Modeling the carbon footprint of urban development: a case study in Melbourne

It is estimated that urban areas account for 60-80% of global energy use and are responsible for the emission of more than 70% of global greenhouse gases. Since most future population growth is expected to be in urban areas, one main question regarding urban planning is how new urban communities should be developed in order to minimise resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This research will develop a spatially explicit model to simulate the carbon footprint of urban growth under three different development scenarios: 1) the horizontal (the business as usual (BAU) scenario), 2) vertical (Le Corbusier's 'Radiant City' scenario), and 3) the mixed scenario. The intention of the research is to 1) assist in identifying the ideal spatial composition and configuration of suburban communities with potential to consume less resources and produce less greenhouse gas emissions; 2) propose an alternative approach to greenhouse gas emission control at the neighbourhood level; and 3) inform planning and design actions aimed at realising low carbon development.