Successful applicants for UTS and ADU Research Partnership

1. Procuring ESG in Abu Dhabi through sustainable and social procurement in construction

Project team

	Dr Suhair Alkilani Senior lecturer, School of the Built Environment, Faculty of Design Architecture and Building University of Technology Sydney
	Dr Alberto Peralta  Assistant Professor, College of Business Abu Dhabi University
	Distinguished Professor Martin Loosemore School of the Built Environment, Faculty of Design Architecture and Building University of Technology Sydney

Project summary

This research project aims to enhance Abu Dhabi's use of its substantial infrastructure and reconstruction initiatives to boost ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance across its economy and community. Utilizing UTS's and ADU’s expertise in sustainable and social procurement, the goal is to provide Abu Dhabi with actionable strategies to integrate ESG principles into its procurement processes, potentially unlocking additional value equivalent to 30% of total procurement spend without incurring extra costs.

Focusing on the construction and infrastructure sectors—key areas for realizing ESG and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to their significant economic impact—the research aims to transform procurement practices to achieve greater societal and environmental benefits.

2. PhD clusters, collaborations, and contexts

Project team

	Dr. Lawrence Wallen Professor School of Architecture  University of Technology Sydney
	Dr. Thea Brejzek  Professor School of Architecture  University of Technology Sydney
	Dr. Mark David Major, AICP, CNU-A Associate Professor of Architecture Abu Dhabi University

Project summary 

This project aims to foster a partnership focused on developing a postgraduate research degree cluster. It involves  two-week visit to Abu Dhabi University (ADU) by two University of Technology Sydney (UTS) School of Architecture Professors (Brejzek and Wallen), hosted by Dr. Mark David Major from ADU. 

This visit will include in-depth discussions, idea exchange, and strategic planning to lay the foundation for future cooperation. Key stakeholders will participate in lectures, workshops, seminars, and collaborative sessions to co-create a shared vision for the research cluster. Discussions will focus on research training and capacity building at individual and management levels to advance ADU staff professionally and establish future research capacity and collaborations.

The project, supported by UTS's Graduate Research School, seeks to enrich the academic landscape and enhance research capabilities at both institutions.

 3. Quantifying the Urban Quality of Emirati Neighborhoods

Project team

	Dr. Mohammed Makki Senior lecturer and Course Director DAB Faculty, School of Architecture University of Technology Sydney
	Dr. Apostolos Kyriazis Associate Professor College of Engineering, Architecture Department Abu Dhabi University
	Dr. Linda Matthews Associate Professor, Associate Head of School Research DAB Faculty, School of Architecture University of Technology Sydney
	Dr. Nimish Biloria Associate Professor DAB Faculty, School of Architecture University of Technology Sydney
	James Melsom Senior Lecturer DAB Faculty, School of Architecture University of Technology Sydney
	Jordan Mathers (Industry Advisor) Associate Urban Designer SJB, Australia

Project summary 

The sustainability and well-being of cities are significantly influenced by the quality of urban space, but quantifying this attribute has proved difficult in urban planning. The proposed research project aims to identify and quantify the urban characteristics associated with users’ subjective perceptions of urban space in various urban locations in Abu Dhabi. 

The key outcome of this study is to numerically define the quality of urban space, allowing designers to integrate subjective perceptions of quality as design metrics in the early concept stage of urban design. This permits significant opportunities for end users to engage with the research output for the analysis of current urban spaces and the design of new ones.

4. Using Digital Media to Measure Social Licence for Infrastructure Projects

Project team

	Associate Professor Yongjian Ke Associate Professor of Project Management, School of Built Environment University of Technology Sydney
	Assistant Professor Khalil Rahi Assistant Professor of Project Management, College of Engineering ADU
	Jin Xue Lecturer in Project Management, School of Project Management University of Sydney

Project summary

This project aims to validate the effectiveness of using public sentiment derived from digital media data to measure the status of social licence for infrastructure projects. By conducting public sentiment analyses on selected successful and less successful projects in Australia and the UAE, the study seeks to determine whether digital media data can reliably reflect community approval and support. 

The expected outcomes include the development of robust frameworks for assessing and managing social licence, enhancing stakeholder engagement strategies, and providing actionable insights for sustainable project management practices. 

This research will contribute significantly to the field by offering an innovative approach to measuring social licence, with potential applications in diverse regional contexts globally.

5. Quality Informed Urban Design: A Generative Approach

Project team

	Dr. Mohammed Makki Senior lecturer and Course Director DAB Faculty, School of Architecture University of Technology Sydney
	Dr. Apostolos Kyriazis Associate Professor College of Engineering, Architecture Department, Abu Dhabi University

Project summary

The aim for this grant is to run a cross-institutional collaborative design studio between the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Abu Dhabi University (ADU). This studio will address the same design problem, engaging two different cohorts to explore alternative solutions from diverse climatic and geographic perspectives. 

The proposed design studio will task students to design and develop alternative responses to various urban conditions in the UAE. Students will work in groups to select and study an urban site in the UAE, in which they will research the site’s history and then critically reflect on its urban conditions, both qualitatively as well as environmentally. 

Following this analysis, students will be upskilled on the use of advanced algorithmic computing, primarily evolutionary computation, to develop a parametric model that generates alternative design solutions to the urban problem they have identified. Students will present their final design results in a combined presentation.