Completed Work
VEIL and the McCaughey Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing are collaborating on a project to strengthen the awareness and understanding of distributed systems. This work involves research, investigation and communication aimed at:
- Producing a series of briefing papers exploring the environmental, social and economic value of distributed systems
- Increasing broader understanding of the diversity of distributed systems and the contexts in which they emerge
- Informing the policy and design work of VEIL and of the McCaughey Centre
Why this research?
There is a rapidly growing interest in distributed systems as an alternative model for the provision of socially critical resources (energy, water and food). This is occurring in response to a deepening awareness of the vulnerability of existing production and consumption systems to the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity, particularly oil. Simultaneously there is an increasing understanding of how localised and networked systems can act as a catalyst for social innovation and as sources of social connectedness, citizen engagement and community resilience.
Link to the distributed systems research page
The second briefing paper in VEIL's distributed systems series is ready for release - Distributed Water Systems: A networked and localised approach for sustainable water services
This paper draws on case studies and research to describe the emergence of innovative water systems based around a localised and networked approach. It examines:
- The key charactersitics of distributed water systems
- Examples of systems developed for a range of conditions - from an eco-village context to a high-rise appartment block
- The benefits of applying a networked and localised approach to water system design.
The paper argues that many low-cost and low-risk opportunities exist to increase the security and adaptive capacity of our water systems. Part of the challenge in developing resilient and sustainable systems lies in finding ways to better match demand with supply and make use of water resources where they occur. The distributed systems approach does this by taking a context-specific approach to system design; making use of local water supplies and linking systems to each other. This provides flexibility through diversity, sensitivity and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. Adopting a localised and networked approach to water management can widen our concept of what water systems are and what they can be designed to do - reducing stress on existing water infrastructure, supporting community well-being and enabling innovative synergies.
For more information go to VEIL'S publications page. Here you can read the executive summary and download the paper.
From March to May 2008, the VEIL research team were joined by Dorottya Hujber from Budapest, Hungary. Dorottya was visiting VEIL to complete her Masters thesis on "The Barriers and Challenges of 'Grow Your Own' Food Schemes" in Melbourne."
Dorottya was a student at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy of Central European University and was completing her studies at VEIL as part fulfilment of her Master of Science degree through the MESPOM program in Europe.
The abstract of the thesis is:
In the present thesis two urban agricultural practices are analyzed in Melbourne, Australia, namely backyard and community gardening production. The latter is managed by community members usually on fenced public land. In both schemes food production for people’s own consumption takes place, including vegetables, fruits and animals.
 Urban_Food_Growing_in_Melbourne_-_Hujber-2008.pdf | [ ] | 3822 Kb |
In April 2008 VEIL released our first policy challenges report - Sustainable and Secure Food Systems for Victoria: What do we know? What do we need to know?
The report discusses the environmental challenges relating to the food system, examining:
- how the production and consumption of food impacts on the environment;
- the risks and vulnerabilities of the food system to environmental change and social responses (such as policy aiming to reduce environmental impacts); and
- strategies and innovations that are being employed to manage environmental risks and reduce impacts (including low-input production methods, changing distribution systems such as farmers' markets, and consumer food choices).
The report finds that there are significant and urgent challenges to the security and sustainability of the food system. It also identifies many opportunities for technological and social innovation to reduce exposure to environmental risks and resource constraints.
The report can be downloaded from our publications page here.
A presentation summarising the key findings from the report can be downloaded here, or viewed here.
As part of "revealing the present" in urban food systems, Ferne has been conducting research using food mapping as a key tool. As part of this research, Ferne taught an RMIT University elective for Industrial Design and Landscape Architecture students in 2008 called “Meals in Metropolis”. This subject explored a variety of urban agriculture models with regards to sustainability. Much of the coursework involved mapping – mapping the distance food traveled, mapping food growing in neighbourhoods and ultimately, mapping the input and outputs of selected urban agriculture models whilst suggesting ways to incorporate sustainability into current practices. The VEIL Food Map – an online map of food production in Melbourne – was also launched during this course. The outcomes of this work will be reflected in the VEIL map, in an upcoming paper on the food mapping reflections, and in the upcoming "Social innovations in Victorian food systems" Briefing Paper, which will explore the various social grassroots innovations occuring in urban food production, distribution and consumption. Stay tuned to hear more!