David Ness

Teaching Strengths

Online Tutoring
Sufficiency in the Built Environment

Prof David Ness

School of Civil Engineering and Construction

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.

Dr David Ness is Adjunct Professor, School of Civil Engineering and Construction, Adelaide University, with a background in architecture, urban and infrastructure planning, and strategic asset management. David is co-founder and President of the Board of World Sufficiency Lab, Paris, and an Executive Member of Australian-French Research & Innovation Association (AFRAN), which sponsored the 1st International Sufficiency Summit (2023), and a Workshop on Sufficiency and Adaptive Reuse (2024). After winning the Arup 2017 Global Research Challenge to adapt the circular economy to the built environment. David currently leads research on dramatically reducing upfront embodied carbon in the built environment - supported by the Green Building Council of Australia.
 
He advises the Sufficiency Action Hub of the Global ABC and introduced the notion of top-down remaining carbon budgets to ensure Zero Carbon For All and climate justice. He pursues ways in which wealthier societies may dramatically ‘shrink’ their absolute resource consumption and GHG emissions, while redistributing resources to enable the disadvantaged to improve services, shelter, and infrastructure. He has advised UN ESCAP and UN Habitat on ‘green growth’ and sustainable, integrated, and inclusive infrastructure, led a training course at the International Urban Training Centre (2011), and evaluated a major UN clean environment program involving 60 cities across the Asia Pacific. In addition, he headed ‘Ecological Development Union International’, a NFP association seeking to integrate environmental improvements with socio-economic development in China and SE Asia, and was employed by the SA Government in various project and management roles.
 
David was lead researcher on the project 'Learning from Regional Climate Analogues' for National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), and has been a Chief Investigator (CI) on ARC research projects. He has authored over 130 publications, including 'The Impact of Overbuilding on People and the Planet' (2021), 'Towards Sufficiency and Solidarity: Implications for Construction and Property' (2022), and 'Technological Efficiency Limitations to Climate Mitigation: Why Sufficiency is Necessary' (2023).
 
Please also refer to ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David_Ness3 and Google Scholar citations http://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=IYX-EHUAAAAJ and hl=en

'Sufficiency: Reducing & Re-balancing Construction Between Global North & South', keynote World Sustainable Built Environment Conference (WSBE 2026), Melbourne, 10-12 June

'Grasping the Upfront Embodied Carbon Opportunity' (supported by Green Building Council of Australia)

'Sufficiency in Built Environment: Adaptation & Reuse of Existing Buildings & Infrastructure while Constraining New Construction, 2025-

'Sufficiency: Cutting Carbon by Building Less', talk to International SASBE Seminar on 'Sufficiency, Circularity & Systems', 25 May, 2022 https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6937063401089040384/ 

'A Cloud Platform for Reuse of Building Components as a Service' (2017- 2020): ARUP Global Research Challenge 2017. https://research.arup.io/story/circular-buildings

'Transforming Rural Communities in China & Beyond', Aust-China Group Mission, 2012-2014.

Evaluated 'Kitakyushu Initiative for Clean Environment' for UN 2009 

Resource efficiency and productivity, Factor 4 (doubling prosperity, halving resource use), Circular Economy, Resource efficient and sustainable built environment and infrastructure, Sustainable product service systems, Integrated sustainability assessment.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David_Ness3

 

Date Institution name Country Title
1995 - 2002 University of South Australia Australia PhD
1989 - 1989 University of Adelaide Australia Master of Urban and Regional Planning
1969 - 1975 University of Adelaide Australia B Architecture

Year Citation
2025 Ness, D. (2025). Laudato Si': Can it Inspire a Sufficiency Revolution in Architecture. TECHNE - Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment, 29(1), 37-44.
DOI
2024 Ness, D. (2024). Will decarbonising buildings be enough? Constrain and redistribute growth in floor area. Agathon, 15, 84-97.
DOI Scopus11
2024 Ness, D. (2024). How Laudato Si' inspired a global movement for sufficiency. Eureka Street, 34(23).
2023 Ness, D. (2023). Technological efficiency limitations to climate mitigation: why sufficiency is necessary. Buildings and Cities, 4(1), 139-157.
DOI Scopus18 WoS13
2023 Ness, D. (2023). Growth in floor area: the blind spot in cutting carbon. Emerald Open Research, 1(5).
DOI
2022 Huang, B., Xing, K., Ness, D., Liao, L., Huang, K., Xie, P., & Huang, J. (2022). Rethinking carbon-neutral built environment: urban dynamics and scenario analysis. Energy and Buildings, 255(111672), 1-12.
DOI Scopus44 WoS36
2022 Ness, D., & Scalisi, F. (2022). Symbiosis of greenery and built form: a holistic, systems, multi-level approach. Agathon: International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, (11), 26-39.
DOI
2022 Ness, D. (2022). Towards sufficiency and solidarity: COP27 implications for construction and property. Buildings and Cities, 3(1), 912-919.
DOI Scopus18 WoS12
2021 Ness, D. (2021). The shift from new build to regeneration: can the New Bauhaus transform architecture and design to meet global challenges?. Agathon: International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, (9), 22-31.
DOI
2020 Ness, D. A., & Xing, K. (2020). Consumption-based and embodied carbon in the built environment: implications for APEC's low-carbon model town project. Journal of Green Building, 15(3), 67-82.
DOI Scopus15 WoS12
2020 Xing, K., Kim, K. P., & Ness, D. (2020). Cloud‐BIM enabled cyber‐physical data and service platforms for building component reuse. Sustainability, 12(24, article no. 10329), 1-22.
DOI Scopus60 WoS49
2017 Ness, D. A., & Xing, K. (2017). Toward a Resource-Efficient Built Environment: A Literature Review and Conceptual Model. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21(3), 572-592.
DOI Scopus235 WoS163
2016 Yang, L., Xing, K., & Ness, D. (2016). A TRIZ-based multi-route model for product-service system design innovation. Journal of design research, 14(4), 326-367.
DOI Scopus3
2015 Ness, D., Swift, J., Ranasinghe, D. C., Xing, K., & Soebarto, V. (2015). Smart steel: new paradigms for the reuse of steel enabled by digital tracking and modelling. Journal of Cleaner Production, 98, 292-303.
DOI Scopus97 WoS79
2015 Kellett, J., Hamilton, C., Ness, D., & Pullen, S. (2015). Testing the limits of regional climate analogue studies: an Australian example. Land Use Policy, 44, 54-61.
DOI Scopus14 WoS12
2014 Lan, H., Zhu, Y., Ness, D., Xing, K., & Schneider, K. (2014). The role and characteristics of social entrepreneurs in contemporary rural cooperative development in China: case studies of rural social entrepreneurship. Asia Pacific business review, 20(3), 379-400.
DOI Scopus66 WoS48
2013 Xing, K., Ness, D., & Lin, F. R. (2013). A service innovation model for synergistic community transformation: integrated application of systems theory and product-service systems. Journal of cleaner production, 43, 93-102.
DOI Scopus52 WoS48
2008 Ness, D. A. (2008). Sustainable urban infrastructure in China: towards a Factor 10 improvement in resource productivity through integrated infrastructure systems. International journal of sustainable development and world ecology, 15(4), 288-301.
DOI WoS135
2008 Zhao, J., Zhu, Y., Shao, G., & Ness, D. A. (2008). Coping with an urbanising world: interdisciplinary research towards sustainability. International journal of sustainable development and world ecology, 15(4), 284-287.
DOI WoS9
2008 Zhao, J., Zhu, Y. G., Shao, G., & Ness, D. (2008). Coping with an urbanising world: Interdisciplinary research towards sustainability. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 15(4), 284-287.
DOI Scopus11
2008 Ness, D. (2008). Sustainable urban infrastructure in China: Towards a Factor 10 improvement in resource productivity through integrated infrastructure systems. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 15(4), 288-301.
DOI Scopus187

Year Citation
2022 Nikolova, A. S., & Ness, D. (2022). The impossible dream: Can the circular economy alone solve waste management complexities of the Global South?. In H. Lehmann (Ed.), Source details - Title: The impossibilities of the circular economy: separating aspirations from reality (pp. 23-36). US: Routledge.
DOI
2022 Ness, D. (2022). Beyond Circularity: do we need to shrink and share?. In V. Pal (Ed.), Source details - Title: Social and Cultural Aspects of the Circular Economy: Toward Solidarity and Inclusivity (pp. 194-208). UK: Routledge.
DOI
2020 Ness, D., Kim, K., Swift, J., Jenkins, A., Xing, K., & Roach, N. (2020). Cradle to cradle building components via the cloud: a case study. In Source details - Title: Smart and Sustainable Cities and Buildings (pp. 595-606). Switzerland: Springer.
DOI
2020 Ness, D., Kim, K., Swift, J., Jenkins, A., Xing, K., & Roach, N. (2020). Cradle to Cradle Building Components Via the Cloud: A Case Study. In Smart and Sustainable Cities and Buildings (pp. 593-604).
DOI Scopus2
2015 Ness, D. A. (2015). Social responsibility towards more balanced urban-rural development in China. In R. Schmidpeter (Ed.), Source details - Title: Sustainable development and CSR in China : a multi-perspective approach (pp. 43-54). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
DOI Scopus2
2015 Ness, D., & Xing, K. (2015). Hewlett Packard Australia: towards sustainable product service systems. In J. Wang, M. Kosaka, & K. Xing (Eds.), Source details - Title: Manufacturing Servitization in the Asia Pacific (pp. 93-108). Singapore: Springer.
DOI
2015 Xing, K., Ness, D., & Min, G. (2015). Soniclean: product-oriented servitization. In J. Wang, M. Kosaka, & K. Xing (Eds.), Source details - Title: Manufacturing Servitization in the Asia Pacific (pp. 155-173). Singapore: Springer.
DOI
2013 Ness, D., & Vogiatzis, N. (2013). A clean 'energy-plus' rural economy in China. In M. M. Liu, M. Henry, & H. Haifeng (Eds.), Source details - Title: Renewable energy in China : towards a green economy, volume 1 (pp. 190-207). US: Enrich Professional Publishing.
2011 Ness, D. (2011). Ascending Jin Shan Together: Standing Higher, Looking Far, We Can Achieve a Green Economy and More. In M. Liu, D. Ness, & H. Huang (Eds.), The Green Economy and its Implementation in China (1 ed., pp. 359-378). United States: Enrich Professional Publishing.
2011 Ness, D. (2011). Sustainable Product Service Systems: Potential to Deliver Business and Social Benefits with Less Resource Use. In Green Technologies Concepts Methodologies Tools and Applications (Vol. 1-3, pp. 539-554). IGI Global.
DOI Scopus1
2009 Ness, D. (2009). Sustainable product service systems: potential to deliver business and social benefits with less resource use. In H. F. Wang (Ed.), Source details - Title: Web-Based Green Products Life Cycle Management Systems: Reverse Supply Chain Utilization (pp. 232-249). US: Information Science Reference.
DOI Scopus3

Year Citation
2019 Ness, D., Kim, K., Swift, J., Jenkins, A., Xing, K., & Roach, N. (2019). Cradle to cradle building components via the cloud: a case study. In Smart and Sustainable Built Environments: 6th CIB International Conference (pp. 478-487). UK: Emerald Publishing Group.
2019 Ness, D., Xing, K., Kim, K., & Jenkins, A. (2019). An ICT-enabled product service system for reuse of building components. In Ifac papersonline Vol. 52 (pp. 761-766). Netherlands: Elsevier.
DOI Scopus16 WoS11
2017 Swift, J., Ness, D., Kim, K., Gelder, J., Jenkins, A., & Xing, K. (2017). Towards adaptable and reusable building elements: harnessing the versatility of the construction database through RFID and BIM. In UIA 2017 Seoul proceedings (pp. 1-7). Korea: The International Union of Architects.
2016 Xing, K., & Ness, D. (2016). Transition to product-service systems: principles and business model. In Procedia CIRP Vol. 47 (pp. 525-530). Italy: Elsevier.
DOI Scopus22 WoS14
2015 Swift, J., Ness, D., Chileshe, N., Xing, K., & Gelder, J. (2015). Enabling the reuse of building components: a dialogue between the virtual and physical worlds. In Unmaking Waste 2015 Conference Proceedings (pp. 252-260). Australia: University Of South Australia.
2015 Ness, D., & Xing, K. (2015). Resource Efficient Urban Systems. In C. Crocker, & R. Robert (Eds.), Unmaking Waste 2015 Conference Proceedings (pp. 400-522). Australia: University Of South Australia.
2014 Xing, K., & Ness, D. (2014). ICT-based rural service innovation: a case study on rural financial services in Lishui, China. In 11th International Conference on Service Systems and Service Management - ICSSSM (pp. 1-6). US: IEEE.
DOI
2012 Ness, D., Swift, J., Ranasinghe, D., Xing, K., Soebarto, V., & Terziovski, M. (2012). Smart steel: new paradigms for the reuse of steel enabled by digital tracking and modelling. In Proceedings of the 18th Greening of Industry Network Conference, GIN2012 (pp. 1-15). online: GIN2012.
DOI
2011 Kellett, J., Ness, D., Hamilton, C., Pullen, S., & Leditschke, A. (2011). Learning from regional analogues. In Proceedings of the World Planning Schools Congress 2011 (pp. 1-17). Australia: ERSA.
2010 Ness, D. A., & Xing, K. (2010). A theoretical construct of a product-service systems model for low social-economic status communities. In 2010 INFORMS Service Science Conference Taiwan: Conference Proceedings (pp. 26-34). Taipei, Taiwan: National Taiwan University of Science & Technology.
2010 Soebarto, V., & Ness, D. A. (2010). Rethinking the adoption of Green building Rating Systems in Developing Countries. In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Sustainable Environmental Architecture (SENVAR) (pp. 1-13). Indonesia: SENVAR.
2009 Ness, D. A. (2009). Review of conceptual frameworks and available methodologies for the development of eco-efficient and sustainable urban infrastructure. In Expert Group Meeting 'Eco-efficient and Sustainable Infrastructure Urban Infrastructure in Asia and Latin America' (pp. 1-68). Bangkok.
2009 Xing, K., Ness, D. A., Benn, S., & Qian, W. (2009). Guidelines for sustainable product service systems: with particular reference to ICT industries. In C. Soosay, P. O'Neill, & D. Prajogo (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th ANZAM operations, supply chain and services management symposium (pp. 468-478). Adelaide, South Australia: UniSA.
2008 Ness, D. A., Kellett, J., Wilson, L. J., Pullen, S. F., Karuppannan, S., Sivam, A., . . . Davidson, K. (2008). Integrated sustainability assessment of urban development and infrastructure: complementarities and contradictions. In Proceedings of the world sustainable building conference - Connected viable liveable, SB08 (pp. 936-943). Balnarring, Vic: Australian Science Network.
2006 Zuo, J., Ness, D. A., & Zillante, G. (2006). Influence of project culture on performance of construction projects - with particular reference to sustainability. In 2nd CIB International Conference (SASBE2006). China: Shanghai Research Institute of Building Sciences.
2006 Zuo, J., Ness, D. A., & Zillante, G. (2006). The client's role in driving an appropriate project culture leading to innovative performance outcomes. In L. Adams (Ed.), Proceedings of Clients Driving Innovation: Moving Ideas Into Practice (pp. 1-16). Australia: Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation.
2005 Ness, D. A., Clement, S. J., Field, M., Filar, J. A., & Pullen, S. F. (2005). Approaches towards sustainability in the built environment through dematerialization. In World Sustainable Building Conference. Japan: SBO5 Ministry of Lands.

Year Citation
2025 Ness, D., Zhu, Y., & Xing, K. (2025). Community enterprises development with connected infrastructure systems in rural Australia and China dataset.
DOI
  • ARUP Global Research Challenge 2017 Circular Economy, Arup Pty Ltd, 01/09/2017 - 29/02/2020 $75,000
  • Aust-China Science and Research Fund: Group Mission 2010 $80,000
  • Aust-French Association for Research and Innovation: Ist Internal Sufficiency Summit, 04/05/2023 $4000
  • Aust-French Association for Research and Innovation: Sufficiency & Adaptive Reuse Workshop 14/05/2025 $2000

Led Course on 'Sustainable, Eco-Efficient & Inclusive Urban Infrastructure', UN International Urban Training Centre, Korea, 2010

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2025 - ongoing Member Executive Committee Aust-French Association for Research & Innovation (AFRAN) Aust-French Association for Research & Innovation (AFRAN) Australia

Date Office Name Institution Country
2026 - ongoing President and Co-Founder World Sufficiency Lab France

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