Housing and urban studies
The CSIR’s research group for housing and urban studies consists of a multidisciplinary team that specialises in the fields of, among others, architecture, urban planning and geographical information science. The group conducts applied research in support of the development of liveable, safe, resource-efficient, socially integrated and economically inclusive cities, towns and neighbourhoods. Areas of expertise include human settlement planning, design and management, housing options, land, urban development and property markets, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), and smart cities within the South African context .
The HaUS team has the knowledge and experience to provide a range of services to both the public and private sectors, including the following:
- Quantitative and qualitative research
- Policy and strategy analysis and development
- Knowledge management and exchange
- Preparation of guidelines, decision-support toolkits, norms and standards
- Spatial and non-spatial data analysis
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Training and capacity building
The work of the group relates generally to the planning, design and management of human settlements, with a particular focus on the built environment.