Personal profile
Biography
I am an Environmental Geographer and Associate Professor in the UWA School of Agriculture and Environment at The University of Western Australia (UWA). My expertise lie in the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing technologies to the study of environmental hazards. Early work focused on the methodological development of risk and vulnerability assessment techniques. Over the past decade, my research interests have expanded to encompass a range of environmental management issues including agriculture and renewable energy production, population health, sustainable livelihoods, urban and regional planning, and the development of spatially enabled eResearch tools.
Roles and responsibilities
Specialisation Coordinator - Sensing and Spatial Data Science, Masters of Environmental Science
Funding overview
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) $1,600,000(AUD); co-investigators Biggs, E., Bruce, E., Boruff, B., Wales, N., Duncan, J., Thu, P.M., Elder, M., Neef, A. Climate-smart landscapes for promoting sustainability of Pacific Island agricultural systems 2017-2021.
- Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) $147,771(AUD); co-investigators Amati, M., Phelan, K., Kaspar, J., Fairman, T., Boruff, B., Saunders, A., and Caccetta, P. Where should all the trees go? Investigating the impact of tree canopy cover on socioeconomic status and wellbeing in LGA’s. 2016-2017.
- Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway) $74,019(AUD); co-investigators Christian, H., Rosenberg, M., Lester, L., Trapp, G., Maitland, C., Thornton, A., Schipperijn, J., Trost, S., and Boruff, B. Effectiveness of Childcare centre programs and environmental upgrades to increase young children's physical activity. 2017-2018.
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) $249,486(AUD); co-investigators Biggs, E., Bruce, E., Boruff, B., and Wales, N. Environmental livelihood security for climate-smart landscapes; a preliminary investigation for informing agricultural policy in the South Pacific. 2016-2017.
- WA Department of Regional Development $168,981(AUD); co-investigators Flatau, P., Boruff, B., Wood, L., and Zaretzky, K. Data analysis and business intelligence. 2016.
- National Environmental Science Program (NESP) $1,776,582(AUD); co-investigators Hobbs, R., Boruff, B., and Heyworth, J. Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub. 2015-2021.
- PACE-Net Plus Seed-funding €9994(Euro); co-investigators Bruce, E., van Ogtrop, F., Biggs, E., Price, H., Wales, N., Weber, E., Neef, A., and Boruff, B. The Role of Geospatial Information for Assessing Environmental Livelihood Security in the South Pacific. 2015-2016.
UWA Research Collaboration Award $16,000(AUD); co-investigators Pauli, N., Boruff, B., Horsley, J., Neef, A., and McNeill., K. Risk, resilience and recovery: A participatory approach to integrating local and scientific knowledge for disaster preparedness of communities in flood-prone catchments in Fiji. 2016.
- Telethon Kids Institute $9998(AUD); co-investigators Christian, H., Wheeler, A., Trapp, G., Callan, A., Boruff, B., Heyworth, J., Larcombe, A., Pereira, G., Zhang, B., Franklin, P., and Eikelboom, R. Exposure to Green Space: Impacts on Youth Health. 2015-2016.
- Asia Pacific Network $130,000(USD): co-investigators Neef, A., Limalevu, L., Weber, E., Touch, S., Sok, V., van Ogtrop, F., Bruce, E., Duce, S., Boruff, B.J., Horsley, J., Pauli, N., Biggs, E.M., Duncan, J.M.A., and McNeill, K. Climate Change Adaptation in Post-Disaster Recovery Processes: Flood-Affected Communities in Cambodia and Fiji. 2015-2017.
- Grains Research and Development Corporation $1,999,604(AUD); co-investigators Crimp, S., Biddulph, B., Leske, B., Flower, K., Jones, H., Chapman, S., Zheng, B., Callow, N., Boruff, B., Kokic, P., Jin, W., Hayman, P., Faulkner, M., Faulkner, D., Rebbeck, M., Nidumolu, U., Gobbett, D., Gallant, J., Barlow, K., O’Leary, G., and McLean, T. Spatial temperature measurement and mapping tools to assist growers, advisors and extension specialists manage frost risk at farm scale. 2016-2019.
- Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway) $359,634(AUD): co-investigators Christian, H., Rosenberg, M., Zubrick, S., Trost, S., Schipperijn, J., Maitland, C., Trapp, G., associate investigators Boruff, B., Powell, J. Supportive childcare environments for physical activity in the early years. 2015-2017.
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre $640,535(AUD): co-investigators Giles-Corti. B., Turrell, G., Bull, F., Boruff, B., Pettit, C., Bauman, A., Redman, S. (systems investigators Collett, J., Hurni, A., Miller, J., Thackway, S.). Reconnecting urban planning with health: The development and validation of national liveability indicators associated with chronic disease risk factors and health outcomes. 2014-2016.
- World Universities Network $25,200(AUD): co-investigators Biggs, E., Boruff, B., Bruce, E. A spatial framework for assessing environmental livelihood security. 2014.
- City of Canning $42,240(AUD): co-investigators Lanfear, D., Bull, F., Hooper, P. and Boruff, B. Preparation of Public Open Space Strategy. 2014.
University of Western Australia $3,000(AUD): co-investigators Boruff, B., Abbott, L., Leopold, M., and - Blache, D. Assessing new innovations in geospatial data capture and access to enhance the use of UWA’s Future Farm in teaching and research. 2014.
- National Health and Medical Research Council, Centre of Research Excellence $2,499,061(AUD): chief investigators Giles-Corti, B., Turrell, G., Bull, F., Whitzman, C., Washington, S., Sugiyama, T., Shiell, A., Veerman., J., Knuiman., M. and Kavanagh, A; associate investigators Barnett, A., Boruff., B., Eagleson, S., Lamb, K., Tonts, M. What cost-effective built environment interventions would create healthy, liveable and equitable communities in Australia? 2013-2017.
- Grains Research and Development Corporation $44,000(AUD); co-investigators Flower, K., Boruff, B., and Nansen, C. Proof of concept – remote sensing of frost-induced stress in wheat paddock. 2013-2014.
- Australian National Data Service $250,000(AUD); co-investigators Bull, F., Boruff, B., Wood, L., and Hooper, P. POSITVE PLACES: spatial analysis of public open space. 2012.
- Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network $299,919(AUD); co-investigators Giles-Corti, B., Boruff, B., Bull, F., Whitzman, C., and Butterworth., I. Development and trial of an automated open source walkability tool. 2012-2013.
- Iraq Partnership Facility AusAID and Coffey International Development Pty Ltd $591,644.90(AUD); chief investigator Boruff, B. GIS and Remote Sensing for Agricultural Applications. 2011.
- Centre for Research into Energy for Sustainable Transport $132,097(AUD); co-investigators Borowitzka, M., Boruff, B.J., Moheimani, N., and Clifton, J. Identification of the optimum sites for industrial-scale microalgae biofuel production in WA using a GIS model. 2011-2012.
- Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway), $323,668(AUD); co-investigators Giles-Corti, B., Saarloos, D., Knuiman, M., Boruff, B.J., Zubrick, S., Wood, L. Long-term follow-up of Liveable Neighbourhoods: research into practice. The built environment & health - associations across the life course. 2010-2012.
- Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway), $750,000(AUD); co-investigators Giles-Corti, B., Knuiman, M., Boruff, B.J., Bull, F., Wood, L., Hickling, S., Christian, H., and Shilton, T. The impact of neighbourhoods and other settings on physical activity and other health outcomes: A longitudinal study. 2010-2014.
- Wheatbelt Regional Development Scheme, $28,466(AUD); co-investigators Clifton, J., Boruff, B., and Tonts M. Site Options for Concentrated Solar Power Generation in the Wheatbelt. 2008.
- University of Western Australia Research Grants Scheme, $13,000(AUD); chief investigator Boruff, B. Temporal economic implications of environmental hazards in Western Australia communities: examining socio-economic indicators for recovery modeling. 2007.
- Australian Department of Environment and Water Resources, $41,500(AUD); co-investigators Tonts, M., Clifton, J., and Boruff B. An analysis of the marine industries of the North West marine region. 2007.
- Australian Department of Environment and Water Resources, $28,992(AUD); co-investigators Tonts, M. Clifton, J., Boruff, B., and Elrick, C. A Socio-economic Overview in the North-west Marine Region. 2007.
- University of South Carolina Coastal Resiliency Information Systems Initiative for the
Southeast, $25,000(USD); co-investigators Cutter, S.L., Mitchell, J.T., and Boruff, B.J. Predicted vs. observed social vulnerability of coastal residents: hurricane Katrina impacts in Mississippi and Alabama. 2005.
- National Geographic Society. $26,493(USD); co-investigators Boruff, B.J., and Cutter, S.L. Measuring the social and biophysical vulnerability of small island nations. 2003-2004.
Previous positions
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, Pacific Disaster Center, 2006-2007.
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of South Carolina, 2005.
Teaching overview
ENVT4411 Geographic Information System Applications
ENVT5504 GIS for the Built Environment
Research expertise keywords
- Geographic information systems
- Remote sensing
- Environmental geography
- Environmental management
- Natural hazards
- Population health
- Renewable energy
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 14 Life Below Water
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SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Home Yard and Neighbourhood Physical Environment Latent Class Profiles and Preschooler’s Physical Activity Behaviour: Findings from the PLAYCE Study
Christian, H., Adams, E., Trost, S., Schipperijn, J., Murray, K., Boruff, B., Nathan, A., Stratton, G. & Robinson, T., Jan 2026, In: Environment and Behavior. 58, 1, p. 61-89 29 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Automated property parcel classification using very high-resolution land cover imagery and multi-modal deep learning: Effective city-scale monitoring for urban expansion outcome modelling
Chotirosniramit, W., Duncan, J., Hurley, J., Thompson, S., Amati, M., Sun, Q. & Boruff, B., 23 Dec 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Living closer to the beach is associated with better socioemotional development in young boys
George, P., Murray, K., Boruff, B. & Christian, H., Feb 2025, In: Journal of Environmental Psychology. 101, 10 p., 102497.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Profile of the PLAY spaces & environments for children’s physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep (PLAYCE) cohort study, Western Australia
Christian, H., Nathan, A., Trost, S. G., Schipperijn, J., Boruff, B., Adams, E. K., George, P., Moore, H. L. & Henry, A., 14 Apr 2025, In: Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors. 4, 13 p., 7.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
An intercomparison of national and global land use and land cover products for Fiji
Davies, K. P., Duncan, J., Varea, R., Ralulu, D., Nagaunavou, S., Wales, N., Bruce, E. & Boruff, B., Dec 2024, In: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation. 135, 15 p., 104260.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access5 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Datasets
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Climate induced change in spatial distribution of bee forage species in Southwest Western Australia
Patel, V. (Creator), Boruff, B. (Contributor), Biggs, E. (Contributor) & Pauli, N. (Contributor), Mendeley Data, 4 Nov 2022
DOI: 10.17632/9vnztvcrcp.3, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/9vnztvcrcp
Dataset
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Chimpanzees use least-cost routes to out-of-sight goals
Green, S. (Creator), Boruff, B. (Creator), Bonnell, T. (Creator) & Grueter, C. (Creator), Borealis, 2024
DOI: 10.5683/sp3/yofeir, https://borealisdata.ca/citation?persistentId=doi:10.5683/SP3/YOFEIR
Dataset
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Chimpanzees use least-cost routes to out-of-sight goals
Green, S. (Creator), Boruff, B. (Creator), Bonnell, T. (Creator) & Grueter, C. (Creator), DRYAD, 2 Oct 2020
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.wdbrv15m7, http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.wdbrv15m7 and 2 more links, https://zenodo.org/record/4086581, https://zenodo.org/records/4086581 (show fewer)
Dataset
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Land surface temperature and urban heat island estimates for Australian urban centres
Caccetta, P. (Creator), Devereux, D. (Creator), Amati, M. (Creator), Boruff, B. (Creator), Kaspar, J. (Contributor), Phelan, K. (Contributor) & Saunders, A. (Creator), CSIRO Publishing, 16 Oct 2017
DOI: 10.4225/08/59bf0ce837385, https://doi.org/10.4225%2F08%2F59bf0ce837385 and one more link, https://data.csiro.au/collections/#collection/CIcsiro:25232v2 (show fewer)
Dataset
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Supplementary tables for: Association between the home yard on preschoolers’ outdoor play and physical activity
Christian, H. (Creator), Rosenberg, M. (Creator), Trost, S. (Creator), Schipperijn, J. (Creator), Maitland, C. (Creator), Trapp, G. (Creator), Lester, L. (Creator) & Boruff, B. (Creator), The University of Western Australia, 2019
Dataset
File
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A Satellite and Aerial Imagery-informed Deep Learning Approach for Enhancing Dwelling Yield Forecasting
Biermann, S. (Investigator 01), Boruff, B. (Investigator 02), Duncan, J. (Investigator 03) & Saunders, A. (Investigator 04)
21/07/25 → 30/09/26
Project: Research
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Why is (re)development hot?: Measuring cumulative heat in Australian cities
Boruff, B. (Investigator 01), Hurley, J. (Investigator 02), Amati, M. (Investigator 03), Thompson, S. (Investigator 04) & Sun, C. (Investigator 05)
ARC Australian Research Council
14/04/23 → 2/12/26
Project: Research
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Incorporating children’s voices for more equitable & healthy environments
Nathan, A. (Investigator 02), Villanueva, K. (Investigator 03), McLaughlin, T. (Investigator 04), Brinkman, S. (Investigator 05), Boruff, B. (Investigator 06), Schipperijn, J. (Investigator 07) & de Bruyn, J. (Investigator 08)
1/01/24 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Leveraging Earth Observation (EO) Data To Enhance Tree Crop Production And Their Resilience In A Changing Climate In Australia- FruitSense
Boruff, B. (Investigator 01) & Duncan, J. (Investigator 02)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/02/23 → 31/03/25
Project: Research
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Shades of urban greening: Understanding the social, design and environmental impacts of plant foliage colour in hot cities
Pauli, N. (Chief Investigator), Boruff, B. (Investigator), Duncan, J. (Investigator), Grose, M. (Investigator), Gupta, N. (Investigator), Ignatieva, M. (Investigator), Moore, C. (Investigator), Zuniga, A. (Investigator), Boruff, B. (CoPI), Duncan, J. (CoPI), Grose, M. (CoPI), Gupta, N. (CoPI), Ignatieva, M. (CoPI), Moore, C. (CoPI) & Zuniga, A. (CoPI)
The University of Western Australia
1/01/23 → 31/12/23
Project: Research
Courses
Press/Media
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UWA researchers awarded $8 million in Federal funding
Koutsantonis, G., Miller, K., Giudici, M., Lambers, H., Kuzenko, S. M., Saunders, M., Thompson, S., O'Loughlin, C., Martyniuk, M., Finnegan, P., Wittek, A., Bienen, B., Stewart, S., Vrielink, A., Boruff, B., Wallace, V., Nattabi, B., Dorta, R., Buchbinder, E., Chooi, Y.-H., Ranathunge, K., Savage, G. C. & Vokes, R.
29/11/22
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media