Shameen Dharmasena
Email: s.dharmasena@unsw.edu.au
Supervisors: Paul Osmond, Elisa Palazzo
I am a Landscape Architect, University Lecturer and PhD Researcher with academic and professional experience in Sri Lanka, Japan and Australia. I hold a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and a Master of Design from the University of Tsukuba, Japan.
I am currently pursuing a PhD at UNSW, researching the integration of green infrastructure into the urban fabric of historical cities, with a focus on balancing environmental sustainability and heritage conservation in Sri Lanka. My research interests include landscape architecture, green infrastructure, cultural landscapes, urban environmental quality, pedestrian environments, climate-responsive planning and geospatial technologies, including GIS, remote sensing, UAV photogrammetry and 3D modelling. My research has been published and presented in international journals and academic conferences. I have received the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship and Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship during my postgraduate studies in Japan. I am also an Accredited Green Building Consultant of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka.
Prior to commencing my doctoral studies at UNSW, I worked as a university lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, where I contributed to landscape architecture education, research and academic coordination. My long-term goal is to advance interdisciplinary landscape architecture research and education by connecting environmental science, spatial analysis, cultural heritage and community wellbeing.
- Research area
- Research outputs
- Green infrastructure
- Historical Urban Landscapes (HUL)
- Environmental sustainability
- Heritage conservation
International fully refereed Journal Articles
- Dharmasena, S.R., Saubhagya, M.K.S., Nimashi, K.D.S., & Dharmasena, S.W.J.H. (2025). Assessing the Quality of Pedestrian Environment for Differently Abled People within a Public Transport District of a City using the Pedestrian Environment Quality Index (PEQI), The Case of Colombo Pettah, Sri Lanka. International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development. Vol. 13(No.3), 189-207.
- Dharmasena, S., Saubhagya, M. K. S., Nimashi, S., & Dharmasena, J. (2025). Walkability Assessment of Differently-abled People within a Public Transport District: A Case Study of Colombo Pettah, Sri Lanka. Bhumi the Planning Research Journal, 11(2), 14–32.
- Dharmasena, S. R., Nimashi, K. D. S., Saubhagya, M. K. S. (2025). Evaluating the quality of walkability in pedestrian environments in Tsukuba, Japan using the pedestrian environmental quality index (PEQI). FARU Journal,12(1),1-12.
- Dharmasena, S. R., & Suresh, E. T. (2018). A Methodology to Analyse Road Landscape in Accident Black-Spots: The case of Southern Expressway, Sri Lanka. ArchNet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, Volume 12(Issue 2), 347-357.
- Dharmasena, S., & Edirisooriya, S. (2018). Impact of Roadside Landscape to driving behaviour; Lessons from Southern Highway, Sri Lanka. Cities People Places: An International Journal on Urban Environments, Vol. 3(Issue 1), 66-86.
International Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings
- Gamage, T. G. A. S., & Dharmasena, S. R. (2025). Influence of vertical eye illuminance on workers’ visual comfort in green industrial landscape spaces: Case study from the textile factory in Sri Lanka. FARU 2025.
- Keshani, A. G. C., & Dharmasena, S. R. (2025). Influence of paving and building facades on pedestrian walkability in D. S. Senanayake Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka. FARU 2025.
- Priyabhashini, A. K. G. Y., & Dharmasena, S. R. (2025). The influence of outdoor spatial attributes in landscape settings on children’s behavioural wellbeing in Sri Lankan childcare settings. FARU 2025.
- Wijerathne, D. A. M. Y. R., & Dharmasena, S. R. (2025). The contribution of natural environment related activities to reducing stress among visitors: A study related to Diyasaru Wetland Park, Sri Lanka. FARU 2025.
- Dharmasena, S. R., & Yamada, K. (2024). Assessing cultural landscape integrity through traditional village structure in Sri Lanka: The case study of Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka. 14th International Symposium on Architectural Interchanges in Asia (14th ISAIA-2024 Sep.), Kyoto, Japan.
- Dharmasena, S. R., & Yamada, K. (2024). Integrating Drone Photogrammetry and 3D Modelling as a Methodological Approach for Documenting Cultural Landscapes: A Case Study of Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka. 13th International Seminar on Vernacular Settlements – ISVS13 (2024 Nov.), Sri Lanka.
- Dharmasena, S. R., & Nimashi, K.D.S. (2023). Exploring urban walkability: an assessment of sidewalks and pedestrian facilities in public transport districts; in accordance with the Green SL® Rating System for Sustainable Cities the case of Pettah, Sri Lanka. The 14th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment -2023. Kandy, Sri Lanka.
- Dharmasena, S. R. (2018). A Study on Importance of Blue Space in Urban Parks to Human Well-Being, with Reference to Colombo City, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on 'Cities, People & Places' [ICCPP-2018], (pp. 342-357). Colombo.