While this occurs in many courses across the subject, it is a key feature of GEOG 309 Research for Resilient Environments and Communities and GEOG 402 Resilient Cities.
GEOG 309 Research for Resilient Environments and Communities
GEOG 309 grounds students in research methods, using a group-work approach and service learning. This capstone course prepares students for graduate work or entry to the workforce. Students develop research projects initiated by community groups.
Research Projects
- Analysis of weather data at Mt Hutt and the wider Canterbury Alpine region
- Anthropogenic Stress and Avon-Heathcote Te Ihutai's Ecological Function
- An assessment of freshwater quality in Cass Bay
- Community Well-being in Avondale and Richmond
- Developing a GISWebMap for the wider Te Awa Kura/Barnett Park Area
- Developing good transport options for accessing a new central city music school
- Drivers of productive rural land in Canterbury
- Encouraging Active Transport use at Hillmorton High School
- Erosion Susceptibility at Mt Vernon Park
- Impact and Influence of Trees for Canterbury on the Community
- Invertebrate Trapping at Tūhaitara Coastal Park
- Learning lessons from the suburb with the highest cycle commuting rates in NZ
- Planting to supply native birds in Christchurch with food all year around
- Play Streets in Bromley
- Puharakekenui-Styx Living Laboratory Trust Community Tree Planting Scheme
- Quick Pass Dune Vulnerability Assessment
- Soil types, plant species and terrain characteristics in Riccarton Bush
- St Albans community aspirations in the 2013-23 Strategy
- The demand and opportunity for student accommodation in Christchurch CBD
- The Feasibility of Cargo Bikes for Business in Ōtautahi
- The Potential to green the brown
- Towards the revitalisation of New Brighton Mall
- Urban Orchards for the Garden City
Research Projects
- (Re)Creating the Heart of the City
- Adapting CoastSnap to engage the community
- An investigation of native replanting as a technique to increase tūī population
- Assessing the feasibility of rehabilitating sand and aggregate quarries into wate
- Assessing the health of Steadfast Stream as part of a riparian resoration plan
- Assessing the impacts of fire disturbance at the Pines Beach Wetland
- Catering to the transport needs of Burlington Village
- Communication of Intergenerational Knowledge of Wetland Development in the Tūhai
- Creating a contemporary climatological record of Cass Basin
- Digitising Locally Sourced Data for Improved Environmental Management of the Rak
- Ecological restoration of Governors Bay; how do we incorporate local values into
- More Than a Drain-Improving the health of St Albans Stream through riparian plan
- Mud Crab Sustainability- Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai
- Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor - experiments for climate change adaptation and migr
- Panama Reserve-Josef Langer Charitable Trust public access improvement
- Reducing Dog Disturbance to Wildlife. What strategies are effective to encourage
- Styx River tourism opportunities and barriers
- The carbon sequestration potential for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor
- The Forces that Shape the Upper Waimakariri Catchment
- The viability of transitioning food box delivery from motorised transport to ele
- What are the main indicators of forest health in Riccarton Bush and how can they
- What impact does online learning have on carbon emissions and mental health comp
Research projects
- Assessment of the northern farmland in Tūhaitara Coastal Park
- Can we embrace cows in a low-carbon future
- Cheaper transport for under 25s
- Effect of Salix spp. in Styx Mill Conservation Reserve
- Engaging with communities in the Ōtākaro Avon river corridor with rephotography
- Engaging with young people on climate change
- Experimental tree planting at Lake Sarah Flats
- How existing strands of lowland Kahikatea can inform future restorative planting
- How to facilitate access to Motukauatirahi-Cass Bay Reserve
- Investigating community aspirations for vacant spaces and impediments to develop
- Juvenile bar-tailed godwit settlement at the Avon-Heathcote Estuary
- Landscape Preservation on Banks Peninsula, is there enough
- Learning from the past in developing our urban landscapes
- Learning Opportunities at Te Ahu Pātiki Park
- Natural arsenic in the Port Hills
- The Impact of Gender on Transport Choices and Decisions
- To which extent does a 15min community concept work to enhance social connection
- What alert levels are appropriate to maintain the health of Waiutuutu-Okeover
- What are the implications of intensive grazing on public conservation land
- Risks and opportunities of blue carbon as a response to sea level rise in Lyt
- Youth perceptions of public transport
- Updating the Waiutuutu Okeover Stream Restoration Signboards
- The spatial distribution of soil characteristics and topography
- The Problem of Weed Control in Newly Established Native Plantings
- The Impact of Vehicles on Northern Pegausu Bay beaches
- Mitigating Traffic Growth in St Albans
- Minimising waste in a social enterprise
- Implications of Flooding the Pines Beach Woodland
- How can we tell if too much surface water is being taken from Banks Peninsula
- Ecological risks of pasture diversity in regenerative agriculture
- Communicating value of the East by East area
- Carbon and Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Estimates at Selected Trees
- Bird Conservation at Styx Mill Reserve
- Behavior of dogs and their owners at key Estuary ecological sites
- Baseline study of the Rangitata river mouth environment
- Barriers to Bicycle Use in Inner City East Christchurch, a low-income community
- A Natural Character assessment of the Okuku and Kaiapoi Rivers
- Characteristics of commercial horse trainers at Woodend Beach, Canterbury
- Coastal Erosion at Patiti Point, Timaru
- Development and implementation of a tool to holistically rank Canterbury’s Braid
- Estimation of Carbon Sequestration Levels
- How can the story of distinctive Canterbury Wetlands be effectively visualized
- How effectively are the public transport needs of existing and future residents
- Liveable Streets in St Albans
- Mammalian pest control
- Options for the Restoration and Enhancement of the Longfin Eel
- The Environmental History of Manaaki Mai
- The selection of a Canterbury high-country braided river for UNESCO
- What are the environmental impacts of the new wind flow
- What impacts does ICE Cycles
- An Investigation into Sand Dune Variation and Stability at Tūhaitara Coastal Park
- Community development in Little River
- Improving the Red Zone Census - An Evaluation of Methodology and Performance
- Public Perceptions of Shared Autonomous Vehicles and the Supplementation of Public Transport Infrastructure in Christchurch City
- Traffic effects in the community - Beckenham
- Volunteering patterns in the context of Packe Street Park
- Age and Safety Perceptions in Autonomous Vehicles
- Characteristics of visits to Christchurch Central City
- Coastal Erosion in the Tūhaitara Coastal Park
- Connectivity between Norwich Quay and Naval Point in Lyttelton
- Effects of Forestry on Aeolian Processes in the Tūhaitara Coastal Park
- Land Type Resource Digitisation
- Raising Public and Business Awareness of Trees for Canterbury
- The diverse uses and users of the Residential Red Zone
- The effect of traffic on community - a case of Beckenham
- Analysing the Manchester Street urban landscape
- Assessing the impact of extreme events on water quality and habitat
- Biodiversity monitoring in the residential red zone
- Changing behaviour to water the Christchurch water festival Forum
- Climate characteristics of the Waipara Valley wine district
- Connecting the Otakaro orchard and cafe into the city
- Enhancing the place of local business in Sydenham
- Land remediation assessment in Woolston
- Public life in the central city
- Analysis of the North Colombo transitional streetscape project
- Community involvement in Halswell
- Engaging visitors in the glacial valleys using interpretation boards
- Hidden environmental impacts of copper in the Christchurch rebuild
- How is the salinity of Lake Kate Sheppard affected by inflows and outflows
- Hydrological characteristics of Lake Kate Sheppard
- Map resources for Sumner
- Outdoor classrooms in the Mahinga Kai Exemplar project
- Risk analysis of Yellow Creek Fan, Fox Valley
- Travel modes and expenditure patterns - South Colombo
- Understanding mode share and consumer behaviour in Halswell
- Waitakiri ecosanctuary feasibility report
- Developing a community sense of place in St Albans
- Lower speed limits and speed environments in Redcliffs
- Lyttelton Edible School Walking Route
- Panama Rock Reserve
- Panama Rock Appendix
- Peterborough Village Archive
- Physical geography of Lake Kate Sheppard
- Planning and locating community facilities in Governors Bay
- Port Hills native planting
- Social uses of Lake Kate Sheppard and its environs
- Transport needs and attitudes of Halswell residents
- Whakapapa
- Attitudes to native plants
- Avon Otakaro cycleway
- Connections and networks in Halswell
- Education for food resilience in Lyttelton
- Evaluating the social impact of Trees for Canterbury
- Flood and natural hazard management in the Avon Otakaro Corridor
- Gap filling in the suburbs
- Kids for Edible Gardens Evaluation
- Matuku Takotako and Awaroa Sumner and Godley Head GeoPark Region Taylors Mistake
- Mount Pleasant Community Facilities for Youth
- Recovery options for red-zoned public land in Sumner
- Spatial integration of key natural environment recovery options in Sumner valley
- Understanding connections and networks amongst Halswell residents
- Volunteering in Lyttelton
- Avon Ecological Corridor
- Christchurch Coastal Pathway
- Community Resilience within the Lyttelton Harbour Basin
- Dog Park Use in Christchurch and Potential Improvements
- Park Vandalism in Christchurch
- Recovery of recreational assets in Sumner
- Social Housing in Christchurch
- Spatial Aspirations in the Red Zone
- Sumner Waterways: Opportunities for Restoration
- The Wellbeing of Residents In Redcliffs
GEOG 402 Resilient Cities
GEOG 402 explores sustainable urban development. The course focuses on geographical issues related to urban planning for resource use and infrastructure development. It includes an applied and practical element, conducted in collaboration with the local government officials and local community groups.
- Rejuvenating Linwood Park through Placemaking
- Redevelopment and Wellbeing - The Princess Margaret and Burwood Hospital Merger
- Christchurch Springs - What to do with them
- Child friendly Christchurch
- Weed Control Methods in the Transitional City
- A Methodology for Learning Which Places People Value in a Community
Community-based film
In 2013, Professor Peter Newman (Curtin Uni, Perth), a Visiting Erskine Fellow helped make a film “Christchurch: Resilient City”. The film was made with staff (Prof Simon Kingham and Prof Eric Pawson) and students involved with the GEOG 402 Sustainable Urban Development class in which students learn by working with local community groups and organisations on real research problems related to sustainable urban development. Many of the people in the film are partners we have worked with in the class.
PROMO 'Christchurch: Resilient City' (6:20)
Christchurch: Resilient City (full film - 49:06)
Anglican Bishop of Christchurch (4:38)
Avon-Otakaro Network (8:45)
C1 Expresso (5:48)
Gap Filler (5:49)
Mayor of Christchurch (2:43)
Lyttelton Project (3:52)
Greening the Rubble (2:28)
Introduction to 'Christchurch: Resilient City' (2:22)
Conclusion to 'Christchurch: Resilient City' (1:59)
Other
The following are further examples of community engagement that we want to share.
GEOG 110: From 2013 to 2016 students in GEOG 110 surveyed local communities to identify the ‘assets’ within their neighbourhoods, including the skills, knowledge and resources of local people and groups. Links to the final reports and online maps can be found below.
- GEOG110 2016 Report Sydenham (PDF 1084KB) | Maps of key assets and suburb boundaries.
- GEOG110 2015 Report Burwood (PDF 1325KB) | Maps of key assets and suburb boundaries.
- GEOG110 2014 Report Avondale (PDF 1341KB) | Map of key assets.
- GEOG110 2013 Report Parklands (PDF 959KB) | Map of key assets.
A change in focus and staffing from 2017 means GEOG 110 no longer includes a community engagement component.
