Future environments research
The researchers in AUT School of Future Environments hold a shared vision to embrace Ki Parakore – translated here as moving towards an unpolluted state. This speaks to our research direction and overview, which embodies the regenerative spirit, transformation, mauri ora (wellbeing), interdisciplinarity and sustainability.
Our research centres
AUT's School of Future Environments - Huri te Ao has a number of research centres:
The Systems and Communities Research Centre explores examples of living and social systems where communities grow and thrive. We aim to investigate solutions and share knowledge and experiences. We work across socio-spatial systems including food, endangered species, sustainability, waste reduction and reuse, flood response, community well-being, urban resilience and regeneration. The work is developing complex, emergent, and responsive networks that respond to our environmental, social, cultural, technological and economic issues as we live together in this land.
Co-leaders
Lead team
Members
- Frances Joseph
- Ann Morrison
- Terri-Ann Berry
- Dermott McMeel
- Clinton Watkins
- Andrew Burgess
- Priscila Besen
- Esther Aigwi
- Stacy Vallis
- Imelda Piri
- Dave Moore
- Micheal McCabe
- Lawrence Joseph Paculan, PhD student
- Sebastian Gil Parga, PhD student
- Marzieh Shafiei, PhD student
- Harshal Waghela, former AUT Master’s student
- Tharaya Poorisat, PhD student
The Innovative Sustainable Construction Research Centre drives advancements in the built environment through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research. Our mission is to develop cost-efficient and sustainable solutions to address contemporary construction challenges, ensuring a resilient and inclusive future that balances environmental protection, social wellbeing, and economic viability. By integrating transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, and the Internet of Things, we revolutionise construction processes, infrastructure systems, and operational efficiency.
The centre explores pioneering concepts in construction engineering, sustainable infrastructure, and resilient systems, prioritising adaptability, sustainability, and community impact. Bridging design, construction, and management, we champion integrated delivery methods, lean construction principles, and circular economy approaches across the life cycle of buildings and infrastructure. Incorporating construction industry values and respecting Māori and Indigenous perspectives, the CISD Centre fosters sustainable development, contributing to a future where construction positively impacts people, communities, and global ecosystem.
Co-leaders
Members
- Dat Doan
- Roohollah Kalatehjari
- John Tookey
- Nicola Naismith
- Mani Poshdar
- Stefan Marks
- Anne Staal
- Mahesh Babu
- Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi
- Goldis Abdolmaleki
- Omar Owais
- Musa Onudi
- Kayvan Koohestani
- Ali Bidhendi
- Kosai Rajeh
- Yousef Adeeb Chamachaei
- Sara Bayandor
- Rajitha Sachinthaka Subhasinghe
- Kyaw Swa Htun
The Smart Cities and Infrastructure Research Centre specialises in intelligent infrastructure, smart cities and regenerative design explorations for the built environment. The team develops optimised solutions for complex issues in the design, construction, and manufacturing industries, with a focus on improving the well-being of human and natural systems. The cluster investigates building efficiency, sustainable construction, urban, social and technological infrastructure planning, and the transformation of the respective industries towards a regenerative system. Our work encompasses a holistic approach, considering systems thinking, lifecycle perspectives, and the integration of sustainability principles to shape cities and create positive ecological impacts.
Co-leaders
Lead team
Members
- Ali Ghaffarian
- Amir Ghaffarian
- Kamal Dhawan
- Megan Burfoot
- Pouyan Zarnani
- Shahab Ramhormozian
- Sherif Beskhyroun
- Lara Tookey
- Xichen
- Zahra
- Ghazale
- Ehsan Hosseini
- Ashish Poudel
- Hayman Ahmed
The Indigenising Future Environments Research Centre is a platform to develop and enact strategies towards indigenising our future environments led by the concept of mauri ora. Based in the School of Future Environments, this research centre also recognises and seeks to build on wider initiatives in the faculty and AUT community towards indigenising education pedagogies as part of our future environments. Our research aims to explore ways of thinking and enacting how we indigenise tertiary education and practice in the fields of architecture, creative and emerging technologies and built environment engineering.
Co-leaders
Core members
- Rachel Shearer (Māori)
- Jade Kake (Māori)
- Sibyl Bloomfield (Māori)
- Amanda Yates (Māori)
- Fleur Palmer (Māori)
- Tau Lelaulu (Pasifika)
- Wayne Knox (Māori - PhD)
- Ray Jonson Tui Hikaka (Māori/Pasifika - MCT)
- Caleb Mokomoko (Māori - MArchProf)
Project-based members
Research labs
Our research labs are hubs for sharing expertise and research outcomes:
Current student projects
Find out about student projects in architecture, the built environment and creative technologies.
Explore our research expertise
AUT's academic supervisors are recognised world-class researchers who have the expert knowledge to guide you throughout your studies.
If you’re interested in applying to a PhD or MPhil, email doctoral.and.mphil.admissions@aut.ac.nz first to assess your eligibility for the programme.