Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 June 2025
Campus
Launceston
Citizenship requirement
Domestic
About the research project
In the context of today's rapidly growing housing crisis, particularly in regional cities, new tools and strategies are required to uncover and propose development opportunities specifically within the urban and sub-urban regional urban environment. Concurrently, the rapid emergence of new digital technologies, such as simulation, optimisation, machine and deep learning, and generative AI have the potential to provide new perspectives towards achieving sustainable strategies for urban renewal and growth.
Effective urban planning strategies assist in mitigating the operational and social vulnerabilities of urban systems. The complexity of urban systems within regional centres is often intensified due to a sparse distribution of services and amenities that promotes greenfill development, and urban sprawl. To increase the future sustainability of these centres, novel strategies for infill development within the existing urban boundaries is required. However, current digital planning tools commonly operate within the current planning and zoning frameworks, limiting their capacity to identify 'out-of-scope' opportunities for strategic development.
As such, this study leverages the capacity of computational design systems and generative AI to develop new methods of interrogation and generation that identify development opportunities within regionally focused urban design environments.
This research project is located across the Regional Urban Studies Laboratory (RUSL) and Digital Methods, Materials & Making Laboratory (DMMM) in the School of Architecture and Design. This cross-disciplinary focus seeks to employ emerging computational tools as lenses for the proposal of new modes of regional urban development that contribute positively to sustainable housing futures within Tasmania, and more broadly Australia. This co-lab operates in a research-through-design methodology in which digital design-based experimentation is supported by qualitive, quantitative and creative outputs.
Primary Supervisor
Funding
Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $33,511 per annum (2025 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applications are open to Domestic/ International applicants
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Peter Booth to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 June 2025.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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