Cities Research Institute

Circular economy in construction

September | Luscombe, Queensland and online, Western Australia

Prof Tim Ryley delivered two successful training sessions for construction designers as part of Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBEnrc) Project 1.95: Using Recycled and Recyclable Products: Influencing Stakeholders through Circular Economy Practices. Project 1.95 identifies strategies to enhance the use of recycled content in construction and explores policy interventions to support circular economy practices.

Tim’s workshops focused on the use of products with recycled content in construction, promoting the integration of circular economy principles into the construction industry. The ATCO Structures workshop was delivered at the Luscombe, SEQ corporate headquarters for 17 attendees in person and online, with a focus on modular housing case studies. The Development WA workshop was an online session for 20 participants, exploring the Hamilton Hill project in Perth.

Each session covered five key topics:

1. Understanding the Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste problem
2. Sustainability and the circular economy
3. C&D waste materials
4. The design phase and sustainable construction strategies
5. Products with recycled content (PwRC)

These sessions built upon previous SBEnrc projects and featured tailored content for each industry partner. They contribute to Project 1.95’s development of a national training package for construction designers to foster uptake of recycled materials.

Decarbonising the building industry

September | Nathan Campus

School of Engineering and Built Environment held the inaugural Decarbonising the Building Industry (DBI) Workshop, themed The Role of Forests in Decarbonising the Construction Industry, at the Nathan campus.

In partnership with Responsible Wood and the Researcher Network for Decarbonising the Building Industry (RNDBI), the workshop brought together Griffith researchers and industry experts to explore the potential of forests in reducing the carbon footprint ofconstruction.

CRI’s Prof Hong Guan opened the session with an overview of Griffith’s research efforts in decarbonisation. The workshop featured four insightful presentations:

Simon Dorries (Responsible Wood) on new ISO standards for forest carbon and supply chain traceability.

Bill Leggate (Queensland Government) discussing the opportunities and challenges of Australian forest resources.

Stephen Mitchell (EPD Australasia) on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and their role in sustainable business practices.

Monica Richter (MECLA) addressing the potential of timber in fostering a regenerative future.

Participants then engaged in lively round table discussions, highlighting key areas for further exploration by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Accelerating Indonesia’s transition to EVs

August, Indonesia

Our Transport Research Group’s Professor Matthew Burke and Adjunct Professor Bruce James have returned from Jakarta, where they wrapped up the final stages of the Australia Awards - Indonesia Short Course on Accelerating the Transition to Electric Vehicles. The course brought together professionals from Indonesian ministries, government agencies, academia, and the private sector to explore Australia’s policies and expertise in transitioning from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.

A highlight of the event was a series of presentations where participants showcased their projects and shared innovative ideas for advancing sustainable transportation in Indonesia. The program was further enriched by insights from Deputy Minister H.E. Rachmat Kaimuddin, Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment.

iKnow, weKnow: Falling Walls Top 20

Melissa Jackson and the project team for the iKnow, weKnow: Co-Designing a Resilient Water and Energy Toolbox for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Communities project have been announced as a Top 20 winner in the international Falling Walls Science Engagement category of the Falling Walls Global Call 24, and are now aiming for the Science Breakthrough of the Year! Dr Melissa will be travelling to Berlin for the Science Summit 24 event in November, and is looking forward to networking with professionals and innovators.

Renewed consensus on reef protection: Brooks

August, Australia

Cities Associate Professor Andrew Brooks is among 200 leading experts who contributed to the 2022 Scientific Consensus Statement, the most thorough review to date on how land-based activities affect the Great Barrier Reef’s water quality and ecosystem health. This major work, guided by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley and led by C2O Consulting includes ten Griffith authors, with Professor Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Professor Michele Burford and Andrew himself as lead authors.

Key takeaways from the statement is that gully and stream bank erosion account for a staggering 80% of all sediment reaching the Great Barrier Reef. However, when it comes to riparian management—the efforts to manage river banks to reduce erosion—the evidence is a bit more mixed. While the current management strategies are grounded in solid theory, the specific scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness for the Reef is still developing. Curious to dive deeper?  Explore the full statement here.

CRI members Top-Cited Scientists Worldwide

Ten of our researchers have been recognised in the Stanford University 2023 Top-Cited Scientists Worldwide List. This recognition places them among the top 2% of researchers in their respective fields, highlighting the significant impact and quality of their work. Congratulations to Rod Connolly, Hong Guan, Sayed Iftekhar, Hassan Karampour, Sherif Mohamed, Dominic Ong, Tim Ryley, Oz Sahin, Rodney Stewart, and Zhiwei Xu.