeadows 2032(VEIL, 2010)Over the coming decades we will face significant increases in the price of oil, a price on carbon, greater variability in weather patterns (e.g. rainfall) and a probable increase in extreme weather events. How do Australian cities and communities respond to these changes? One of the great challenges for the design of Australian cities is the re-visioning and retro-fitting of the existing low-density suburban fabric, the principal urban form of greater Melbourne and many Australian cities. How do we transform these locations into resilient low-carbon neighbourhoods and precincts, which are healthy to live in and support local employment and industry with appropriate provision of food, water, energy and transport? This design research and visioning project, Eco-Acupuncture 2010: Broadmeadows 2032, is the most ambitious project yet to be undertaken by VEIL. It has involved a review of the large body of work from the earlier EBD (Ecological Business District) project and exploring ways in which it could be used as a guide to ‘re-vision’ – and progressively transform – an existing urban precinct in Melbourne. It has involved all areas of design and sustainable development – from the built environment to services, public infrastructure, new businesses and the provision of resources.
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ItemDistributed Water Systems: A networked and localised approach for sustainable water services(VEIL, 2009)An unprecedented water crisis is unfolding across southern Australia, driven by the compounding impacts of climate change, over use and a legacy of short sighted water policies. As many water strategists re-apply traditional methods to meet this ‘perfect storm’ of supply and demand challenges, a quiet evolution is occurring in water system design. This evolution has emerged as a strong and coherent trend with positive and radical implications for creating a sustainable water future. This briefing paper draws on case studies and research to describe the emergence of ‘distributed water systems’ - a highly networked and localised approach to water infrastructure and critical water services. Cases from Australia, Europe and the US show how distributed water systems can generate positive outcomes that enhance and supplement those provided by our existing infrastructure models. They are able to: • Reduce costs and resource use • Improve service security and reduce risk of failure • Strengthen local economies • Strengthen community wellbeing • Regenerate and protect the natural environment • Redefine traditional water systems Distributed systems represent an innovative approach for responding to risk and uncertainty. They can build adaptive capacity by increasing the diversity and flexibility of water systems without locking utilities, customers and future governments into rigid pathways for delivering critical services. By creating distributed water systems through infrastructure design choices at the household-to-regional level, Victoria can reduce social, economic and environmental vulnerability to climate change and energy supply shocks. In the distributed systems model, infrastructure and critical services (for water, food and energy) are positioned close to points of demand and resource availability and linked within networks of exchange. Services traditionally provided by a single, linear system are instead delivered via a diverse set of smaller systems - tailored to location but able to transfer resources across wider areas. Much more can and should be done to understand and foster the evolution of distributed water systems. Support for innovative projects and a reassessment of existing models of governance is required to enable further adaptation in the water sector. A re-evaluation of the impacts that large water projects have on emerging water sector innovation is also required. The inability of existing tools to assess and compare the long-term or non-financial benefits derived from distributed systems highlights the need for research and practical experimentation to build experience and capacity in this area.