Harnessing data to drive liveability

Harnessing data to drive liveability

RMIT is collaborating with government and industry partners on an innovative data sharing project, which aims to create more sustainable, liveable and healthier communities.

Led by RMIT’s Professor Melanie Davern, the Australian Urban Observatory (AUO) is a digital platform, which aggregates detailed insights to drive tangible improvements in the liveability of urban developments.

The AUO maps public health data across criteria such as walkability, public transport, social infrastructure and services, employment, food, housing and public open space.

Davern said her and the team from RMIT's Centre for Urban Research are creating a new national resource of liveability indicators needed to identify, measure, monitor and target responses to critical social, economic and environmental challenges.

“Each indicator in the platform has been chosen because it is associated with health outcomes and is connected to government policies,” she said.

Delivering impact through partnerships

Davern said industry partnerships like their ongoing collaboration with Stockland, Australia’s largest diversified property group, were crucial to using this data to make a difference.

Justine Felton, Group Social Sustainability Manager at Stockland said the AUO data has helped inform Stockland’s approach to creating and measuring social impact in its communities and, importantly, enabled an approach to social impact that was evidence-based.

“This was our whole focus from a social sustainability perspective. We needed to take an ‘outside-in’ perspective, to better understand the unmet need within our communities, and what role Stockland could play to address that need,” she said.

“When looking at all the indicators, we recognise the impact that we have on individuals and communities with the social infrastructure that we provide, and how important it is to get that right.”

Evidence from the AUO has been embedded in Stockland’s Social Needs Analysis and Social IQ tools, which help Stockland better identify community needs and measure social value.

“Now, more than ever, impartiality and credibility are key in social impact measurement and our partnership with the AUO enables this,” Felton said.

“This evidence influences the design across our masterplan communities and helps us deliver on our vision of ‘a better place to live’.”

The partnership also has ongoing benefit for RMIT, with Stockland providing letters of recommendation to support future grants such as a successful cycling trail research grant.

Professor Melanie Davern in front of Australian Urban Observatory visualisations.Professor Melanie Davern in front of Australian Urban Observatory visualisations. Image: RMIT.

Other AUO projects

Meanwhile, the AUO is also leading projects to improve city planning and liveability, including developing cycling indicators funded by the Ian Potter Foundation to enhance urban cycling infrastructure nationwide.

Working with partnership with Victorian local governments, the team is also running a project to support municipal public health and wellbeing planning by producing monitoring and evaluation tools.

Research to help improve liability outcomes for older Australians is being done by the AUO team with the Healthy Ageing Discovery Project. It aims to refine neighbourhood designs that support ageing in place, considering socioeconomic factors and personal preferences to enhance liveability for older populations. 

 

Story: Kate Milkins and Aеden Ratcliffе

Read more about impact achieved by the AUO
05 May 2025

Share

Return to RMIT News
05 May 2025

Share

  • DSC Research
  • Industry
  • Sustainability
  • DSC
  • Research
  • Regenerative Futures
  • Urban Design
  • Environment
Engage

Related News

prs-sem1-wrapup-image2-1220x732ps.jpg

A semester of global research: showcasing HDR excellence across three continents

From Ho Chi Minh City to Barcelona to Melbourne, DSC’s HDR Symposia spent the first half of 2026 engaging with RMIT’s global community of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates through formal PhD examinations, milestone reviews and work in progress presentations.

Overview of Paris from Pompidou Center with roof tops.

European cities short on shade as heat bites

New analysis of 5.5 million buildings shows 84% fall short of tree canopy levels required for meaningful cooling.

mdw-wrapup-image2-1220x732px.jpg

RMIT leaves its mark on Melbourne Design Week 2026

Melbourne Design Week has drawn to a close for 2026, with record numbers of visitors attending 350+ events across Greater Melbourne.

Three students walking down a street having a conversation.

Suburban Rail Loop forecast to get young adults walking more

The first stage of Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop, SRL East, is expected to get more young and working-age Melburnians out of their cars and walking, according to RMIT University modelling that predicts walking in suburbs around future stations could increase by up to 11%.

Show more
aboriginal flag float-starttorres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information