The effects of urban densification and climate change on residential urban water

This research examined how Brisbane’s current medium-density, “business-as-usual” development approach affects urban water hydrology, showing that typical infill projects significantly alter stormwater runoff, infiltration, and evapotranspiration. It identified practical mitigation strategies that can be implemented now and into the future without demolishing existing buildings, while also demonstrating that the current City Plan underestimates the hydrological consequences of densification. These findings highlight the need for alternative development typologies and more water-sensitive design practices to reduce long-term flooding and financial risks for the city. The significance of this work has led to me presenting at state and national conferences, multiple engineering forums, and on ABC Radio, and it resulted in receiving the 2024 AWA Queensland Student Prize, the first time it has been awarded to an architecture student. This findings are also being used by BCC flooding department as independent research case study.