Conserving nature in cities has benefits for human health and wellbeing, as well as for biodiversity.
ICON Science (Interdisciplinary Conservation Science), a member of the Urban Greening Network, developed an innovative framework to support local governments, developers, urban planners and architects to implement Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design (BSUD).
The framework informed a new South Australian Government BSUD policy, urban development plans in established and growth areas such as Fisherman’s Bend and Glen Juror development, and voluntary performance tools such the Green Building of Australia’s Green Star Communities.
As well as producing impactful academic outputs, ICON has used the Urban Greening Network to help draw together people from across the university, as well as key industry partners for their most recent successful grant on BSUD, funded by the Ian Potter Foundation.
Connections with industry partners such as Hodyl were fostered at the Urban Futures Platform industry seminars and have led to ICON being invited to join industry-led grants, such as a proposal to embed BSUD into the Suburban Rail Link.
Most recently, the Urban Futures Platform has funded ICON to develop an action-oriented collaborative roadmap to guide research and practice towards the more biodiverse urban futures we need.
ICON Science, in the Centre for Urban Research, is a key member of the Urban Greening Network within the Urban Futures Platform.
Researching how cities can be more equitable, sustainable and accountable.
The Australian Urban Observatory is a digital liveability planning tool developed for decision-makers and the community to measure and map the liveability of neighbourhoods in Australian cities and create more liveable places through planning.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.