BenchMark UNSW
04–27–24Benchmark NSW is an experimental, temporary outdoor seating initiative designed to understand how women, girls, and gender diverse people use public spaces. Conducted as a collaboration between the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Transport for NSW (TfNSW), the project introduced modular, movable seating with integrated motion-activated LED lighting. The seating was monitored using AI-driven vision recognition software developed by MIT to collect data on how people interact with their urban environment.
This project was funded by Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities Program, a $30 million initiative aimed at enhancing perceptions of safety in public spaces, particularly for women, girls and gender diverse people. Inspired by MIT's original Benchmark initiative in 2017, Benchmark NSW adapted this model to local cultural and environmental contexts, reflecting Sydney’s values and leveraging the latest advancements in AI technology.
The seating units, fabricated from post-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE), were co-designed by women Industrial Design students at UNSW, emphasising social interaction, safety, and sustainability.
- Installed near the UNSW Village Green, the project utilised computer vision sensors to monitor how users interacted with the seating and the surrounding environment. These sensors anonymised data at the source to ensure privacy, allowing for the collection of valuable insights about usage patterns, pedestrian traffic, and social interaction. - FeatureSmart Seating & AI Monitoring Installed modular, movable seating designed by women Industrial Design students at UNSW, ensuring user-driven design considerations.
Embedded with motion-activated LED lighting to enhance safety and night-time visibility.
Utilized AI-powered computer vision sensors to anonymously track usage patterns, analyzing pedestrian behavior, social interaction, and occupancy trends.
Sustainable & Community-Centric Design Fabricated from post-consumer recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for durability and environmental sustainability.
Co-designed with a focus on social interaction, approachability, and flexibility, allowing users to personalize their space for comfort.
Ensured inclusive urban design principles, making public spaces more welcoming and accessible. Data-Driven Insights for Future Urban Planning Anonymized data collection enabled evidence-based policy recommendations for safer, more inclusive public spaces.
Findings are documented in a DIY Benchmark NSW Guidebook, allowing urban planners, community groups, and researchers to replicate the methodology in other cities.
Open-source approach fosters collaborative learning and scalable urban interventions.-
Outdoor seating initiative designed to understand how women, girls, and gender diverse people use public spaces.