NETWORKS and SPACE
AVs and Public Transport in suburban Melbourne

Dr John Stone, Dr Ian Woodcock, Leyla Beiglari, and Iain Lawrie

Studio Description

This multi-disciplinary studio will explore the positive and negative impacts of autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies on safety, accessibility and equity, through exploring impacts on use and form of public spaces and streets around stations in suburban Melbourne.  Much has been written about the potential impacts of AVs to transform mobility, urban form and public space, but there has been little detailed analysis and visualisation of what these impacts might be in actual places. AVs include possibilities for new forms of private and shared vehicles, blurring boundaries between private and public transport.

We will investigate several scenarios for AV deployment to explore questions including:

• How might AVs use the public realm around stations in suburban Melbourne? What design solutions are needed for AVs to work well in urban public space?
• What regulations or policies would most effectively support these technologies in Melbourne?
• Which forms of AV technology best support environmental, social and public health objectives?

Studio Outcomes

Using major station precincts in suburban Melbourne as case studies, we will work with transport planners and urban designers from local and state government as well as the private sector. We will contribute directly to professional and public debates on policies for AV deployment and related planning and design frameworks. We recommended that students taking this studio have previously completed Public Transport Network Planning (ABPL90090) as many of the concepts explored in that course will be applied in the studio. If you have not done this subject, you will need to do some additional reading before the studio begins.

Learning outcomes will focus on:

• Identifying problems with AV deployment and their resolution through effective planning and urban design.
• Proposing creative solutions to problems in the design of urban public space for AVs.
• Communicating and advocating effectively in a clear and professional manner.

Studio Leaders

John Stone is Senior Lecturer in Transport Planning at Melbourne School of Design. John's work in academia, practice and advocacy span over 30 years and he is widely respected in the field. Since 2013, he has co-led design research studios on station precincts, elevated rail and sustainable transport for Melbourne's west.

Ian Woodcock is Director of Urban Design in the Department of Architectural and Industrial Design at Swinburne University. Ian has over 30 years experience in practice and academia, and has taught at MSD since 2000. Since 2005, he has led design research studios on rail and tram corridors, activity centres, CBD futures, station precincts, elevated rail and sustainable transport for Melbourne's west.

Leyla Beiglari is a graduate architect from MSD and UNSW, and works for Hassell on major transport projects. Leyla was a participant in the 2015 MSD studio ‘RailUp!’ investigating the urban design and architectural possibilities of elevated rail for the Upfield and Frankston lines that was funded by the Level Crossing Removal Authority.

Iain Lawrie is a planner, and works for Transport for Victoria. He is researching a PhD at MSD on the deployment of autonomous vehicles in dispersed urban environments.

Reading & Reference

Mees, P (2010) Transport for Suburbia: Beyond the automobile Age, London: Earthscan
Other readings and references will be provided during the studio. Please feel free to read up on Autonomous Vehicles by searching online.

ST1/39 Tuesday 3:15-6:15PM, MSD Room 227
ST2/39 Friday 9AM-12, MSD Room 226

Contact Handbook Key Dates

~ Also offered as ABPL903854 MUP Studio: AV ~