The Water-Energy-Carbon (WEC) group within ACWEB are global leaders in (a) integrated urban water performance modelling and management (b) design of resilient, secure and liveable urban systems, and (c) water-energy-food-climate analysis.
Their work helps prepare utilities, government and communities for future pressures and risks including climate change. It helps identify policy-relevant strategies for industry and government to avoid “problem-shifting”.
Our specialty is collaborative systems modelling with stakeholders to achieve key Sustainable Development Goals. We build and use multiple tools including material flow analysis (MFA) models, water mass-balance analysis (SUWMBA), life cycle assessment (LCA), input-output (IO), and geographic information (GIS) analysis.
We are highly engaged with industry nationally and internationally with high profile projects for the Water Research Foundation (USA), Asian Development Bank and private companies.
Integrated urban water performance modelling and management
We build quantitative multi-scale tools and models which quantify “urban metabolism” – the water, energy, and material flows of cities, precincts, buildings and economies. Our work spans natural and piped water flows helping identify wastes and opportunities.
Design of resilient, secure and liveable urban systems
Using our performance tools we design – and evaluate - sustainable, resilient, secure, liveable, multi-functional cities and water systems, precincts and cities. We developed the Urban Design Challenge a multi award-winning collaborative transdisciplinary process.
Water-energy-food-climate analysis
We help utilities move beyond Net Zero (scope 1 and 2) and into “Net Zero Carbon Water Cycle”, where all emissions are evaluated. We guide renewable energy integration in water and wastewater and lead water-energy-food-climate integrated planning and analysis. This supports far greater resolution in circular economy urban design including virtual water flows.
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Key Capabilities
Urban water metabolism and performance quantification
Net zero emissions water cycle
Collaborative, multi-disciplinary design of water-sensitive, liveable, sustainable and resilient urban developments
Water-energy-climate-food nexus circular economy modelling
Multi-scale Integrated Water analysis and management for climate change adaptation and water security
Urban Design Challenge
The Urban Design Challenge successfully promotes collaboration and interdisciplinary work to design the cities of tomorrow.
What is the Urban Design Challenge?
Throughout workshops, interactive activities, field trips and group sessions with experts and leading academics, multidisciplinary teams work together on a case study to improve sustainable city design and liveability.