Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed
Associate Professor
School of Architecture and Built Environment (Construction Management (Building))
- Email:ifte.ahmed@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4921 6011
An Immersive approach to disaster resilience
Dr Ifte Ahmed believes that research should not be focussed solely on books at a desk, he takes a truly immersive approach to his research in disaster resilience. While he started on a traditional architectural path, Ifte soon moved onto a more interesting trajectory – disaster resilience and sustainable post-disaster housing systems.
Mud-architecture attracted Ifte’s early interest as an architect, in fact, it spawned his first publication Up To The Waist In Mud, which explored the study of mud-architecture in Bangladesh. The book was published in 1994 and was the result of his Masters thesis from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Ifte’s academic career spans the continents – a Bachelor of Architecture from IIT, India, Master of Science in Architecture Studies from MIT in the US, and a PhD from Oxford Brookes University in the UK, so it’s not surprising that his research focus is global.
A strong theme of Ifte’s academic career is that research is not something that should be conducted in isolation. A hands-on approach to working alongside communities has informed Ifte’s research and knowledge throughout his career. Working with the Housing & Hazards group in Bangladesh while undertaking his PhD inspired Ifte to transition into the risk reduction field. While his original proposition was to explore low-income housing, he soon found that most of the housing in the country was built post-disaster and disaster impacts was a significant issue.
"Comparing housing built by agencies to that by communities themselves, the resilience and adaptive capacity of these communities became clear.”
Ifte stepped away from academia for a few years and immersed himself in the field. He’d done the research, and knew what the problems were, but wanted to actually get his hands dirty and do it. Ifte worked as Project Manager with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Thailand, and managed disaster risk reduction programs in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh. At the same time, he was also a trainer in regional and national training courses and developed training curricula too.
Ifte also worked as a Shelter Specialist with the United Nations Development Programme in Bangladesh, building over 16,000 houses in a post-flood reconstruction program. Working alongside women who were involved in a cash-for-work program, Ifte praises the program for its ‘participatory action’. Teams would go into villages and share their technical professional knowledge, and in turn, would be informed by the local’s Indigenous knowledge.
“That’s my basic approach in life,” Ifte says. “To merge, collaborate and come up with something where one group doesn’t dominate but basically everyone has their own viewpoint and multiple perspectives are merged to come up with something unique.”
A new design parameter: designed with disaster in mind
Disasters dominate the news cycle: from cyclones, to tsunamis to super-storms. But are modern houses built to withstand wrath of disasters? Ifte says that building codes are usually only updated in response to a disaster, not in preparation for one. “For example, after the Ash Wednesday fires (which was one of Australia’s costliest natural disasters) there was no change to building laws, everything went on as usual. However after the ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires in Victoria, the BAL system (Bushfire Attack Level) codes were enforced to protect homes in bushfire-prone zones.”
“Before building, homeowners need to have their area rated for a BAL before building. High levels mean that builders have to incorporate a certain amount of bushfire-resistant elements in the design. It can be costly, say up to $10 000, but what is $10 000 versus rebuilding costs of $500 000? It’s a very small investment in protection.”
Disaster resilience - a focus at the University of Newcastle
His appointment at the University of Newcastle in early 2016 was the next exciting step in Ifte’s career. Working collaboratively with the Disaster and Development Research Group at the University has Ifte looking forward to the next challenge. “It’s a fast-growing field, it’s everywhere,” Ifte explains. “It’s an issue that people will have to deal with and it needs to be dealt with professionally – it can’t just be left up to the government.”
Ifte will spend time at the University dividing his time between teaching courses and researching with partners to develop building solutions to deal with both rapid-onset disasters such as earthquakes and storms or slow-onset such as flood and drought. “Drought is often forgotten,” says Ifte. “But it is very insidious and harmful and can cause massive damage on a global scale.
Some countries go through a cycle of massive flooding, followed by drought.”
If there’s a challenge in architecture and disaster resilience, you can be certain that Ifte’s got it in his sights. The students at the University of Newcastle are lucky to work with such a collaborative and innovative leader in this fast-growing field. We’re facing global challenges that are being addressed right here in Newcastle.
An Immersive approach to disaster resilience
Dr Ifte Ahmed believes that research should not be focussed solely on books at a desk, he takes a truly immersive approach to research in disaster resilience.
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Iftekhar Ahmed is an Associate Professor and previous Program Convenor of the Master of Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development, University of Newcastle, Australia. He teaches policy and social aspects of disaster risk reduction, resilience of the built environment and sustainable development. His research interests include post-disaster housing, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and urbanisation in the Asia-Pacific. He has written several books and many peer- reviewed publications and engages in various research and evaluation projects relating to disaster resilience. He is the lead author of the recent book "Disaster Resilience in South Asia: Tackling the Odds in the Sub-Continental Fringes" (Routledge, UK, 2020).
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Oxford Brookes University - UK
- Bachelor of Architecture (Honours), Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- Master of Science (Architecture Studies), Massachusetts Institute of Technology - USA
Keywords
- Appropriate Construction Technology
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Community Engagement
- Developmental Architecture
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Post-Disaster Reconstruction
- Resilience
- Urban Built Enviroment
- Vernacular Architecture
Languages
- Bengali (Mother)
- English (Fluent)
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
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330106 | Architecture for disaster relief | 40 |
330401 | Community planning | 20 |
330202 | Building construction management and project planning | 40 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
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Associate Professor | University of Newcastle School of Architecture and Built Environment Australia |
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
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1/1/2012 - 31/12/2015 |
Research Fellow Conducting research primarily on post-disaster housing reconstruction. |
RMIT University School of Architecture and Design Australia |
1/1/2009 - 31/12/2009 |
Research Fellow (part-time) Conducting research on post-tsunami resettlement in Sri Lanka and India. |
Monash University Monash Asia Institute Australia |
1/1/2009 - 31/12/2011 |
Research Fellow (part-time in 2009) Conducting research primarily on urban climate change adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region. |
RMIT University Climate Change Adaptation Program |
1/1/2008 - 31/12/2008 |
Coordinator - International Research Partnerships Managing and coordinating research partnerships mainly in Vietnam. |
RMIT University Global Cities Research Institute Australia |
20/10/2007 - 31/12/2009 |
Visiting Academic Research on post-disaster housing reconstruction, and teaching design studios on cyclone shelters and homeless centres. |
University of Melbourne Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning Australia |
Professional appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
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1/1/2006 - 15/6/2007 |
Project Manager Management of disaster risk reduction projects in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Pakistan and Bangladesh; also trainer in regional and national training courses and training curricula development. |
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center Urban Disaster Risk Management Thailand |
1/10/2004 - 31/12/2005 |
Shelter Specialist Post flood reconstruction program of more than 16,000 houses and cash-for-work for women beneficiaries; also design of community centres for Chittagong Hill Tracts indigenous communities. |
United Nations Development Programme Disaster Management and Crisis Prevention Team Bangladesh |
1/6/1989 - 30/6/1991 |
Architect Summers and postgraduate internship. Residential and commercial design projects. |
Gumbinger Associates United States |
1/7/1987 - 30/6/1988 |
Architect Remodelling and renovation of rural farmhouses. |
Peter Bartram Germany |
Teaching appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
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1/1/2016 - 17/6/2016 |
Lecturer Teaching primarily in the Master of Disaster, Design and Development (MODDD) degree and also Landscape Architecture design studio on coastal climate change adaptation. |
RMIT University School of Architecture and Design Australia |
20/10/1992 - 31/12/2004 |
Associate Professor/ Assistant Professor/ Lecturer Taught various courses to undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban & Regional Planning. |
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Department of Architecture Bangladesh |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Book (15 outputs)
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2023 |
Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, MDPI, Basel, 193 (2023)
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2022 | Pal I, Kolathayar S, Islam ST, Mukhopadhyay A, Ahmed I, Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development Volume 2 - Disaster Risk Science and Technology, Springer, 0 (2022) | |||||||
2020 |
Ahmed I, Maund K, Gajendran T, Disaster Resilience in South Asia: Tackling the Odds in the Sub-Continental Fringes, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, 237 (2020) [A1]
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2015 |
Charlesworth E, Ahmed I, Sustainable housing reconstruction: Designing resilient housing after natural disasters (2015) Through 12 case studies from Australia, Bangladesh, Haiti, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the USA, this book focuses on the housing reconstruction process after an earthquake, tsunami, cy... [more] Through 12 case studies from Australia, Bangladesh, Haiti, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the USA, this book focuses on the housing reconstruction process after an earthquake, tsunami, cyclone, flood or fire. Design of post-disaster housing is not simply replacing the destroyed house but, as these case studies highlight, a means to not only build a safer house but also a more resilient community; not to simply return to the same condition as before the disaster, but an opportunity for building back better. The book explores two main themes: Housing reconstruction is most successful when involving the users in the design and construction process. Housing reconstruction is most effective when it is integrated with community infrastructure, services and the means to create real livelihoods. The case studies included in this book highlight work completed by different agencies and built environment professionals in diverse disaster-affected contexts. With a global acceleration of natural disasters, often linked to accelerating climate change, there is a critical demand for robust housing solutions for vulnerable communities. This book provides professionals, policy makers and community stakeholders working in the international development and disaster risk management sectors, with an evidence-based exploration of how to add real value through the design process in housing reconstruction. Herein then, the knowledge we need to build, an approach to improve our processes, a window to understanding the complex domain of post-disaster housing reconstruction.
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Show 12 more books |
Chapter (31 outputs)
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2024 | Along NZB, Ahmed K, 'Co-production of knowledge for flood risk management: Case study of multiple stakeholders in Pekan, Pahang, Malaysis', Handbook of Flood Risk Management and Community Action. An International Perspective, Routledge, Abingdon, UK 9-23 (2024) [B1] | Nova | ||||||
2023 |
Ahmed K, Johnson T, Tang LM, 'COVID-19 management of the University of Newcastle and lasting innovations', Multi-hazard resilience of higher educational institutions in Asia Pacific, Asian Institute of Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, Pathum Thani, Thailand 21-41 (2023) [B1]
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2023 |
Pal I, Kolathayar S, Islam ST, Mukhopadhyay A, Ahmed K, Venkata GS, Bharadwaz SA, 'Disaster Risk Science and Technology: Addressing Cross-Cutting Challenges', Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development Volume 2 - Disaster Risk Science and Technology, Springer Nature, Singapore 1-9 (2023)
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2023 |
Ahmed K, 'Strengthening capacity for disaster resilience of rural women in Fiji', Multi-Hazard Vulnerability and Resilience Building Cross Cutting Issues, Elsevier, Oxford, UK 333-346 (2023) [B1]
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2023 |
Ahmed K, 'Addressing the Impacts of Inland Floods on Informal Housing in Honiara, Solomon Islands', Disaster Resilience and Human Settlements Emerging Perspectives in the Anthropocene, Springer, Singapore 61-81 (2023) [B1]
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2022 |
Asad R, Vaughan J, Ahmed I, von Meding J, 'Photo-Voice as Means to Experience Water Space: Exploring Traditional Water Knowledge in Khulna, Bangladesh', Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation 137-148 (2022) [B1] Traditional water knowledge can be defined as the water-related knowledge of local people, generated from the long-time experience of living with natural systems, and containing c... [more] Traditional water knowledge can be defined as the water-related knowledge of local people, generated from the long-time experience of living with natural systems, and containing community beliefs and values¿evolved and evolving by an adaptive process¿and passed on through generations by social and cultural transmission. This informed understanding can contribute significantly to developing flood resilience in the built environment, yet traditional water knowledge has been addressed by very few research papers. This research identifies water-focused local knowledge in the urban fringe of Khulna city, Bangladesh, using the photo-voice method. Photo-voice is a unique and creative method to explore participant experiences, and in the context of this research, photo-voice was used to explore the relationship that local people have with their water bodies. It is a qualitative, action research approach where photographs were used to identify concerning issues and bring a better understanding for the researcher. Taking two riverbank communities of Khulna city, Bangladesh, this research identifies the relationship between local people with their water systems and generates some new thoughts and ideas for planning and design for future urbanisation in a flood adaptive way. Although the two communities shared some common themes related to potential features and degradation of water quality, these themes differed in the level of concerns over local environmental issues and sentiments with features within their locality. From a methodological perspective, photo-voice played a crucial role in capturing local people¿s perspectives and this research identifies four important features from local experience and knowledge of water which can contribute to managing urban flood water and develop resilience in the local built environment.
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2020 |
Ahmed K, 'An Assessment-based Toolkit for Management of Urban Disasters', An Interdisciplinary Approach for Disaster Resilience and Sustainability, Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore 497-519 (2020) [B1]
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2020 |
Ahmed KI, 'Sustainable Development Through Post-Disaster Reconstruction: A Unique Example in Sri Lanka', External Interventions for Disaster Risk Reduction: Impacts on Local Communities, Springer Nature, Singapore 65-79 (2020) [B1]
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2020 |
Ahmed K, 'An Assessment-based Toolkit for Management of Urban Disasters', An Interdisciplinary Approach for Disaster Resilience and Sustainability, Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore 497-519 (2020) [B1]
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2018 |
Ahmed KI, 'A partnership-based community engagement approach to recovery of flood-affected communities in Bangladesh', Community Engagement in Post-Disaster Recovery, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon 22-36 (2018) [B1]
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2018 | Ireton G, Ahmed KI, 'Rebuilding lessons from bushfire-affected communities in Victoria, Australia', Community Engagement in Post-Disaster Recovery, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon 11-21 (2018) [B1] | Nova | ||||||
2018 |
Marsh G, Ahmed KI, Mulligan M, Donovan J, Barton S, 'Conclusions: Emerging lessons on community engagement in post-disaster recovery', Community Engagement in Post-Disaster Recovery, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon 203-213 (2018) [B1]
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2017 | Ahmed KI, 'Flood Adaptations in the Asian Vernacular', Habitat Vernacular Architecture for a Changing Planet, Thames &Hudson, London 508-513 (2017) [B1] | Nova | ||||||
2017 |
Ahmed KI, 'Resilient Housing Reconstruction in the Developing World', Urban Planning for Disaster Recovery, Butterworth-Heinemann: Elsevier, Kidlington, Oxford 171-188 (2017) [B1]
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Show 28 more chapters |
Journal article (71 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2024 |
Ahmed K, Purnomo AH, 'Ready for the Next Earthquake? Housing Reconstruction in Lombok, Indonesia', Journal of Media and Communication Science, 7 1-6 (2024)
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2024 |
Along NZB, Ahmed I, MacKee J, 'Flood knowledge management by multiple stakeholders: an example from Malaysia', International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 15 141-157 (2024) [C1]
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2023 |
Mortimer A, Ahmed K, Johnson T, Tang L, Alston M, 'The Hunter Valley, Climate Change Floods and SDGs', Encyclopedia, (2023) [C1]
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2023 |
Ahmed I, Ledger K, 'Lessons from the 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires in Australia', International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 96 103947-103947 (2023)
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2023 |
Asad R, Vaughan J, Ahmed I, 'Integrated Traditional Water Knowledge in Urban Design and Planning Practices for Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities', Sustainability, 15 12434-12434 [C1]
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2023 |
Mortimer A, Ahmed I, Johnson T, Tang L, Alston M, 'Localizing Sustainable Development Goal 13 on Climate Action to Build Local Resilience to Floods in the Hunter Valley: A Literature Review', SUSTAINABILITY, 15 (2023) [C1]
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2023 |
Cuenca J, Ahmed I, McCormack L, Rubin M, Palaniappan K, Maggie Tang L, Licumba E, 'The Mental Health of Migrant Workers in the Australian Construction Sector: A Literature Review', Journal of Building Design and Environment, 2 (2023) [C1]
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2022 |
Asad R, Ahmed I, Vaughan J, von Meding J, 'Traditional water knowledge: challenges and opportunities to build resilience to urban floods', International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 13 1-13 (2022) [C1] Purpose: Urban flooding in developing countries of the Global South is growing due to extreme rainfall and sea-level rise induced by climate change, as well as the proliferation o... [more] Purpose: Urban flooding in developing countries of the Global South is growing due to extreme rainfall and sea-level rise induced by climate change, as well as the proliferation of impervious, built-up areas resulting from unplanned urbanisation and development. Continuous loss of traditional knowledge related to local water management practices, and the de-valuing of such knowledge that goes hand-in-hand with globalised aspirations, is inhibiting flood resilience efforts. This paper aims to address the need to include traditional water knowledge (TWK) in urban living and development processes in the Global South. Design/methodology/approach: This paper commences with a review of existing frameworks that focus on natural resource management, critically assessing two existing frameworks of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). The assessment of the existing approaches contributes to this paper¿s development of a novel framework to promote TWK with regard to resilience and risk reduction, specifically for developing flood adaptive strategies, which is the second stage of this paper. Finally, the paper explains how the framework can contribute to the field of urban design and planning using examples from the literature to demonstrate challenges and opportunities related to the adaptation of such a framework. Findings: The framework developed in this paper reveals three proposed vertices of TWK, named as place-based landscape knowledge, water use and management and water values. This framework has the potential to produce context-specific knowledge that can contribute to flood-resilient built-environment through urban design and practices. Research limitations/implications: The framework developed in this paper reveals three proposed vertices of TWK, named place-based landscape knowledge, water use and management and water values. This framework has the potential to produce context-specific knowledge that can contribute to flood-resilient built-environment through urban design and practices. Originality/value: Within the field of TEK research, very few researchers have explored the field of developing flood resilience in an urban context. The proposed TWK framework presented in this paper will help to fill that gap.
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2022 |
Ahmed I, Parrack C, 'Shelter Self-Recovery: The Experience of Vanuatu', Architecture, 2 434-445 [C1]
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2022 |
Far C, Ahmed K, MacKee J, 'Significance of Occupant Behaviour on the Energy Performance Gap in Residential Buildings', Architecture, 2 424-433 (2022) [C1]
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2022 |
Ahmed I, Johnson T, Fuller S, Guinto MB, Sagapolutele F, 'Strengthening Capacity in Disaster Waste Management in Vanuatu', Sustainability, 14 13505-13505 [C1]
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2021 |
Ahmed I, Kabir MH, 'Building codes and regulations for disaster resilience in Bangladesh: the case of Dhaka', International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 12 540-554 (2021) [C1] Purpose: The paper deals with the challenges and opportunities of enabling resilience of the built environment through building regulations and codes in a developing country conte... [more] Purpose: The paper deals with the challenges and opportunities of enabling resilience of the built environment through building regulations and codes in a developing country context. The purpose of this paper is to explore how voluntary compliance can be achieved, drawing from the views of key stakeholders in this field. Design/methodology/approach: Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is a central hub of more than 20 million people. The city is growing rapidly in an unplanned manner to host the increasing population, creating vulnerability to different hazards including earthquakes, fires and building collapses. The Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) and the building and planning regulations of the Capital Development Authority are the key instruments for ensuring safety, but lack of compliance is widespread. The views of relevant stakeholders on issues relating to compliance of safe building codes for ensuring disaster resilience were documented and analysed. Findings: It was found that those involved in construction activities are in most cases not aware of the BNBC; landowners were reluctant to follow regulations and codes to avoid extra cost; and construction workers were not interested in compliance as there were no incentives. While enforced deterrence is required, it has its limitations in a context such as Dhaka. Raising awareness and building capacity at all levels can offer a way forward for voluntary compliance. Incorporation of knowledge on regulations and codes for disaster resilience into university and technical education curricula are likely to allow developing the capacity of built environment professionals and widespread awareness can be raised through training, media and public events. Originality/value: There are many publications on building regulations and codes, but few specifically focussing on disaster resilience. Also, much of the discussion on regulations and codes deals with compliance through enforcement, but hardly any deal with the idea of voluntary compliance. There are also a lot of publications on disasters in the case study city, Dhaka, but comparatively few on building codes and regulations specifically for disaster resilience.
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2021 |
Kabir MH, Ahmed I, Meding JV, Forino G, Ghosh AK, 'Impacts of Prolonged Waterlogging on Educational Continuity at Schools in Peri-Urban Areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh', The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 9 13-23 (2021) [C1]
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2021 |
Capell T, Ahmed I, 'Improving post-disaster housing reconstruction outcomes in the global south: A framework for achieving greater beneficiary satisfaction through effective community consultation', Buildings, 11 (2021) [C1] The purpose of this paper was to examine the community consultation practices carried out by implementing agencies when managing post-disaster housing reconstruction (PDHR) projec... [more] The purpose of this paper was to examine the community consultation practices carried out by implementing agencies when managing post-disaster housing reconstruction (PDHR) projects, identify the obstacles they face, and evaluate the effect these obstacles have on the quality of information obtained in relation to achieving a high level of beneficiary satisfaction. The aim was to develop a framework for community consultation in PDHR, which ensures that the needs of beneficiaries are more accurately reflected in the housing produced. A qualitative research methodology was adopted with data first being obtained through a literature review of relevant publications and implementing agency reports as a means of establishing common themes among community consultation practices and identifying indicators that influence beneficiary satisfaction. This was followed by a case study analysis to further an understanding of how these indicators were affected by the community consultation practices undertaken in a real-world context. The results of the research indicate that community consultation often forms a central role in the planning and delivery of PDHR projects, however, despite the implementing agencies¿ best intentions, there are often obstacles that prevent the process from achieving the desired result. The community consultation framework proposed here has been developed to address the identified obstacles with the aim of ensuring that beneficiary requirements are included in housing design as a means of improving the level of beneficiary satisfaction in the housing provided.
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2020 |
Ahmed I, 'Considerations and principles for conducting a participatory capacity and vulnerability analysis (PCVA) for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation', International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 12 371-386 (2020) [C1] Purpose: While there are many such toolkits on community-based participatory methods, the key considerations and principles of conducting a participatory capacity and vulnerabilit... [more] Purpose: While there are many such toolkits on community-based participatory methods, the key considerations and principles of conducting a participatory capacity and vulnerability analysis (PCVA) are less covered, yet they are central to the effective conduct of a PCVA, the reason why this paper focuses on such issues. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is derived from a toolkit that was produced for Oxfam Australia. Disasters and climate change are major drivers of poverty and significantly affect the communities that development programs of Oxfam Australia aim to assist. Recognising the importance of building its organisational capacity to address these risks, Oxfam Australia initiated and commissioned the production of a PCVA toolkit to support disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation programs; the production of the toolkit was led by the author. The methodology of producing the toolkit consisted of discussions with experts and a review of similar toolkits. Findings: Details of the PCVA process and how to conduct one in a community setting are provided including PCVA concepts, briefing, logistics and management and principles of working with communities. Importantly, the different stages of conducting a PCVA are explained, and some selected tools are presented as illustrative examples. In conclusion, the importance of the PCVA considerations and principles are reaffirmed vis-à-vis the sensitivity and soft skills required in a low-income developing country setting. Originality/value: The participatory development approach, which the toolkit follows, has been widely advocated for the past few decades and most non-governmental organisations involved in community development espouse this approach. Consequently, a wide range of participatory development toolkits have been developed, many of which relate to disasters and climate change. The PCVA toolkit discussed in this paper draws on the repertoire of toolkits already available and used over a long time. Nonetheless, effort was given to assembling a range of tools that were most suitable for the purpose of this particular PCVA toolkit. Instead of focussing on the tools, which are available from the freely downloadable toolkit and available in the public domain, in this paper, the PCVA process and its main principles are explained, and the key considerations to carry out an effective PCVA is discussed. Perhaps even more than the actual tools, these considerations and an understanding of the PCVA principles are significant because they underpin the utilisation of the toolkit.
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2020 |
Ahmed I, McDonnell T, 'Prospects and constraints of post-cyclone housing reconstruction in Vanuatu drawing from the experience of tropical cyclone Harold', Progress in Disaster Science, 8 (2020) [C1] Vanuatu is one of the countries in the world most at risk from natural hazards. This Pacific island country is frequently struck by ferocious tropical cyclones, such as Cyclone Ha... [more] Vanuatu is one of the countries in the world most at risk from natural hazards. This Pacific island country is frequently struck by ferocious tropical cyclones, such as Cyclone Harold in April 2020, causing massive devastation to the housing sector; nearly 21,000 houses were destroyed and damaged by the cyclone. Drawing from the literature and communications with local stakeholders, five main thematic aspects were analysed: nature of the impact of cyclones on housing; key challenges for post-cyclone housing reconstruction in Vanuatu; cyclone-resistant construction approaches; post-Harold housing reconstruction initiatives; and key opportunities. Of particular significance is the dilemma posed by traditional versus ¿modern¿ approaches to design and construction for post-disaster reconstruction. There are many guidelines available for cyclone-resistant housing, but they face barriers to dissemination and application, and whether they are necessarily appropriate in the cultural context of Vanuatu is examined. Vanuatu faces a difficult situation in the aftermath of Cyclone Harold in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it can be expected that the reconstruction will be a protracted process.
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2020 |
Tailhades J, Zhao Y, Ho YTC, Greule A, Ahmed I, Schoppet M, et al., 'A Chemoenzymatic Approach to the Synthesis of Glycopeptide Antibiotic Analogues', ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION, 59 10899-10903 (2020)
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2020 |
Ahmed I, Hasan M, Akter R, Sarkar BK, Rahman M, Sarker MS, Samad MA, 'Behavioral preventive measures and the use of medicines and herbal products among the public in response to Covid-19 in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study', PLOS ONE, 15 (2020)
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2020 |
Ahmed I, Leach DN, Wohlmuth H, De Voss JJ, Blanchfield JT, 'Caco-2 Cell Permeability of Flavonoids and Saponins from Gynostemma pentaphyllum: the Immortal Herb', ACS OMEGA, 5 21561-21569 (2020)
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2019 |
Ahmed I, 'The national plan for disaster management of Bangladesh: Gap between production and promulgation', International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 37 (2019) [C1]
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2019 |
Fernandez G, Ahmed K, ' Build back better approach to disaster recovery: Research trends
since 2006', Progress in Disaster Science, 1 1-4 (2019) [C1]
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2019 |
Ahmed I, Gajendran T, Brewer G, Maund K, von Meding J, Kabir H, et al., 'Opportunities and challenges of compliance to safe building codes: Bangladesh and Nepal', APN Science Bulletin, 9 (2019) [C1]
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2019 |
Greule A, Izore T, Iftime D, Tailhades J, Schoppet M, Zhao Y, et al., 'Kistamicin biosynthesis reveals the biosynthetic requirements for production of highly crosslinked glycopeptide antibiotics', NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 10 (2019)
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2019 |
Ahmed I, 'Craftsman, informal heritage management and social capital in conserving chini-tikri work of Kosaituli mosque, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh', JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, 9 334-351 (2019)
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2018 |
Ahmed I, Gajendran T, Brewer G, Maund K, Von Meding J, Mackee J, 'Compliance to building codes for disaster resilience: Bangladesh and Nepal', Procedia Engineering, 212 986-993 (2018) [C1] This paper reports on a project that explores the opportunities and challenges for compliance with safe building codes for disaster resilience, focusing on two countries-Banglades... [more] This paper reports on a project that explores the opportunities and challenges for compliance with safe building codes for disaster resilience, focusing on two countries-Bangladesh and Nepal. Recent disasters in both countries highlight a significant problem of non-compliance with building codes. However, these disasters have brought institutional and community awareness of the importance of safe building codes, presenting a germane opportunity to explore the issues associated with compliance. Building codes do exist in the two countries, but due to socio-economic, political and cultural conditions compliance is generally lacking or limited, particularly in the large informal building sector. There is thus a need for understanding how these codes might be more widely adopted to enable disaster resilience. Collaboration between partner universities in these countries with experience in this field address: sharing the understanding that evidence-based knowledge is a critical component in the commitment to local action; improving institutional and community awareness of the importance of compliance with/barriers to enforcement of codes; fostering communities of collaborative practice; and developing local and international dissemination networks. A log-frame approach indicates the rationale, assumptions and expected outcomes of the project. The project is at a preliminary stage and this paper discusses the framework associated with the exploration of barriers and enablers to building codes compliance.
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2017 | Ahmed KI, Johnson G, 'A Diagnosis of Urban Poor Housing in Vietnam', Open House International, 42 97-105 (2017) [C1] | Nova | |||||||||
2016 |
Ahmed KI, 'Housing and Resilience: Case Studies from the Cook Islands', International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 7 489-500 (2016) [C1]
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2015 |
Ahmed I, Charlesworth ER, 'An evaluation framework for assessing resilience of post-disaster housing', International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 6 300-312 (2015) [C1] Purpose ¿ The purpose of this paper is to discuss the utility of a tool for assessing resilience of housing. After disasters, maximum resources are often allocated for housing rec... [more] Purpose ¿ The purpose of this paper is to discuss the utility of a tool for assessing resilience of housing. After disasters, maximum resources are often allocated for housing reconstruction, and most initiatives on disaster resilient housing have arisen after disasters. With widespread claims by agencies of having ¿built back better¿, it is important to establish an evaluation framework that allows understanding to what extent resilience has been successfully achieved in such housing projects. This paper discusses such a tool developed by the authors. Design/methodology/approach ¿ In a study commissioned by the Australian Shelter Reference Group, the authors have developed an evaluation tool for assessing resilience in housing and tested it in several housing reconstruction projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Various evaluation frameworks were reviewed to develop the tool. An approach derived from the log frame was adapted in alignment with other key approaches. The tool is practical and targeted for agency staff involved in housing projects, evaluators of housing reconstruction projects and communities to assess their housing in terms of resilience. It comprises three main stages of an assessment process with guided activities at each stage. Findings ¿ The tool was tested in the Cook Islands and Sri Lanka, and the key findings of the test assessments are presented to demonstrate the prospects of the tool. While the case study projects all indicated achievement of a level of resilience, problems were evident in terms of designs issues and external factors. Originality/value ¿ Such a tool has the potential to be used more widely through advocacy to prioritise resilience in post-disaster housing reconstruction.
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2014 |
Ahmed I, 'Factors in building resilience in urban slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh', 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUILDING RESILIENCE, INCORPORATING THE 3RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE ANDROID DISASTER RESILIENCE NETWORK, 18 745-753 (2014)
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2014 |
Ahmed I, Charlesworth E, 'Post-disaster housing reconstruction to enable resilient communities', Open House International, 39 2-6 (2014)
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2014 |
Ireton G, Ahmed I, Charlesworth E, 'Reflections on residential rebuilding after the Victorian black saturday bushfires', Open House International, 39 70-76 (2014) [C1] After the catastrophic 2009 bushfires in the state of Victoria, Australia, the State Government provided information and advice, short-term and temporary accommodation as well as ... [more] After the catastrophic 2009 bushfires in the state of Victoria, Australia, the State Government provided information and advice, short-term and temporary accommodation as well as financial assistance to bushfire-affected communities. A tension developed between quickly rebuilding housing and re-establishing known social and economic networks versus a slower and more deliberative process that focuses on long-term community outcomes. Whilst there was a widespread assumption that quick rebuilding would be beneficial, resulting in immediate pressure to do so, it became evident that many people were not prepared to, or even did not want to rebuild. Thus it became important to provide time and support for people to consider their options away from the immediate pressures to rebuild that are often inherent in post-disaster recovery processes. This became known as "holding the space" and included the introduction of interim supports such as building temporary villages and other supports which enable people to achieve appropriate interim accommodation without having to rebuild immediately. However, even two years after the bushfires a significant proportion of people remained undecided whether they wanted to rebuild or not. The post-bushfire experience pointed to a number of lessons including the importance of appropriate timing of post-disaster activities, careful targeting of financial assistance, need for developing better and lower cost interim housing options and pre-impact planning. Given the complex nature of rebuilding following a disaster, design professionals should focus not just on the final house, but also look at housing options that blur the distinction between temporary and permanent. Their designs should be quick to build, offer a good quality of life, be affordable for most and be flexible in design for future use.
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2014 |
O'Brien D, Ahmed I, 'Global and regional paradigms of reconstruction housing in Banda aceh', Open House International, 39 37-46 (2014) [C1] This paper draws on research conducted after the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, where more than 100,000 houses were built by various agencies followi... [more] This paper draws on research conducted after the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, where more than 100,000 houses were built by various agencies following the massive disaster. The research reveals that the residents in Aceh rarely see their reconstruction houses as 'complete' and modify these houses to suit their personal needs and aspirations. The relationships between the global and regional forces that drive reconstruction agency housing procurement and production are explored, and compared with the outcomes of user-initiated modifications to the houses. From the hundreds of houses reviewed, here four houses are discussed in detail, built by the Asian Development Bank, representing a global paradigm, and Bank Mandiri, representing a regional paradigm. These houses were modified and extended to varying degrees by their residents, exemplifying the ways in which reconstruction agencies, perhaps inadvertently, empowered residents by enabling them to improve their own housing. The outcomes of this transformation process underscore the advantages of a hybrid between global and regional styles, and the desire of the reconstruction housing residents to recapture some of the local housing culture and reflect regional housing characteristics.
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2014 |
Islam H, Jollands M, Setunge S, Ahmed I, Haque N, 'Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost implications of wall assemblages designs', Energy and Buildings, 84 33-45 (2014) [C1] This paper describes the life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis of a typical Australian house designs. It evaluates the effect of selected alternative wall assemblages... [more] This paper describes the life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis of a typical Australian house designs. It evaluates the effect of selected alternative wall assemblages on environmental impacts and life cycle cost over the various life stages of buildings (i.e. construction, operations, maintenance and final disposal). A case study house was used as the base case for all the alternative wall assemblage designs. This paper also reports on alternative wall assemblage designs that were produced with variations in external wall cladding, insulation type and thickness, air gap thickness and position. Each design was varied such that it achieved a chosen star rating. Five exterior wall claddings were selected, typical of the Australian building industry. These claddings were brick, autoclave aerated concrete block, fibro-cement sheet, pine saw logs and weatherboard. The results were analyzed for the whole building on a whole life cycle basis in terms of economic and environmental impact. The implications of life cycle environmental impacts and life cycle costs were evaluated and the optimum assemblage design is reported using optimization algorithm. A set of best solution is found depending on factors: the model assumptions, range of environmental and economic indicators considered, and the chosen quantitative criteria.
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2014 |
Ahmed I, Johnson G, 'Urban safety and poverty in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Understanding the structural and institutional linkages', Australian Planner, 51 272-280 (2014) [C1] Poverty and crime are significant problems in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Many of Dhaka's urban poor are forced to reside in informal settlements, which are typically characterised as... [more] Poverty and crime are significant problems in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Many of Dhaka's urban poor are forced to reside in informal settlements, which are typically characterised as 'breeding grounds of evil'. Getting rid of informal settlements is widely seen as the best way of reducing crime. This paper argues this characterisation is misleading and that the processes that generate and perpetuate crime and safety issues in Dhaka are largely external to informal settlements. Drawing on interviews with residents of informal settlements as well as key stakeholders in government and non-government services, this paper suggests that crime and insecurity are perpetuated through a top-down process driven by the powerful through a chain of networks and institutional linkages that capitalise on the extreme vulnerability of the urban poor who live in informal settlements. The findings indicate that until attention is focused on the structural and institutional factors that support these networks, the opportunity for broader, sustainable social change in Dhaka is limited. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.
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2014 |
McEvoy D, Ahmed I, Trundle A, Sang LT, Diem NN, Suu LTT, et al., 'In support of urban adaptation: a participatory assessment process for secondary cities in Vietnam and Bangladesh', Climate and Development, 6 205-215 (2014) [C1] Vietnam and Bangladesh are countries already impacted by weather-related extreme events. Scientific modelling projections indicate that climate change, and changes to climate vari... [more] Vietnam and Bangladesh are countries already impacted by weather-related extreme events. Scientific modelling projections indicate that climate change, and changes to climate variability, will increase risks for both countries in the future. Targeting this challenging contemporary agenda, this paper reflects on the lessons learned from a collaborative research project, funded by the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research, which was carried out jointly in the Vietnamese city of Hu¿ and the Bangladeshi city of Satkhira. The focus on secondary cities was intentional as they face unique challenges - a combination of rapid growth and development, adverse climate-related impacts, and in many cases less institutional adaptive capacity than their primary city counterparts. Whilst numerous assessment tool kits already exist, these have typically been developed for rural or natural resource contexts. Therefore, the objective of this action research activity was to develop a flexible suite of participatory assessment tools and methodologies that were refined specifically for the urban context; as well as being easy to use by local practitioners at the city and neighbourhood scales. This paper summarizes the research and stakeholder engagement activity that was carried out before presenting the main findings from each of the case study cities (detailing both climate-related risks and potential adaptation options). This analysis is further extended to include a reflective critique of the assessment process, a comparative analysis of the activity carried out in the two case studies, and the 'South-South' learning process that occurred between project partners. Key findings are then distilled to put forward recommendations in support of climate change assessment activity in secondary cities across the Asia-Pacific region. © 2014 © 2014 Taylor & Francis.
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2014 |
Ahmed I, McEvoy D, 'Post-tsunami resettlement in Sri Lanka and India: Site planning, infrastructure and services', International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 5 53-65 (2014) [C1] Purpose: After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, major resettlement programmes were implemented in the affected countries including Sri Lanka and India. New settlements were built fr... [more] Purpose: After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, major resettlement programmes were implemented in the affected countries including Sri Lanka and India. New settlements were built from scratch on vacant land, which consisted of building new houses and provision of infrastructure and services. Some of these programmes in Sri Lanka and India were reviewed in an Australian Research Council (ARC) funded research and this paper presents and analyses some of the findings of the research. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: The research is based on interviews of residents and representatives of agencies involved in planning and implementing the resettlement programmes, and on-site observations. The investigation examined critical aspects of settlement development including site planning, transport, drainage, water supply, sanitation, waste management and security. Findings: Very little site planning guidelines were available specifically for resettlement programmes; in both the case study countries, general planning guidelines were applied. Provision and management of infrastructure and services presents great challenges in developing countries as high capital investment and good technical skills for design, implementation and maintenance are required. Some of the resettlement schemes had the advantage of being centrally located and hence had access to schools, health centres and other facilities. However, others were in isolated locations and beneficiaries faced problems in accessing basic facilities. Drainage was a problem - most schemes did not have any surface drainage plan; low areas had not been elevated, slopes not levelled, and land not compacted before construction. Electricity and water supply had been provided in all the programmes, but conditions and quality varied. In many of the schemes, sanitation presented a problem. However, in Chennai, the sewage system worked well and this was one achievement all interview respondents praised. Solid waste management and security posed additional problems. Originality/value: In the global context of increasing frequency and intensity of disasters due to climate change, adequate planning and implementation of reconstruction and resettlement programmes has become more important than ever. In this regard, the lessons gained in this paper should be of value and can provide guidance to post-disaster resettlement programmes in developing countries. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
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2014 |
Usamah M, Handmer J, Mitchell D, Ahmed I, 'Can the vulnerable be resilient? Co-existence of vulnerability and disaster resilience: Informal settlements in the Philippines', International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 10 178-189 (2014) [C1] This paper explores the relationship between vulnerability and resilience in the context of informal settlements, using a case study of two barangays in a rural province in the Ph... [more] This paper explores the relationship between vulnerability and resilience in the context of informal settlements, using a case study of two barangays in a rural province in the Philippines. Central to the discussion in this paper is whether and how vulnerability and resilience can exist simultaneously. The authors first identify community vulnerability, which is explored through geographical, economic, and physical vulnerability. Another element involves land-related vulnerability characterised by unsustainable land use, poor urban planning, non-existence of building codes and weak land administration. Approximately sixty per cent of all properties in the case study areas are held in informal land tenures. Many of these informal settlers have established houses on land with a high hazard risk - for example, adjacent to rivers, on disused railway reserves and along road corridors. The result is they face the threat of eviction, and may have difficulty returning to their land after disasters.Qualitative analysis of households in the case study areas revealed that the strength of social relationships helps to reduce the vulnerability of the communities. A paradoxical relationship between vulnerability and resilience is evident. Strong community perceptions of their level of resilience to the impacts of disasters are supported by the social domains of the community. They have inbuilt resilience resulting from the perception of disasters as part of life, strong social bonds and government awareness of the validity of the informal settlements.
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2013 |
Cairns G, Ahmed I, Mullett J, Wright G, 'Scenario method and stakeholder engagement: Critical reflections on a climate change scenarios case study', Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 80 1-10 (2013) [C1] Scenario method is presented in the literature as a means for engaging heterogeneous stakeholder groups to explore climate change futures and to inform policy and planning for ada... [more] Scenario method is presented in the literature as a means for engaging heterogeneous stakeholder groups to explore climate change futures and to inform policy and planning for adaptation responses. We discuss a case study project investigating possible interactions between climate change impacts and a proposed major port expansion in Australia. The study engaged participants from the private sector, government and environmental groups, with input from college students from the local area. Semi-structured interviews and a scenario workshop were employed, creating individual space for expression of ideas, then a collaborative space for sharing these, exploring differences of perception and meaning, and developing a set of possible and plausible scenarios. Whilst the workshop resulted in consensus on key issues and proposed actions, intended to inform policy formation and planning, there was an unforeseen lack of short term follow up and of the groups working more closely together. We discuss the reasons for this through reflective critical analysis of both our own process and of contingent factors in the wider contextual environment. We conclude that the basic scenario approach is valuable, but does not itself act as a catalyst for effecting change when multiple agencies, interests and agendas and strong contingent factors are present. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.
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2012 |
Ahmed I, 'The courtyard in rural homesteads of Bangladesh', Vernacular Architecture, 43 47-57 (2012) [C1] In rural settlements of the floodplains in Bangladesh, an intrinsic element is the homestead. The homestead layout is defined by the courtyard, formed by the arrangement of dwelli... [more] In rural settlements of the floodplains in Bangladesh, an intrinsic element is the homestead. The homestead layout is defined by the courtyard, formed by the arrangement of dwelling units and ancillary buildings around a rectangular open space. The courtyard has important physical and functional characteristics derived from local climatic requirements and living patterns. However, particularly in this predominantly Muslim society, the cultural norm of maintaining women's privacy is an important factor behind the development of this archetypal space. Nonetheless, other ethnic communities in the floodplains also often have courtyards, suggesting that it is a regional archetype. The archetypal courtyard is now subject to transformation due to social, economic and environmental changes. If this trend continues, it would signal the loss of an important and long-lasting regional expression that has resulted from the blending of culture, climate and nature. © The Vernacular Architecture Group 2012.
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2012 |
McEvoy D, Ahmed I, Mullett J, 'The impact of the 2009 heat wave on Melbourne's critical infrastructure', Local Environment, 17 783-796 (2012) [C1] The impact of the extreme heat wave that affected Melbourne, Australia, in two distinct phases in January and February 2009 was severe, with 374 (heat) and 173 (bushfire) excess d... [more] The impact of the extreme heat wave that affected Melbourne, Australia, in two distinct phases in January and February 2009 was severe, with 374 (heat) and 173 (bushfire) excess deaths. Whilst the human health issues have been covered in detail in policy and academic arenas, much less attention has been paid to the adverse impacts on urban infrastructure. Analysis of this event, underpinned by participatory actor-based research, has shown that the impacts were experienced disproportionately across different infrastructure types. For water, telecommunications and airports, the impacts were relatively minor and the impact on rail transport and roads (and to a lesser extent, seaports) was of moderate significance, whereas research findings indicate that the electricity sector was found to be the most vulnerable. This paper focuses on the sectors that were worst impacted: electricity, rail and road transport. Commentary identifies the direct and indirect impacts of the heat event, including associated cascading effects, as well as considering actual and potential adaptation responses both before and after the event. Concluding, the authors reflect on the implications of the heat wave for urban resilience, emphasising the crucial importance of understanding the urban environment as a complex and interconnected system. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
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2012 |
Mulligan M, Ahmed I, Shaw J, Mercer D, Nadarajah Y, 'Lessons for long-term social recovery following the 2004 tsunami: Community, livelihoods, tourism and housing', Environmental Hazards, 11 38-51 (2012) The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 galvanized world attention like no other natural disaster before. Unprecedented amounts of aid were given and a record number of international aid... [more] The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 galvanized world attention like no other natural disaster before. Unprecedented amounts of aid were given and a record number of international aid agencies were involved in relief and recovery operations. Major reviews of the response to the disaster have suggested that the immediate relief effort was better than expected. However, weaknesses in the longer term recovery work were identified within months of the disaster and yet the same weaknesses were being confirmed four and five years later. Even though many studies have been published on the tsunami disaster there are still many lessons to be learnt, particularly in relation to social recovery as distinct from the restoration of destroyed or damaged infrastructure. This paper presents an overview of the findings of a study that was conducted over a period of four years across five different tsunami-affected local areas of Sri Lanka and southern India. The study focused on lessons to be learnt in relation to rebuilding community, restoring livelihoods, recreating an appropriate tourism industry and providing relevant housing and planned settlements for disaster survivors. The paper argues that 'build back better' is possible, but only if 'asset replacement' strategies are replaced by integrated physical and social planning to address local needs in culturally appropriate ways. Much of what the authors advocate may seem to be little more than 'common sense' and many of our findings echo those of many other post-tsunami evaluations. Yet patient and well-integrated approaches to disaster recovery are all too rare in a world that is experiencing so many natural disasters. Because the 2004 tsunami evoked an unprecedented global response it is important to ensure that the lessons of the recovery effort are clearly learnt and this paper aims to convert research findings into a clear strategy for long-term social recovery. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.
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2011 |
Ahmed I, 'An overview of post-disaster permanent housing reconstruction in developing countries', International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 2 148-164 (2011) [C1] Purpose: A set of guidelines widely agreed by the international humanitarian aid community, such as the Sphere Handbook, is currently lacking for permanent housing reconstruction ... [more] Purpose: A set of guidelines widely agreed by the international humanitarian aid community, such as the Sphere Handbook, is currently lacking for permanent housing reconstruction in developing countries. The paper aims to address this gap by reviewing the field and presenting a set of selected examples that offer lessons for informing, developing and promoting wider good practice. Design/methodology/approach: An extensive literature review on post-disaster housing reconstruction in developing countries pointed to the significant impacts of disasters on housing in developing countries and the great challenges involved in the reconstruction process; it also allowed identifying efforts at framing good practice guidelines by humanitarian and other agencies. Findings: The paper finds that, while the review largely indicated the major challenges and shortcomings in the field, it also allowed identifying some examples of good practice and the reasons for their effectiveness. Originality/value: As argued here, there are a number of independent guidelines for post-disaster reconstruction in developing countries, but hardly any which are widely endorsed and can be followed by humanitarian agencies. The paper therefore draws together the key issues and examples of good practice as a basis for informing the development of guidelines. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
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2010 |
Ahmed I, Sager J, Cuong LV, 'Sustainable low-income urban housing in Vietnam: Context and strategies', Open House International, 35 56-65 (2010) This paper presents concepts important for understanding the potential of sustainable low-income housing in Vietnam, with a focus on key environmental, socio-economic, and cultura... [more] This paper presents concepts important for understanding the potential of sustainable low-income housing in Vietnam, with a focus on key environmental, socio-economic, and cultural dimensions that bear on its housing sector. It examines challenges for sustainable urban development in Hanoi and HCMC, Vietnam's two main cities. Recognising the current challenges in balancing affordability and sustainability, the study explores Vietnam's lack of adequate and affordable housing and the problem of its urban slums. Synergistic strategies suitable for the Vietnamese context are then suggested for sustainable low-income housing in these two cities.
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1998 |
Ahmed I, 'Crisis of natural building materials and institutionalised self-help housing: the case of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh', Habitat International, 22 355-374 (1998) Traditional rural housing is largely based on the use of locally available natural resources as prime building materials, usually in a process of self-help building undertaken by ... [more] Traditional rural housing is largely based on the use of locally available natural resources as prime building materials, usually in a process of self-help building undertaken by the community. Such housing is well adopted to a natural environment with widely available resources, and supports people's direct involvement in the construction of their dwellings. However, the advent of a cash economy and current scarcity of natural resources has greatly affected the self-help building process. In rural Bangladesh, affluent households are shifting to manufactured materials and skilled builders, and the quality of housing of low-income households is declining. For the latter, self-help is the only option, and recognition of this fact and of the increasing decline in the quality of their housing has prompted institutional intervention. This paper discusses the Grameen Bank's rural housing programme in Bangladesh which provides loans for manufactured building components for low-income rural households to build houses on a self-help basis. A review of this programme indicates some of its strengths and shortcomings in the context of scarcity of natural building materials and widespread poverty.
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Show 68 more journal articles |
Review (2 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
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2010 | Ahmed KI, Fien J, 'Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (2010) | ||
1997 | Ahmed KI, 'Bangladesh; Bengalee; Namoshudra; Kitchen (1997) |
Conference (29 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2021 |
Groce A, Ahmed I, Feist J, Grieco G, Gesi J, Meidani M, Chen Q, 'Evaluating and Improving Static Analysis Tools Via Differential Mutation Analysis', 2021 IEEE 21ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOFTWARE QUALITY, RELIABILITY AND SECURITY (QRS 2021), PEOPLES R CHINA, Hainan (2021)
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2019 |
Giggins H, Ahmed K, Gajendran T, 'Building capacity and developing community women leadership for disaster resilience in Fiji', Lisbon (2019) [E1]
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2018 |
Ahmed K, Adetunji OS, MacKee J, 'Changing Place Identity and its Influence on Social Connection of Cultural Built Heritage', Dialogues in Cultural Heritage Conference, Matera, Italy (2018)
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2017 |
Karunaratne TLW, Ahmed KI, Jayawickrama TS, Maund K, Sandanayake YG, Gajendran T, 'An Investigation into Disaster Management Practices in Relation to Recent Disaster Events in Sri Lanka', Proceedings of the 10thInternational Conference of Faculty of Architecture Research Unit (FARU), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, (Vol. 02), Wadduwa, Sri Lanka (2017) [E1]
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2016 |
Ahmed I, 'Building Resilience of Urban Slums in Dhaka, Bangladesh', Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences (2016) [E1]
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2016 | Ahmed KI, 'Safety and Security in Slum Upgrading Initiatives: The Case of LPUPAP, Bangladesh', Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Building Resilience, Auckland, NZ (2016) [E1] | Nova | ||||||
2016 | Ahmed KI, 'Developing Disaster Resilient Rural Housing in Coastal Bangladesh', Sustainable Futures Conference on Architecture and Construction in the Global South, Nairobi, Kenya (2016) [E1] | Nova | ||||||
Show 26 more conferences |
Other (7 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
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2023 | Ahmed K, Pal I, Chonlasin V, 'Complexities of Post-Disaster Recovery: An Example from Thailand', Asian Currents: Asian Currents (2023) | ||
2023 | Ahmed K, 'What Australia learned from recent devastating floods and how New Zealand can apply those lessons now', The Conversation: The Conversation (2023) | ||
2022 | Ledger K, Ahmed K, 'Case Study 36: 'Black Summer' Bushfires, Australia', Scoping Study On Compound, Cascading And Systemic Risks In The Asia Pacific. Geneva: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2022) | ||
Show 4 more others |
Report (38 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2022 |
Ahmed I, Johnson T, Tang LM, McKee J, Alston M, Ryan R, Ledger K, 'Improving Local Resilience to Floods in the Hunter Region to Address Sustainable Development Goal 13', The University of Newcastle, 54 (2022)
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2018 |
Maund KA, Ahmed K, Gajendran T, Jayawickrama T, Karunaratne T, Sandanayake Y, 'Understanding the review of disaster management policies following recent flooding and landslide disaster events in Sri Lanka', University of Newcastle, 74 (2018)
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2018 |
Ahmed K, Gajendran T, Brewer G, Maund K, Von Meding J, Kabir H, et al., 'Understanding the Opportunities and Challenges of Compliance to Safe Building Codes for Disaster Resilience in South Asia: Grey Building Handbook', Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, 29 (2018) [N1]
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Show 35 more reports |
Thesis / Dissertation (3 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
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1999 | Ahmed KI, A micro-level view of low-income rural housing in Bangladesh, Oxford Brooke University (1999) | ||
1991 | Ahmed KI, Up to the waist in mud: the assessment and application of earth-derivative architecture in rural Bangladesh, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1991) | ||
1986 | Ahmed KI, Institutional and educational complex, Patuakhali, Bangladesh, Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur (1986) |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 13 |
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Total funding | $492,121 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20223 grants / $250,497
Design, Develop, and Deliver a Regional Virtual Vocational Training Program on used oil management, disaster waste management, sustainable financing mechanisms for waste management, and project manage$198,548
Funding body: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Funding body | Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) |
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Project Team | Professor Jennifer Milam, Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed, Doctor Thomas Cooper-Johnson, Doctor Liyaning Maggie Tang, Doctor Marcus Jefferies, Professor Megh Mallavarapu, Doctor Mezbaul Bahar, Amardeep Wander, Ma Bella Guinto, Laureate Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher, Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed, Professor Megh Mallavarapu, Doctor Liyaning Maggie Tang |
Scheme | Research Grant |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | G2201188 |
Type Of Funding | C3500 – International Not-for profit |
Category | 3500 |
UON | Y |
Drafting of Practitioner's Guideline and Introduction of Systems to enable Pacific Islands to effectively manage Disaster Waste$46,949
Funding body: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Funding body | Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) |
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Project Team | Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed, Doctor Thomas Cooper-Johnson, Mrs Kylie Ledger, Doctor Liyaning Maggie Tang |
Scheme | Request for Tender |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | G2101270 |
Type Of Funding | C3700 – International Govt – Own Purpose |
Category | 3700 |
UON | Y |
Capacity Assessment of Self-Recovery in New Caledonia$5,000
Funding body: Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Funding body | Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia |
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Project Team | Doctor Thomas Cooper-Johnson, Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed, Francois Sail |
Scheme | Australia-France Collaborative Research Program |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | G2101232 |
Type Of Funding | C3200 – Aust Not-for Profit |
Category | 3200 |
UON | Y |
20202 grants / $9,475
Content editing of the English version of the Bangladesh Standing Orders on Disaster.$7,700
Funding body: United Nations Development Programme
Funding body | United Nations Development Programme |
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Project Team | Iftekhar Ahmed, Kamal Hossain, Palash Mondal |
Scheme | National Resilience Programme |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2020 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Non Competitive |
Category | 3IFB |
UON | N |
Assessment of the merits and practicability of raising or retrofitting existing houses to withstand flooding in three focal study areas in greater Honiara$1,775
Funding body: Tonkin & Taylor
Funding body | Tonkin & Taylor |
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Project Team | Iftekhar Ahmed, Bapon Fakhruddin, David Leung |
Scheme | Honiara Flood Risk Management Study |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2020 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Non Competitive |
Category | 3IFB |
UON | N |
20191 grants / $16,293
Strengthening Capacity in Vanuatu for Managing Disaster Wastes through Development of Action Plans and Training of Potential Trainers on Appropriate Responses and Measures$16,293
Funding body: Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)
Funding body | Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) |
---|---|
Project Team | Iftekhar Ahmed, Ma Bella Guinto, Faafetai Sagapolutele |
Scheme | CFLI-2019-CNBRA-VU-002 |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2020 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
Category | 3IFA |
UON | N |
20181 grants / $9,800
Neighbourhood-level urban resilience, Pacific: case study formulation and dissemination$9,800
Funding body: Australian Council for International Development
Funding body | Australian Council for International Development |
---|---|
Project Team | Laura Bruce, Leeanne Marshall, Iftekhar Ahmed, David Sanderson |
Scheme | Cross-Sector Evidence Grant |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | C1700 - Aust Competitive - Other |
Category | 1700 |
UON | N |
20174 grants / $189,056
Critical Factors for Post-Disaster Educational Continuity in Urban Flood Impacts in South and South East Asia$92,463
Funding body: Save the Children Asia Regional Office
Funding body | Save the Children Asia Regional Office |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Jason Von Meding, Doctor Amanda Howard, Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed, Professor Humayun Kabir, Dr Hai Nam, Dr Indrajit Pal |
Scheme | Tender |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2017 |
Funding Finish | 2017 |
GNo | G1700629 |
Type Of Funding | C3500 – International Not-for profit |
Category | 3500 |
UON | Y |
Understanding the opportunities and challenges of compliance to safe building codes for disaster resilience in South Asia - the cases of Bangladesh and Nepal$54,593
Funding body: Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN)
Funding body | Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) |
---|---|
Project Team | Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed, Associate Professor Thayaparan Gajendran, Associate Professor Kim Maund, Associate Professor Graham Brewer, Doctor Jason Von Meding, Mohammed Faruk, Professor Humayun Kabir, Hari Shrestha, Mr Nagendra Sitaula |
Scheme | Collaborative Regional Research Programme |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2017 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | G1601255 |
Type Of Funding | C3400 – International For Profit |
Category | 3400 |
UON | Y |
Disaster Resilience Education Capacity Building in Latin America$30,000
Funding body: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Funding body | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Sittimont Kanjanabootra, Doctor Jason Von Meding, Doctor Helen Giggins, Associate Professor Thayaparan Gajendran, Associate Professor Graham Brewer, Associate Professor Jamie MacKee, Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed, Mr Ali Papzan, Dr Holmes Julian Paez Martinez, Professor Jose Rubens Morato Leite, Dr Jeffery Walters |
Scheme | Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2017 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | G1700656 |
Type Of Funding | C2100 - Aust Commonwealth – Own Purpose |
Category | 2100 |
UON | Y |
Building Capacity for Fijian Disaster Resilience: Developing Women Community Leaders$12,000
Funding body: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Funding body | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
---|---|
Project Team | Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed, Associate Professor Graham Brewer, Doctor Helen Giggins, Associate Professor Thayaparan Gajendran |
Scheme | Australian National Commission for UNESCO Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2017 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | G1601191 |
Type Of Funding | C2100 - Aust Commonwealth – Own Purpose |
Category | 2100 |
UON | Y |
20162 grants / $17,000
Writing/Editing the National Plan for Disaster Management, Bangladesh$12,000
Funding body: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Funding body | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) |
---|---|
Scheme | Research Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2016 |
Funding Finish | 2016 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
Adapting Disaster Resilience Lessons from Education to Practice in Asia$5,000
Funding body: Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UON
Funding body | Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UON |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr Ifte Ahmed |
Scheme | Research Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2016 |
Funding Finish | 2016 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | PhD | Lived Experiences of Protracted Displacement from a Natural Hazard Induced Disaster in Australia | PhD (Sociology & Anthropology), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2022 | PhD | A Comparative Analysis of Law and Institutional Policy on Women’s Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Initiatives within Oceania | PhD (Disaster Management), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
Past Supervision
Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | PhD | The Importance of Occupant Behaviour for Better Pro-environmental Decisions | PhD (Architecture), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2022 | PhD | Traditional Water Knowledge for Building Flood Resilience in Urban Areas: The Case of Khulna, Bangladesh | PhD (Architecture), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2021 | PhD | Social Participation for Climate Change Adaptation of Cultural Built Heritage: A Case Study of Nigeria | PhD (Architecture), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2021 | PhD | Flood Knowledge Management by Multiple Stakeholders | PhD (Architecture), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Research Collaborations
The map is a representation of a researchers co-authorship with collaborators across the globe. The map displays the number of publications against a country, where there is at least one co-author based in that country. Data is sourced from the University of Newcastle research publication management system (NURO) and may not fully represent the authors complete body of work.
Country | Count of Publications | |
---|---|---|
Australia | 56 | |
Bangladesh | 8 | |
United States | 6 | |
United Kingdom | 5 | |
China | 2 | |
More... |
News
News • 30 Sep 2022
Associate Professor Iftekhar Ahmed presents at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), a key partner through the University’s Pacific Node initiative, recently ran a partner event on ‘Disaster Waste Management for a Resilient Pacific’ at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) in Brisbane.
News • 28 Aug 2017
Researchers to explore disaster resilience and safe building codes
A team of UON researchers will look to explore the opportunities and challenges of compliance to safe building codes in assuring resilience in the face of disasters.
News • 19 Dec 2016
New UN partnership for UON
The University of Newcastle (UON) has been welcomed as an institutional partner of UN-Habitat (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements).
Associate Professor Ifte Ahmed
Position
Associate Professor
School of Architecture and Built Environment
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Focus area
Construction Management (Building)
Contact Details
ifte.ahmed@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4921 6011 |
Office
Room | A-G29 |
---|---|
Building | Architecture Building |
Location | Callaghan campus University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |