How we’re building a carbon-neutral campus

Digital technologies are essential for the planning, design and operation of sustainable infrastructure. A University of Melbourne webinar discussed how data, relationships and user experiences can support making precincts more sustainable.

Digital technologies alone aren’t sufficient to ensure a successful and sustainable university campus. We also need fit-for-purpose data, good supply chain relationships and a culture of sharing and innovation.

Chaired by Mark Allan, Director of the City of Melbourne Greenline Project and University of Melbourne PhD candidate, our expert panel discussed what is needed to support complex digital estate plans.

Watch the webinar

Good partnerships support standardised data

A rigorous data structure enables all other digital applications from wayfinding to digital twins.

“Research shows that if you don’t start well, often projects will overrun,” said Dr Serryn Eagleson. Dr Eagleson is the Digital Advisory Lead at ARUP, a global sustainable development consultancy.

It’s better to be comprehensive with building information modelling from the outset – even when it’s more expensive, Dr Eagleson said.

Standardised data is important for managing a complex property portfolio, agreed Jade Germanis. Germanis is the Digital Estate Program Director at the University of Melbourne.

And open data encourages innovation.

“When [data access] is locked down to one institution, it can be really challenging to innovate,” Dr Eagleson said.

Yet a digital estate strategy must collaborate with the supply chain.

“We don’t want to collect data for data’s sake. And we don’t want to make an arduous process for our supply chain partners,” Germanis said.

Some partners have mature digital systems. Others need support to deliver information that the digital estate strategy requires. Crystal clear processes help maintain partnerships.

User experience data can improve built environment performance

Associate Professor Christhina Candido said we should consider buildings as living labs. She directs the Sustainable and Healthy Environments Lab at the University of Melbourne.

“Our research has demonstrated that if we leverage end-user perception and experiences in [open plan] offices […] we could reduce the overall energy consumption of a commercial building in Sydney down to about ten per cent,” Associate Professor Candido said.

Her lab has conducted end-user surveys in over 250 buildings over five continents.

“This is only possible because of partnerships with industry,” she said.

How the University of Melbourne estate plan improves sustainability

With a footprint of 1.1 million square metres, the University of Melbourne manages a complex property portfolio from cutting-edge research facilities to historic buildings nearing the end of their lives.

Germanis said a comprehensive estate plan combined with new scanning and tagging technologies can save time, effort and money.

“One use case for example is predictive maintenance. Predictive maintenance can work hand in hand with our estate plan to let us know when our significant assets are nearing end of life before they hit failure point,” he said.

The University of Melbourne’s digital estate program received a 2024 gold award in the Global Facilities Management Awards of Excellence.

“We have always used our campus as our laboratory,” said Professor Abbas Rajabifard. Professor Rajabifard is the Director of the University of Melbourne Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration. The centre’s D-Lab at Melbourne Connect provides partners with advanced interactive data capture, analysis and visualisation tools.

Both Professor Rajabifard and Associate Professor Candido have conducted research in the co-working spaces at Melbourne Connect, the University of Melbourne’s purpose-built innovation precinct.

Professor Rajabifard has deployed sensors for live air quality monitoring. Associate Professor Candido has helped improve the occupancy of the building.

“What we found at Melbourne Connect was that people were seeking these spaces that had more greenery three times more often than any other space, and they were staying five times longer,” Associate Professor Candido said.

The University of Melbourne recently published its 2023 Sustainability Report. Powered by its estate plan, the University is on track to become net carbon neutral by 2025. The University is also making progress on its plan to become climate positive by 2030.

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