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Why aren’t transport planners using mobile phone data? Missed opportunities in transport planning
As cities grow, mobility needs become increasingly complex. Transport planners are tasked with designing systems that reflect real-world behaviours—where, when, and how people move.
Traditionally, this insight has been derived from costly and infrequent travel surveys or data collected via road sensors and ticketing systems. But a far richer, more continuous source of information already exists: the data generated by our mobile phones. Known as Mobile Phone
Data (MPD),
Jun 18, 20255 min read


What is the emerging opportunity of eVTOLs - the next era of aviation
Is mobility is on the cusp of a sustainable aviation transformation?
For decades, aviation has largely been the domain of airports, long-haul routes, and tightly controlled airspaces. Now, with the emergence of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, a new chapter is beginning—one that reimagines how people and goods move through the skies above cities and regions. While still in the development phase, eVTOLs are being seen as a promising solution to cong
Jun 8, 20255 min read


Why Brisbane needs to accelerate urban greening initiatives
Brisbane’s subtropical climate is one of its defining features, shaping its identity and lifestyle. However, the city is increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly prolonged periods of extreme heat. The central business district (CBD), dominated by hard surfaces and dense development, amplifies urban heat island effects, reducing comfort, walkability, and public amenity.
As temperatures rise, there is growing recognition that Brisbane must embra
Jun 1, 20254 min read


How can film and movie location tourism boost local economies
Film and television have the unique ability to bring places to life, shaping the way audiences around the world see destinations. Locations featured in popular films can become tourism hotspots overnight. More than just a temporary surge, these sites often experience long-term benefits that extend to branding, marketing, employment, and infrastructure.
From sweeping landscapes captured on screen to quaint towns turned famous by a single scene, film tourism can be a powerf
May 29, 20254 min read


In Nepal the cycle of dysfunction continues...
Nepal finds itself at a crossroads—struggling to move forward while weighed down by economic fragility, political instability, and deep-rooted corruption. What might appear on the surface as a nation hampered by suspended foreign aid and slow infrastructure progress is in fact a complex crisis touching every corner of public life. While the dream of progress endures, the harsh reality for many Nepalis—particularly in remote areas—is that their hopes are being pushed further o
May 18, 20255 min read


What is the solution to Bali's over tourism? Is it time for Bali 2.0?
Bali’s tourism model is no longer sustainable. That’s why Indonesia needs to consider a radical but pragmatic solution: developing a new tourism hub—Bali 2.0—from the ground up.
May 17, 20253 min read


Reconnecting New Zealand Towns and Cities with Their Rivers
Why did New Zealand towns turn our backs on the water?
New Zealand is a country defined by water — from alpine springs and wetlands to dramatic coastlines and powerful rivers. Yet in our towns and cities, rivers are often treated as little more than obstacles to build around or hazards to keep at bay. Urban development has frequently occurred with its back turned to rivers and streams. In these places, the practical demands of flood protection, road networks, and commercia
Apr 25, 20255 min read


Why New Zealand Could Be the World's Top Destination for Doomsday Tourism
A new kind of travel trend emerges
In recent years, a fresh and unusual type of tourism has started gaining attention around the world. It's called doomsday tourism. This article focuses on one form of doomsday tourism: the type based on exploring safe zones, survival bunkers, and historical shelters linked to global conflict and the fear of nuclear war.
It is important to not confuse this trend with other uses of the same term. Doomsday tourism is sometimes used to des
Apr 9, 20254 min read


How Seoul turned a stream into a major urban tourist attraction
Transforming a floodwater system: how Seoul turned Cheonggyecheon Stream into an urban renewal success story
Mar 29, 20254 min read


The impact of the Brisbane Olympic stadium on infrastructure planning and investment
The Queensland Government has unveiled ambitious plans for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a centrepiece being the cons
Mar 26, 20254 min read


Funding for local delivery of infrastructure and services - the user pays option
Funding of local services through user pays is an increasingly important option for many regional and local governments.
Feb 16, 20254 min read


Transforming Cities with Street Stages: How Innovative Busker Spaces Can Bring Urban Areas to Life
Public spaces should be more than just places we pass through — they should be places where creativity flourishes and communities connect. One of the simplest ways to achieve this is by supporting street performers, often known as buskers. With a guitar, a hoop, or a deck of cards, they bring life and energy to our streets. But without proper spaces to perform, many buskers are left to work in crowded, noisy, or unsafe environments. This article explores how designing and bui
Feb 13, 20255 min read


How could data and AI improve three methods for assessing the impact of new transport projects
How data and AI could significantly improve some models used for transport planning. Gross Value Added (GVA) analysis, Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling, and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), while also exploring emerging opportunities to integrate new data sources and artificial intelligence (AI).
Feb 1, 20255 min read


What are three methods to assess the impact of new transport projects?
There are a number of methods and approaches to assessing the impact of new transport projects. Here are three that can be considered in their own right or as part of a suite of approaches.
Jan 31, 20254 min read


The inevitable imperative for greater commercialisation of New Zealand national parks
New Zealand national parks and associated recreational facility faces significant funding shortfalls. Ideological reservations around commer
Jan 24, 20255 min read


Lessons for integrated transport planning from the Brisbane Metro
What lessons can be gained from the emergent example of integrated transport in Brisbane?
Oct 26, 20245 min read


Five applications for 5G in smart cities
5G is the fifth generation of wireless mobile telecommunications that can support new technologies and revolutionise industries
Aug 18, 20244 min read


Cellular network data insights to support strategic decisions
What are the opportunities to derive insights from cellular network data? Introduction The ongoing evolution of telecommunications...
Mar 1, 20245 min read


Top 10 infrastructure projects in Brisbane, Australia
What are the top 10 infrastructure projects in Brisbane...? Brisbane, the capital city in the state of Queensland, Australia, is...
Feb 13, 20244 min read


Using smart technology to review sustainability of NZ Gold card
Smart technology can use used to review the usage and financial sustainability of the New Zealand Gold card scheme. This could help decision
Jan 18, 20244 min read
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