With a systems perspective that acknowledges the complexity of delivering sustainable urban environments we research, teach, and design to optimise urban climate and urban comfort. We are part of both the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems (CHF-STS) and the School of Law and Society, and we engage widely with industry and local communities.
Our team
Meet and contact our team
Research focus and projects
Explore our key areas of research and current projects
Teaching and learning
USC courses that explore the areas of Complex Systems and Urban Climate
Current partners
Our key external collaborators
Equipment and software
Infrastructure for experimentation and simulation of existing and future urban scenarios
Publications and awards
Research outputs and team successes
Latest news
Upcoming urban climate modelling course - An ENVI-met intensive course
We begin 2023 by offering an opportunity to undertake an ENVI-met urban climate simulation course. A shortage in skills related to urban climate has recently been identified, particularly in the area of climate modelling. We have a limited number of places available. It will be 2 days at UniSC Sippy Downs campus. Learn more...
Congratulations Dr Greg Mews!
Dr Greg Mews has been awarded the Gerd Albers Award for his book 'Transforming Public Space through Play' during the 2022 ISOCARP Conference. Dr Mews subsequently won the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Queensland Award for Planning Research for his book.
It is getting hot here: Preparing for a heating future in 'the Sunshine State'
When you think Queensland, you think heat. It’s right there in the nickname ‘The Sunshine State’. Yet one of the curiosities of the state is that minimal governance exists to ensure Queensland homes, towns and cities protect occupants from threats posed by heat. Learn more...
How urban ‘heat traps’ could soon enjoy a cool change
A study is underway to find the ‘hot spots’ of the Sunshine Coast – and then use high-tech 3D modelling to inform ways to cool them down. The Cool Urban Forests project is being delivered through the University of the Sunshine Coast and Sunshine Coast Council’s Regional Partnership Agreement. Learn more...