We are pleased to announce that LOCUS – Location Sustainability Assessment for Climate-Resilient Development in Cyprus has been selected for funding under the Research in Enterprises programme of the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).
Led by ADP in collaboration with the University of Cyprus and Algolysis Ltd, the 18-month research initiative aims to develop an innovative, evidence-based approach to assessing the sustainability of development locations.
Rethinking Where We Build
While conventional sustainability assessments focus primarily on the environmental performance of individual buildings, LOCUS addresses an equally important question: How sustainable is the location in which we choose to build?
The project will develop a new Location Sustainability Index, integrating geospatial analysis, urban accessibility modelling and climate-responsive research to evaluate key characteristics of development locations, including:
- Walkability and access to everyday amenities.
- Public transport accessibility and car dependency.
- Proximity to green and open spaces.
- Urban connectivity and integration with surrounding neighbourhoods.
- Pedestrian comfort and resilience to extreme summer temperatures.
These indicators will inform the development of a digital assessment tool, enabling architects, developers, planners and other built-environment professionals to evaluate development sites and support more informed, sustainable planning decisions.
Connecting Architectural Practice, Research and Technology
LOCUS brings together ADP’s expertise in architecture, urban planning and development feasibility, the University of Cyprus’s research capabilities in spatial analysis and urban morphology, and Algolysis’s expertise in software development and computational technologies.
The project represents an important step in ADP’s commitment to integrating applied research and technological innovation into architectural practice, translating scientific knowledge into practical tools that can contribute to more sustainable, resilient and liveable urban environments in Cyprus.
The project has been selected under the RESTART 2016–2020 Research in Enterprises programme (ENTERPRISES/0326/0011).