Data Science students help shape Auckland City’s future

Jonathan Abiad and Fan Xiao were invited to the official sod-turning ceremony for the Symphony Centre – a 21-storey mixed-use development above the City Rail Link (CRL)’s Te Waihorotiu station – which when completed could become one of Auckland’s landmarks. The ceremony also had the Prime Minister and other senior government officials in attendance. 

Jonathan and Fan were invited to the ceremony in recognition of their research contribution to the Symphony Centre project. As a part of their programme, they worked with RCP, the Development Managers of the project, to quantify the economic and social impact of the Symphony Centre using data science methods. The insights they provided could inform similar development across New Zealand.

“The students’ work helped reframe Midtown’s story from ‘construction fatigue’ to post‑City Rail Link uplift; linking improved access and amenity to plausible gains in footfall, dwell‑time, and cultural participation,” said Jack Bourke, Head of Strategic Engagement at RCP. 

Jonathan’s research was focused on understanding the relationship between spatial features and pedestrian activity, using spatial analysis techniques and tools such as OpenStreetMap and ArcGIS Pro. Understanding this is crucial for shaping urban design, since improved connectivity and amenities influence foot traffic and dwell time.

Fan’s project was to evaluate how the transit-oriented development could improve accessibility and activity across three key domains – employment, higher education and urban services. He built a 45-minute public-transport accessibility model and used regression and machine-learning forecasting to quantify how the development increases job reach, improves university commuting efficiency, and supports the recovery of civic service participation such as visits to the library. 

Both Jonathan and Fan found working with the industry to be a unique, hands-on and highly rewarding experience, highlighting the supportive environment the team at RCP created. “Whenever I needed data or background information, the team responded quickly. It felt like being part of the team, not just an external researcher,” said Fan. 

They agreed that being invited to the sod-turning ceremony was an experience they’ll cherish for a very long time, and maybe even a career-defining moment.

“It was eye-opening to see the scale of the project and how much impact our work could have on shaping Auckland City in five years’ time. The experience really solidified the direction I want to take in my career,” said Jonathan. 

“Standing so close to national leaders while they spoke about a project I contributed to was surreal,” said Fan. He also echoed Jonathan’s sentiments about the project having a strong influence on his career ambitions. “The project reinforced my desire to work in fields where data can directly support decision-making and improve people’s lives, like public infrastructure and city planning. Overall, it has made me more prepared, motivated and certain about the kind of meaningful work I want to do.”

Collaborations such as this give the students a glimpse of the pace and expectations of real-world projects and equip them with the skills necessary to be industry-ready. The industry also recognises the value in collaborating with universities and students. Jack sees such partnerships as essential.

“Without them, the gap between theory and delivery widens. Co-designing in a live environment exposes students to real constraints - governance, consenting, commercial realities - while industry benefits from new methods, critical challenge, and rapid prototyping. It’s how you turn ideas into implementable outcomes at pace.”