Research centres and areas of interest – Architectural and Building Science and Technologies
The Architectural and Building Science and Technologies research group studies the physical, structural and performance aspects of built environments.
It encompasses lighting, daylighting, acoustics, thermal performance, wind effects, noise and acoustics, sustainability, Indoor Environmental Quality, structural systems and construction. It can also include studies in how people react to environments and the functional aspects of buildings in use.
Architectural and Building Science and Technologies at the University of Sydney comprises internationally leading researchers who provide expert supervision of higher degree research candidates with access to some of the best architectural science research laboratories and infrastructure within in the Australian university sector. It is possible to undertake some advanced coursework within higher degree research programs.
For further information contact Professor Richard de Dear (
Areas of research
Architectural technologies
- Biomimetic and adaptable building structures
- Smart materials and technologies for building envelopes
- Advanced structural materials
- Integrated models for the synthesis of complex buildings.
Audio and acoustics
- Room acoustics
- Psychoacoustics, including loudness and spatial hearing
- Audio reproduction quality and signal processing
- Simulation and auralization of acoustical environments
- Acoustic aspects of Indoor Environmental Quality
- Advanced measurement techniques
- Auditory display and sonification.
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
- Adaptive thermal comfort
- Climate chamber and field studies of thermal comfort
- Non-steady-state thermal comfort and alliesthesia
- Indoor air quality and ventilation rates
- Interactions between IEQ elements of thermal, lighting, acoustics and indoor air quality
- Building rating tools for IEQ
- Post occupancy evaluation of built environments by their occupants
- Impacts of IEQ on productivity and performance.
Illumination
- Applications of emerging and next-generation lighting technologies
- Visual perception, particularly colour vision
- Novel light source spectra for improved efficacy
- Colorimetry and development of colour standards
- Innovative modes of lighting control and human interaction.
Sustainable design
- Cultural sustainability through integration of architectural science, archeological and heritage conservation knowledge
- Form and space making potential of sustainable design
- History of climatic design in Australia
- Simulation of building environmental performance
- Comfort analysis of urban outdoor and semi-outdoor microclimates
- Building integration of renewable energy sources.