Spatial planning is a public responsibility with the aim to proactively create the prerequisites for a sustainable spatial development. In this context environmental aspects, as well as economic and social aspects need to be taken into consideration.

Depending on the respective spatial type the dynamics of spatial development continuously lead to new challenges such as adapting social and technical infrastructures in the light of demographic change, the out-migration from peripheral rural areas, the growing of cities and suburbanization, the energy revolution and climate change, managing the settlement of companies, securing affordable housing, but also the protection from natural hazards.

It is in these areas of conflict and in the face of different development perspectives that we conduct basic research for political strategies for action and for creating a consistent legal framework, we develop methods for planning and decision-making and we highlight the consequences of planning interventions or of the lack thereof. It is by means of creating and disseminating our knowledge and expertise that we want to contribute to a sustainable spatial development.

Planning Quality

The issue of planning quality deals with the extent to which planning is able to meet the demands that were put on it.

Spatial Planning and Infrastructure

Spatial planning and infrastructure planning are interrelated. Technical and social infrastructure facilities have a strong influence on the usability of an area and on the provision of adequate conditions of living.

Spatial Planning in Natural Hazard Risk Management

Prevention by means of spatial planning includes on the one hand the definition of acceptable risks and on the other hand avoiding new unacceptable risks by keeping areas at risk free of highly vulnerable land uses or by adapting land use to the risk.

Resilience

Resilience describes the capacity of a system to maintain its basic functions in the face of a crisis or shock.

Participatory Planning

Participatory approaches in spatial planning enable involving different stakeholders in the planning process.

Spatial Planning and Bioeconomy

Bioeconomy is an economic approach that follows the principles of natural cycles of material and of efficiently using renewable resources, in order to become independent from fossil fuels on the levels of energy and material.

Energy-related Spatial Planning

Energy-related spatial planning is a subfield of spatial planning and deals with the spatial dimension of energy consumption and energy supply.

Spatial Planning and Demographic Change

Growing life expectancy and increasingly complex national and international migration lead to population changes concerning number, age, gender and ethnic composition.