Our Team
The Future Environments Lab brings together researchers from architecture, planning, environmental science, engineering, and computing for real-world challenges.
Paul Cureton
Dr Paul Cureton is internationally recognised for his research into serious games, digital twins, and participatory methods for spatial planning. Paul leads the Future Environments Lab and is an Assoc. Prof at Lancaster University.
Elliot Hartley
MD of GD3D specialising in 3D GIS, digital twin and development planning, he is an internationally recognised 3D geodesign and ArcGIS CityEngine expert.
Luigi Mussardo
Game designer and researcher creating interactive simulations that translate complex environmental data into accessible public engagement experiences.
Rob Delaney
Dr Rob Delaney is a researcher specialising in water harvesting, remote sensing, GIS, and sustainable water resource management. His doctoral research at Lancaster University focused on developing innovative geospatial tools and hydrological models.
Runze Xia
PhD researcher specialising in Explainable AI, intelligent agents, and developing trustworthy AI systems to support sustainable planning and future environmental decision-making.
Qianhui Lin
PhD researcher in Computer Science at Lancaster University and a joint student with UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). My research focuses on software architecture practices in environmental model development.
Lisha He
Dr He is a researcher in digital planning and geodesign, researching SDG‐aligned industrial zone transitions. Her work integrates spatial analytics and participatory methods to develop explanatory and predictive models for sustainability and vitality.
Yuxuan Zhao
Researcher in urban regeneration and restorative landscape systems. His work focuses on integrating ecological design, GIS analysis, and healing landscapes to enhance urban resilience, public health, and wellbeing through sustainable plant‐based design and participatory planning.
Jeff Wang
Researcher and engineer developing real-time simulation tools that support collaborative planning and public engagement in future city design.
Nan Sheng
Nan Sheng is a researcher in digital twins and smart service ecosystems, focusing on digital twin interaction, information visualisation, health innovation, wellbeing, and creative design for ageing and older adults.
Coastal Collective
The Coastal Collective is a partner group of researchers and practitioners working together to explore pathways to coastal adaptation where water, land, and the more-than-human communities intersect. The collective was initiated by Serena Pollastri and Suzana Ilic at Lancaster University.
Publications
The Future Environments Lab shares its research through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, advancing knowledge in serious game design, digital twins, and participatory methods for addressing real-world challenges.
Journal Articles
- Cureton, P., Delaney, R., Lin, Q., Xia, R., Earl, J., Ilic, S., (2026) ‘Morecambe Area Gaming Environment (MAGE): An Applied Case Study for Coastal Futures and Adaptations’, The Urban Canvas: Spatial Computing in Planning, Analysing, and Representing the Cityscape, Urban Planning.
- Cureton, P., Coulton, P., He, L., Zhao, Y. (2026) ‘From City-Builder to Geogame: A Process for Participatory Urban Planning’, “Geogames: The Future’s Language of Urban and Regional Planning”, Vol. 11, Article 10560, Urban Planning. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.10560
- Cureton, P. & Coulton, P., 2024, ‘Game Based Worldbuilding: Planning, Models, Simulations and Digital Twins’, Acta Ludologica, vol. 7, no. 1. 10.34135/actaludologica.2024-7-1.18-36
- Cureton, P., 2023. ‘City Information Models (CIMs) as precursors for Urban Digital Twins (UDTs): A case study of Lancaster’, Digital Twins: Design, Computation, and Digital Transformation of the Built Environment, Frontiers in Built Environment. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1048510
Books
- Cureton, P & Hartley, E. 2025. Geodesign, Urban Digital Twins and Futures, Routledge.
- Cureton, P. 2020. Drone Futures: UAS for Landscape & Urban Design. Routledge, London.
- Dunn, N, & Cureton, P. 2020). Future Cities: A Visual Guide. Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
- Cureton, 2016. Strategies for Landscape Representation: Digital and Analogue Techniques, London: Routledge.
Technical Notes
- Cureton, P., Jackman, A., 2026, Royal Town Planning Institute, RTPI – Drones in Planning Practice Notes 1&2. 23rd July, 2026.
Note 1 – https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/planning-and-drones-1/
Note 2 – https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/planning-and-drones-2/ - Dunn, N., Cureton, P., & Pollastri, S. (2014). A visual history of the future. (Foresight: Future of Cities). Foresight Government Office for Science, Department of Business Innovation and Skills, HMSO, Foresight land use futures. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-cities-a-visual-history-of-the-future
Future Environments Lab 