
Overview
Background
My research centers on the intersections of Urban Planning and Public Health, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and practical application. I deliver transdisciplinary solutions to some of the most compelling challenges of our time, 'housing vulnerability' and 'the health outcomes of citymaking'. My work stands out through the application of Systems Thinking to complex planning issues and I explore the connections between planning and the physical, mental, and social health of individuals and communities. My primary focus is on developing resilient cities, capable of maintaining their liveability over time, especially amidst disruptive events and shocks.
Availability
- Dr Sara Alidoust is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
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Planning for Social Sustainability and Community Wellbeing
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Planning Resilient and liveable Cities
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Age-Friendly Planning
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Housing Vulnerability and Informal Housing in the Global North
Research impacts
My research findings significantly contribute to translating knowledge for research end-users, including planning practitioners and the community. Focused on fostering more resilient and liveable cities, my research findings directly inform planning practice and policymaking initiatives, thereby enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities. My research also extends to enhancing planning policies by critically analysing existing frameworks, particularly in areas like housing and liveable/resilient planning, on both national and international scales. Moreover, through rigorous exploratory research, such as examining issues like informal housing, and active engagement with end-users, including collecting data from older individuals and other vulnerable community members, my work illuminates real-world planning challenges and provides actionable insights to address societal needs.
Works
Search Professor Sara Alidoust’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
Talking while walking: an investigation of perceived neighbourhood walkability and its implications for the social life of older people
Alidoust, Sara, Bosman, Caryl and Holden, Gordon (2018). Talking while walking: an investigation of perceived neighbourhood walkability and its implications for the social life of older people. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 33 (1), 133-150. doi: 10.1007/s10901-017-9558-1
2017
Journal Article
Master planned communities for the ageing population: how sociable are they?
Alidoust, Sara and Bosman, Caryl (2017). Master planned communities for the ageing population: how sociable are they?. Cities and Health, 1 (1), 38-46. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2017.1393242
2017
Journal Article
Research for City Practice
Grant, Marcus, Brown, Caroline, Caiaffa, Waleska T., Capon, Anthony, Corburn, Jason, Coutts, Chris, Crespo, Carlos J., Ellis, Geraint, Ferguson, George, Fudge, Colin, Hancock, Trevor, Lawrence, Roderick J., Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J., Oni, Tolu , Thompson, Susan, Wagenaar, Cor , Ward Thompson, Catharine, Alidoust, Sara, Bosman, Caryl, Schnake-Mahl, Alina, Norman, Sarah, Kent, Jennifer Lee, Ma, Liang, Mulley, Corinne and Siri, José (2017). Research for City Practice. Cities and Health, 1 (1), 10-21. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2017.1396750
2017
Journal Article
The spatial dimensions of neighbourhood: how older people define it
Alidoust, Sara, Bosman, Caryl, Holden, Gordon, Shearer, Heather and Shutter, Leigh (2017). The spatial dimensions of neighbourhood: how older people define it. Journal of Urban Design, 22 (5), 547-567. doi: 10.1080/13574809.2017.1336057
2017
Other Outputs
Planning for socially healthy ageing – A study of neighbourhood environments and their impacts on the social lives of older people
Alidoust, Sara (2017). Planning for socially healthy ageing – A study of neighbourhood environments and their impacts on the social lives of older people. PhD Thesis, School of Environment, Griffith University.
2016
Journal Article
Boomer planning: the production of age-friendly cities
Alidoust, Sara and Bosman, Caryl (2016). Boomer planning: the production of age-friendly cities. Built Environment, 42 (1), 107-119. doi: 10.2148/benv.42.1.107
2015
Journal Article
Planning for an ageing population: links between social health, neighbourhood environment and the elderly
Alidoust, Sara and Bosman, Caryl (2015). Planning for an ageing population: links between social health, neighbourhood environment and the elderly. Australian Planner, 52 (3), 177-186. doi: 10.1080/07293682.2015.1034145
2015
Conference Publication
Socially healthy ageing: the importance of third places, soft edges and walkable neighbourhoods
Alidoust, Sara, Bosman, Caryl and Holden, Gordon (2015). Socially healthy ageing: the importance of third places, soft edges and walkable neighbourhoods. State of Australian Cities Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland, 9-11 December 2015.
2014
Journal Article
Urban environment and social health of the elderly: a critical discussion on physical, social and policy environments
Alidoust, Sara, Holden, Gordon and Bosman, Caryl (2014). Urban environment and social health of the elderly: a critical discussion on physical, social and policy environments. Athens Journal of Health, 1 (3), 169-180. doi: 10.30958/ajh.1-3-1
2014
Conference Publication
Urban environment and social health of the elderly: a critical discussion on physical, social and policy environments
Alidoust, Sara, Holden, Gordon and Bosman, Caryl (2014). Urban environment and social health of the elderly: a critical discussion on physical, social and policy environments. 4th Annual International Conference on Urban Studies & Planning, Athens, Greece, 9-12 June 2020.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Sara Alidoust is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Planning Healthy Cities
Associations between urban planning and physical, mental and social health. Some topics include: 1. The role of built environment and planning policies in physical activity, active transport, healthy behaviours. 2. Urban planning impacts on social capital and community cohesion. 3. Planning policies and built environmental design for mental health. 4. Urban Green space and community health.
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Climate Change and Community Health
Health impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities, including older people. Some topics include: 1. Green infrastructure and community health. 2. Integrated policy frameworks for sustainable, healthy and resilient cities. 3. Urban heat stress and community health.
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Planning Age-friendly Cities
Urban planns and policies aimed at developing enabling environments for older people to live an active life and stay engaged in the community. Some topics include: 1. Planning policies for developing age-friendly cities. 2. Emerging housing models and lifestyles for older people, e.g. house-sitting, co-living. 3. Neighbourhood planning for healthy ageing. 4. Master planned communities and community development for an ageing population.
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Urban Planning for Social Sustainability
Some topics include: 1. Developing evaluation frameworks for social sustainability. 2. Developing evaluation frameworks for community wellbeing. 3. Community engagement in planning policy.
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Housing Planning and Policy
Some topics include: 1. Informal housing in the Global North. 2. Informal housing and the ageing population. 3. Health impacts of informal housing. 4. Resilient housing systems. 5. Systems thinking and housing policies.
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Planning Healthy Cities
Associations between urban planning and physical, mental and social health. Some topics include: 1. The role of built environment and planning policies in physical activity, active transport, healthy behaviours. 2. Urban planning impacts on social capital and community cohesion. 3. Planning policies and built environmental design for mental health. 4. Urban Green space and community health.
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Housing Planning and Policy
Some topics include: 1. Informal housing in the Global North. 2. Informal housing and the ageing population. 3. Health impacts of informal housing. 4. Resilient housing systems. 5. Systems thinking and housing policies.
-
Climate Change and Community Health
Health impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities, including older people. Some topics include: 1. Green infrastructure and community health. 2. Integrated policy frameworks for sustainable, healthy and resilient cities. 3. Urban heat stress and community health.
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Planning Age-friendly Cities
Planning age-friendly cities for older people to live an active life and stay engaged in the community. Some topics include: 1. Planning policies for developing age-friendly cities. 2. Emerging housing models and lifestyles for older people, e.g. house-sitting, co-living. 3. Neighbourhood planning for healthy ageing. 4. Master planned communities and community development for an ageing population.
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Urban Planning for Social Sustainability
Some topics include: 1. Developing evaluation frameworks for social sustainability. 2. Developing evaluation frameworks for community wellbeing. 3. Community engagement in planning policy.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Policy Barriers to Livable Cities in South East Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani
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Doctor Philosophy
Delivering the Sustainable Cities of the Future: Defining an Approach to Catalyse Change in Urban Development Outcomes
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Delivering the Sustainable Cities of the Future: Defining an Approach to Catalyse Change in Urban Development Outcomes
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Planning for health and wellbeing in high-rise precincts: Understanding the role of 'breathing space'
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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Doctor Philosophy
A study of the anti-gating movement from the perspective of non-gated residents: a case from Shanghai
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani, Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi
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Doctor Philosophy
Policy Barriers to Livable Cities in South East Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani
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Doctor Philosophy
Planning for health and wellbeing in high-rise precincts: Understanding the role of 'breathing space'
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing a climate-resilient framework for healthy cities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ray Maher, Associate Professor Paola Leardini, Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi
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Doctor Philosophy
The current environmental dynamics of the COVID-19 crisis and the challenges ahead in Saudi Arabia and Australia in terms of planning and sustainability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani
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Master Philosophy
The socio-environmental benefits of alleyways over planned settlement patterns: The case of hems in Ho Chi Minh City
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Silvia Micheli
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Doctor Philosophy
Active transport and gender issues: A comparison between Brisbane and Sylhet
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani
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Doctor Philosophy
Reconstructing A Gender Perspective Approach for a Sustainable New Capital City
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani
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Doctor Philosophy
Bridging Theory and Practice: An Integrated Approach to Urban Growth Management
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Neil Sipe, Dr Sebastien Darchen
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Doctor Philosophy
Housing affordability issues in Malaysia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Bridging Theory and Practice: An Integrated Approach to Urban Growth Management
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Neil Sipe, Dr Sebastien Darchen
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Restoring the natural water cycle in cities: an urban design framework
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway, Associate Professor Paola Leardini
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Sara Alidoust directly for media enquiries about:
- Community Engagement in Planning and Policy Making
- Master Planned Community Developments
- Neighbourhood Planning and Loneliness
- Planning Age Friendly Cities
- Planning Healthy Cities
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