Urban Quality
The Urban Quality Research Centre undertakes research and technical development to understand the relative capability of the built environment to satisfy the quality of life expectations of individuals, communities and society.
The work of the Centre addresses issues from the scale of individual buildings to that of the neighbourhood and urban district, but is also interested in how better understanding of the problems at these scales of action can help wider regeneration planning of towns and cities. The group address these complex questions through multi-disciplinary research in pursuit of the following objectives:
- to understand the complex physical, social and economic forces and processes of change and renewal in urban communities;
- to use this understanding to develop more sustainable approaches to the design, construction and maintenance of urban communities;
- to identify effective delivery mechanisms to convert policy into action through urban regeneration, area improvement, improved design quality and similar means at the tactical level of individual re/development projects aimed at urban designers, architects, infrastructure engineers, constructors, maintainers, managers and urban ecologists;
- to understand how conflict arises in urban redevelopment and how communities can reach consensus on issues through effective participation and empowerment in the re/development process.
Contact
Professor Erik Bichard
Centre Director
E e.bichard@salford.ac.uk
The centre would particularly welcome PhD proposals in the following areas:
- Sustainable development
- Built Environment and human/environmental quality
- Green building
- Effects of urban decay
- Infrastructure
- Degradation
- Crime, social exclusion in built environment
- Regeneration
- People centred sustainability
- Conservation
- Risk
Projects
The Urban Quality research centre uses the Virtual Planning group to explore the use of innovative technologies in relation to Urban Quality. The Virtual Planning Research and Enterprise group has been using innovative technology in many projects concerned with the improvement of Urban Quality. The SURegen project, in particular is concerned with the provision of an on-line toolkit to assist urban professionals in the decision making needed to create sustainable urban regeneration. Virtual Planning is also involved in 3D modelling using Laser scanners and is working on the production of 3D thermal models to assist with urban retrofit. Also we produced a model of the waterloo battlefield for the history channel.
Other projects included:
Bequest Toolkit
This software demonstrates a system to support decision makers concerned with Urban sustainability.
Intelcities
The IntelCities project was a research and development project that aimed to help achieve the EU policy goal of the Knowledge Society.
LUDA Project
The key question posed by the LUDA project is: How can an integrated strategic process of sustainable rehabilitation and development be initiated and better managed during its initial stages, given large urban distressed areas present complex problems, offer vague development prospects and are often accompanied by public pressure for rapid improvement?
Vivacity 2020
VivaCity2020 is a 5-year research project funded by the EPSRC under the first Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE I) research initiative and involves a research consortium from Lancaster University, Salford University, UCL, Sheffield University, London Metropolitan University and over 30 industry collaborators.
It aims to develop practical tools and resources to support sustainable and socially responsible urban design decision-making. By enabling designers, planners and developers to create innovative solutions, these tools and resources address issues of crime, economic vitality, the urban environment and social inclusion, and improve the quality of urban life.
Resilient Homes Phase 1
A research programme into behaviour change for the Environment Agency that investigated ways in which communities can be motivated to address the effects of dangerous climate change by the acceptance of non-cash rewards. The study included a national attitude survey, engagement with tenant and landlords, a social psychology review and a proposal for a trial reward scheme which is now being considered by funders.
Resilient Homes Phase 2
The Timperley Green Homes Trial. This trial, funded by the Environment Agency and Trafford Borough Council sought to build on the attitudinal work in Phase 1 and construct a behaviour change strategy to motivate homeowners to respond to climate change. The trial combined non-cash rewards, norm-based influencing from green community activists, and information and facilitation to purchase flood and energy conservation measure at critical points in the decision-making process.
The Manchester Prize
A paving report to design and produce an international competition for Sustainable Living concepts where the winner is awarded the right to establish or build their design, for Manchester: Knowledge Capital and Manchester City Council.
The SAVE ENERGY Project
The project addressed the challenge of stimulating and measuring energy user behaviour transformation facilitated by ICT solutions to achieve an increase in energy efficiency. A network of five public building pilots located in Helsinki, Leiden, Lisbon, Luleå and Manchester installed data collection systems and real-time energy displays to support behaviour change and determine best practice. The Manchester project, based in Manchester art Gallery worked with staff employed by the catering contractor to achieve a 20% reduction in energy consumption. This was achieved by introducing a combination of digital information, collective involvement, and incentivisation.
The CLUDs Programme
The research project (funded by the 7th Framework Programme of European Union Research within the specific IRSES Marie Curie Action) will explore the potential of a new tool for renovating degraded public spaces and improving the attractiveness and accessibility of deprived urban areas by focusing on the high potential of local commercial activities. The exploration is oriented to the implementation of an innovative tool, CLUDs (Commercial Local Urban Districts) is aimed at emphasizing the strategic role of small retailers, reinforcing the sense of community, reducing transportation costs and contributing to the creation of an attractive urban environment. The project will bring together an international and interdisciplinary research team from Italy, Sweden and the U.S.A. The role of Urban Quality researchers from Salford is to test an innovative sustainable return on investment model by applying it to a series of case studies in each of the partner countries.
