- Posted on 19 Feb 2025
About Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
Worldwide more than 1 billion people live in slums. Safe and affordable housing, transport, and effective water and waste management are essential for individuals, communities and cities to develop to their full potential. Urbanization when it is well planned, governed and financed can benefit everyone. Urbanization done poorly exacerbates inequality, degrades the environment and erodes social harmony.
UTS is located in Sydney’s CBD technology and innovation precinct. In addition to our research we collaborate with our neighbours to forge new approaches to living and working in the city, from precinct recycled water sharing with our neighbours, to rooftop gardens, on-site waste processing, and piloting new ‘smart city’ digital connections using the inter-net of things.
Here are some examples of our work at UTS contributing towards SDG 11.
A new Plantabox system to help cool Cities Sustainably with Modular, Water-Efficient Green Infrastructure
Award winning project enabling advances towards urban cooling and water efficiency while maintaining Sydney’s green spaces.
This project used SMART technology, on-ground community participation, intelligence-driven re-design and socio-economic projections to enhance the liveability, sustainability and productivity of the Sydney suburb of Granville.
This project provides a Guide to assist urban planners, developers, designers, land managers and policy decision-makers to assess the microclimate of development areas and mitigate existing and future urban heat and cold through appropriate urban design and planning considerations.
Our impact
Find out how UTS staff and students are contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Trailblazers for the Goals
UTS has experts working towards the SDGs all over campus. The Trailblazers for the Goals are a campus-wide network of researchers and experts advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
You can contact a trailblazer to discuss their work for the SDGs, or they can connect you with other experts in the space.
School of Built Environment
Sara is an expert on sustainable urban development and transformation, as well as Australia’s first female Professor of Property. Her work in green infrastructure has advanced SDG 11 in the global property sector through bodies such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Australian Property Institute.
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Peter is a leader in sustainable city design and development. He’s working towards SDG 11 through his innovative work in nature-based solutions, as well as in biosolar green roofs and agrivoltaics. Peter’s work is driving our cities towards greener, happier, and healthier environments.
Learn more
A Solution for Underused and Vacant Buildings.
International award highlights UTS-led biosolar innovation driving greener, smarter cities.