Future Urban Industry: integrating economic, built and ecological systems for resilient cities
Our research asks How can future Urban Industrial Zones (UIZs) be designed to integrate resource-efficient economic principles, ecologically-sustainable technologies, and inclusive practices to drive economic, environmental, and social resilience whilst adapting to increasingly uncertain futures?
We adopt a holistic approach to UIZs to outperform traditional models economically, environmentally, and socially. By integrating ecological-economic systems with multi-sector expertise, we can create efficient, resilient, and high-performing urban economies that drive long-term prosperity.
As cities face mounting pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, and overburdened infrastructure, it is imperative to rethink urban development. Current approaches struggle to cope with escalating climate-related events, threatening business continuity, public infrastructure, and economic stability. Aotearoa-NZ’s economic resilience depends on smarter, future-focused urban environments.
Led by a transdisciplinary team from the University of Auckland, Market Economics Ltd, The Urbanist Ltd, AUT, University of Otago, University of Waikato, and Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, supported by the Auckland Council, and in partnership with architecture-engineering-planning practices and business organisations, our programme will transform Aotearoa’s UIZs into thriving economic hubs.
Our cutting-edge tools – Urban Industrial Zone Digital Twin, Ecological-Economics Simulation Model, socio-technical Post-Occupancy Evaluations, biodiversity and ecosystem services analyses, and multisensory analysis – will provide actionable strategies for decision-makers, businesses, and regulators.
Collaboration is at the heart of our approach. By engaging Māori, local and national government, local communities, businesses, professionals, and policymakers, we co-develop transformative solutions that enhance business resilience, reduce economic risk, and improve ecological and societal outcomes.
This research lays the foundation for a flourishing economy that is not only sustainable but also more competitive, adaptive, and resilient to future shocks. Together, we redefine urban industrial success in Aotearoa-NZ.
Our research asks How can future Urban Industrial Zones (UIZs) be designed to integrate resource-efficient economic principles, ecologically-sustainable technologies, and inclusive practices to drive economic, environmental, and social resilience whilst adapting to increasingly uncertain futures?
We adopt a holistic approach to UIZs to outperform traditional models economically, environmentally, and socially. By integrating ecological-economic systems with multi-sector expertise, we can create efficient, resilient, and high-performing urban economies that drive long-term prosperity.
As cities face mounting pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, and overburdened infrastructure, it is imperative to rethink urban development. Current approaches struggle to cope with escalating climate-related events, threatening business continuity, public infrastructure, and economic stability. Aotearoa-NZ’s economic resilience depends on smarter, future-focused urban environments.
Led by a transdisciplinary team from the University of Auckland, Market Economics Ltd, The Urbanist Ltd, AUT, University of Otago, University of Waikato, and Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, supported by the Auckland Council, and in partnership with architecture-engineering-planning practices and business organisations, our programme will transform Aotearoa’s UIZs into thriving economic hubs.
Our cutting-edge tools – Urban Industrial Zone Digital Twin, Ecological-Economics Simulation Model, socio-technical Post-Occupancy Evaluations, biodiversity and ecosystem services analyses, and multisensory analysis – will provide actionable strategies for decision-makers, businesses, and regulators.
Collaboration is at the heart of our approach. By engaging Māori, local and national government, local communities, businesses, professionals, and policymakers, we co-develop transformative solutions that enhance business resilience, reduce economic risk, and improve ecological and societal outcomes.
This research lays the foundation for a flourishing economy that is not only sustainable but also more competitive, adaptive, and resilient to future shocks. Together, we redefine urban industrial success in Aotearoa-NZ.
Publications:
In progress