Centre-funded projects

Full title: Flexible gas sensing technologies for ethylene detection: Advancing plant health and growth monitoring

Monitoring plant stress is a key component of an integrated urban forest management system that will ensure healthy and resilient urban forests.

Our researchers intend to design a system that:

• uses biocompatible and flexible materials
• is both low power and lightweight
• is widely deployable and autonomous.

The system features tiny nanosensors that can:

• intimately integrate into the soft surface of any plant
• measure temperature, humidity and the concentration of ethylene gas
• remotely evaluate optimal growth settings on a continuous basis.

Research team

• Noushin Nasiri
• Professor Michelle Leishman
• Michael Sheng
• Dr Anthony Manea
• Jayden Chen
• Reza Behboodian

Contact: noushin.nasiri@mq.edu.au

For cities to be smart, green and sustainable, they must adopt multi-disciplinary approaches, identifying and partner with a range of sectors involved in decision making at multiple scales.

The insurance sector plays a critical and overlooked element in sustainability transitions. The post-emergency spotlight on the sector calls into question the adequacy of current models, policies and approaches.

Our researchers intend to:

• identify emerging risks facing the sector
• develop new models and approaches drawing on data sciences and sustainability theory and practice.

Research team

• Peter Davies
• Zhuo Jin
• Yan Li
• Sara Deilami
• Stefan Trück

Contact: peter.davies@mq.edu.au

Full title: Are business decisions informed by their surroundings – study of small medium business (SMB) managerial perception and approach to sustainable practices and technologies

The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) framework provides understanding of consumers’ behaviour towards engagement with green activities or products in individual or household domains.

Our researchers aim to use TPB with key business decision makers to:

• examine factors associated with intentions to engage with sustainable practices and technologies
• examine green identity, past behaviour, business type, location and whether they are associated with the surrounding local environment
• better our understanding of SMB and factors associated with managerial decision processes specific to environmental protection and sustainability in Ryde, and
• understand whether this changes with the environmental context of the business.

Research team

• Andrea Chareunsy
• Philippe Gilchrist
• Clara Zhou
• Peter Davies
• Rohan Best
• Caragh Threlfall

Contact: andrea.chareunsy@mq.edu.au

Full title: Flood-risk literacy and preparedness of new residents of flood prone developments in northwest Sydney

We intend to understand if sustainable urban design and planning is linked with health and wellbeing, as reflected in the psychological health of residents living in northwest Sydney flood risk areas.

Our researchers aim to:

• initiate relationships with community members and key stakeholders
• inform future interventions by identifying flood-risk literacy levels and preparedness of new residents, including related psychological, social and financial factors
• co-design online accessible flood risk resources targeting flood-related anxiety and associated barriers to effective flood risk mitigation behaviours.

Rapid housing growth and increasing flood risks demand innovative solutions to:

• ensure community health
• spread understanding of inherent risks
• foster self-efficacy to manage and mitigate risks.

Research team

• Kerry Sherman
• Philippe Gilchrist
• Andrea Chareunsy
• Melanie Bishop
• Mel Taylor
• Josephine Chau

Contact: kerry.sherman@mq.edu.au

Full title: Blue and green with warming stripes: Experiences of sustainable child friendly cities (CFC) in the greater Sydney area

We intend to investigate greater Sydney CFC initiatives, with an emphasis on nature spaces, climate change and wellbeing impacts.

Our researchers aim to:

• engage local councils to evaluate how initiatives were developed/actioned
• identify the aspects of CFC principles councils focus on, and what role (if any) considerations of nature spaces and climate change play
• evaluate perceptions/behaviour of local residents to understand user experience, needs, climate-oriented behaviours and wellbeing impact. (Young people sub-sample includes Macquarie students).

The data provides a solid CFC foundation to build on when researching:

• cities and climate change
• similar frameworks, such as age-friendly cities.

Research team

• Esther Erlings
• Maria Kangas
• Paul Beggs

Contact: esther.erlings@mq.edu.au

Full title: Measuring the rainbow: Understanding the spectrum of light in the environment

Light pollution, especially artificial light at night (ALAN), is a growing issue in many urban areas, impacting astronomy, ecosystems, and human health. ALAN in coastal cities can be up to six times brighter than moonlight. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) advocates for protecting dark environments, but the full extent of ALAN remains largely unmeasured.

Measuring ALAN requires analyzing its spectral components, not just brightness, as different wavelengths affect animals differently. However, most studies focus on brightness (lux) due to the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of those measurements. Accurate spectral data is needed, especially for aquatic environments, where factors like location and tides influence the light.

Our researchers intend to :

• design a device that allows measurements of spectral light at different spatial and temporal scales in aquatic and terrestrial environments.
• Calibrate the device in the laboratory against known spectral wavelength
• Test the device in aquatic and terrestrial environments to ensure precise quantification of light.

This should result in innovative light sensors with spectral sensitivity, providing researchers with cutting-edge tools for precise measurement of spectral light across various wavelengths.

Research team

• Laura Ryan
• Noushin Nasiri
• Binesh Veettil
• Louise Tosetto
• Nathan Hart

Full title: An Artificial Intelligence Data Set with Satellite Imagery for Sustainable Solar PV Plants Mapping in NSW Region

The rapid expansion of solar photovoltaics (PV) is crucial for Australia’s transition to cleaner energy and addressing climate change. With rising energy demand in cities, co-locating solar panels with agriculture is becoming essential for efficient land use. Access to up-to-date geospatial data on solar PV installations is critical for development, energy management, and mitigating risks like bushfires and shading.

This project aims to use machine learning and satellite imagery to map solar PV installations across NSW, focusing on solar farms. The data will assess shading impacts on energy efficiency, vegetation growth, and bushfire risks, helping develop strategies to improve solar power safety, efficiency, and resilience to natural disasters.

Our researchers aim to:

• Create a comprehensive dataset on solar energy distribution for a solar farm in the NSW region using satellite imagery.
• Develop an AI-based algorithm to accurately map solar PV plants.
• Identify potential risks such as fire, safety concerns, and temperature variations.

The outcome will provide researchers with advanced tools for mapping solar PV installations in a sustainable and efficient manner, while also opening opportunities for external project partnerships and potential funding.

Research team

• Sara Deilami
• Michael Sheng
• Noushin Nasiri
• Peter Davies
• Yuankai Qi
• Michael Chang

Full title: Listening to plants – using gas sensing technology to detect plant stress

Plants facing biotic and abiotic stressors experience reduced growth and yield, making health monitoring essential. Sensor-based technologies are vital for tracking plant stress, but current systems are bulky, climate-specific, and lack portability. For example, plants release more ethylene under stress (eg drought or mechanical damage), but existing sensors often struggle with sensitivity, scalability, and integrating environmental data, hindering accurate stress detection and management.

In 2023, our team developed a compact, lightweight ethylene gas sensing technology using sensor arrays, capable of detecting ethylene levels in both lab and Macquarie University glasshouse settings. In the proposed project, this device will undergo calibration and validation to ensure accuracy under various plant stress conditions. It will be integrated with environmental sensors (humidity and temperature) to capture comprehensive plant stress data. Three testing sites will be established: (1) individual vs. group plants, (2) varying distances from plants, and (3) plants under different drought stress levels.

Our researchers aim to:

• Provide farmers and researchers with a powerful tool for early detection and intervention.
• Use this technology to enable proactive measures to optimise growing conditions, enhance crop resilience, and ultimately improve crop yields while reducing losses due to stress-related factors.

Research team

• Noushin Nasiri
• Michelle Leishman
• Michael Sheng
• Jayden Chen

Full title: Blue Space Activity Scale: The development and validation of a new self-report scale

Studies highlight the psychosocial benefits of nature connection, with most focusing on green spaces. Fewer have explored blue spaces, such as swimming, which is linked to improved wellbeing and reduced mental distress. However, research in this area is limited by small sample sizes and a lack of validated wellbeing measures (Overbury et al., 2023).

This interdisciplinary project aims to develop and validate a self-report scale to assess engagement in swimming in blue spaces, capturing impacts on mental and physical wellbeing, as well as perceptions of benefits and barriers. The scale will measure swimming frequency, reasons for participation, and site-specific factors, using existing literature to guide its development. It will be tested, revised, and validated in two phases, with a minimum of 400 participants nationwide (200 per phase) who swim at least 10 times annually.

Our researchers aim to:

• provide a new blue activity scale which is instrumental for future observation and intervention studies examining the benefits of swimming in blue spaces

Research team

• Maria Kangas
• Peter Davies
• Janaki Amin

Full title: Stream and catchment condition as drivers of healthy riparian flora and fauna in nature rich cities

We will assess the health of streams and their catchments across a spectrum of developed (urban/rural), undeveloped (natural), and restored (urban/rural) sites. Using our existing 3D terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data for rural streams, we will scan new urban, natural, and restored streams in the Lane Cove, South Creek, and Hunter Catchments. Flora and fauna surveys will be conducted to explore the impact of development and restoration on ecosystem health. The results will be presented through ESRI StoryMaps, a tool for visual storytelling linked to spatial data, to engage the public in river restoration efforts.

Our researchers aim to:

• Derive landscape and vegetation metrics from TLS datasets and conduct field surveys at developed (urban/rural), undeveloped (natural), and restored (urban/rural – restored) streams
• Investigate how development and river restoration influence presence and health of native vegetation and fauna
• Develop a StoryMap for each site, showcasing stories told by our data

These aims would assist with:

• Gaining new insights into how healthier streams, including urban ones, support ecosystem recovery, optimising urban stream restoration.
• Evaluating a novel method to assess geomorphological traits and vegetation-driven habitat complexity using a single set of laser scans.
• Integrating scientific findings into an engaging visualisation storytelling tool for communication.

Research team

• Alexandra Carthey
• Kirstie Fryirs
• Donna Houston