Spatial Change and Planning

Landscape picture with fields. Photo: Jørgen Primdahl

This multidisciplinary research group focuses on urban and rural development, and spatial planning for urban areas, landscapes and rural districts.

The group aims to provide an integrated understanding of the urban-rural continuum, comprising cities, peri-urban areas and rural districts. Research conducted in the group builds on and integrates perspectives from a broad range of disciplines spanning the social, human and natural sciences. This includes fields such as design research, geography, planning studies, landscape ecology and landscape science. Human’s use and perception of urban and rural landscapes, understanding of places, and place-making play a prominent role in our research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specific themes

Specific themes in the research comprise urban and rural lifestyles and their implications for planning, development of new planning tools for rural areas, climate adaptation, governance of urban and regional development, development and transformation of urban and rural districts, the multifunctional role of agriculture and rural landscapes, terrestrial habitat monitoring, land use / land cover studies, land use modeling, remote sensing of terrestrial environments. We run projects with partners in Denmark, Europe and beyond including Africa and Asia.

Methods and collaboration

Methods for spatial analysis such as landscape character assessment, mapping of ecosystem services and landscape functions and urban environment and urban life play a significant role in studies of spatial development and human use of the environment. We also deal with management processes such as spatial planning, governance, involvement of citizens, and not least planning innovation. We often work together with other institutions and actors in landscapes and cities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ongoing projects

Furthermore, the group is engaged in projects and research-based advice for public authorities, including the Danish Planning Agency, Danish Nature Agency and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency

PhD projects

  • Data-Driven innovations for Sustainable Food System (Mukti Ram Chapagain)
  • Analyzing interaction among Food, Youth and the City through co-creative processes using smart technology to create a sustainable urban food environment (Subash Rana)
  • Regional planning and climate adaptation – Shifting perspectives and imagining new narratives (Mette Juhl Jessen)
  • E-bike travel patterns, urban structure and urban design (Junyu Hu)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the research group teach at many courses at bachelor and master levels in the Landscape Architecture programme and in the Nature Management programme at the University of Copenhagen. We contribute to a minor extend also in other programmes and organise PhD courses.

  • Plan og Design 2 (BA)
  • Byplan Studio – Strategi og design 1 & 2 (BA)
  • Bysociologi – menneske, sted og by (BA)
  • Håndværk og æstetik i landskabsarkitektur (BA)
  • Naturressourcer; Forvaltning og Økonomi (BA)
  • Natur- og Parkforvaltning (BA)
  • Geographical Information Systems (BA/MA)
  • Planlægning i det åbne land (MA)
  • Rural Landscapes: Methods and approaches in policy-making (MA)
  • Thematic Course (Temakursus) II: Rural Landscape – Management and Planning / Rurale landskaber – Forvaltning og Planlægning (MA)
  • Motivation and pro-environmental behaviour (MA)
  • Landscape and Restoration Ecology (MA)
  • Theories of Urban Design (MA)
  • Urban Forestry Urban Greening (MA)
  • Transformation Studio (MA)
  • Urbanism Studio (MA)
  • Nature Perception – Theories and Methods for Investigation (MA)

 

Group members' scientific publications during the last five years

Search for more publications

 

 

See the research group's Danish site Rumlig forandring og planlægning

Members of the Research Group

Name Title Phone E-mail
Search in Name Search in Title Search in Phone
Anne Tietjen Professor +4535331934 E-mail
Anne Madsbjerg Guest Researcher +4535337886 E-mail
Anne Margrethe Wagner Assistant Professor - Tenure Track +4535331788 E-mail
Bent Egberg Mikkelsen Professor +4535337464 E-mail
Christian Fertner Associate Professor +4535331782 E-mail
Erling Andersen Senior Adviser +4535331813 E-mail
Frida Maj Vinther Nielsen Research Assistant +4535324877 E-mail
Gertrud Jørgensen Professor +4535331828 E-mail
Hanna Allesøe Hansen Enrolled PhD Student +4535322338 E-mail
Hanne Wittorff Tanvig Emerita +4535331710 E-mail
Heidi Svenningsen Kajita Associate Professor +4529878846 E-mail
Henrik Vejre Professor +4535331819 E-mail
Iisa Eikaas PhD Student E-mail
Irene Holm Sørensen PhD Student E-mail
Junyu Hu Enrolled PhD Student E-mail
Jørgen Primdahl Professor +4535331822 E-mail
Kamilla Stener Møller Special Consultant +4535331630 E-mail
Lise Byskov Herslund Associate Professor +4535331926 E-mail
Lone Søderkvist Kristensen Professor +4535331831 E-mail
Lotte Ruegaard Petersen Enrolled PhD Student +4535321382 E-mail
Mette Juhl Jessen PhD Fellow +4535323125 E-mail
Mukti Ram Chapagain PhD Fellow E-mail
Natalie Marie Gulsrud Associate Professor - Promotion Programme +4521865524 E-mail
Patience Mguni Assistant Professor +4535320209 E-mail
Peter Stubkjær Andersen Associate Professor +4535331911 E-mail
Rikke Munck Petersen Associate Professor +4535320416 E-mail
Sandra Gentin Teaching Associate Professor +4535331662 E-mail
Subash Rana PhD Fellow E-mail
Trine Agervig Carstensen Associate Professor +4535331840 E-mail
Xiaohui Zhang Enrolled PhD Student E-mail
Yuying Sun PhD Student E-mail

Leader of the Research Group

Christian FertnerChristian Fertner
Associate professor



E-mail: chfe@ign.ku.dk
Tel.: +45 35331782