Centre for Mobility and Spatial Planning (AMRP)

Policy research centre for spatial planning

In cooperation with the University of Leuven an Antwerp, AMRP Ghent Univesity is the main driver for socalled Spatial Living Labs. Within these 'Living Labs ' various researchers work together in testing planning concepts and options in two research areas:

  • The strip of the N16 highway, which extends over the territory of Sint Niklaas , Temse , Bornem , Puurs , Willebroek and Boom . During the ' Living Labs ' we want to test in this area spatial strategies for optimizing the polycentric functio; for increasing the resilience with respect to demographic changes; and the improvement of the spatial efficiency.
  • The Aalst Belle-river Basin, that extends over the territory of Aalst , Erembodegem , Dender , Liedekerke , and Teralfene. During the ' Living Labs ' we want to test in this area spatial strategies for increasing resilience to climate change; bio-productive space ; and the improvement of the spatial efficiency.

Within these 'Living Labs ' explicitly regional stakeholders and shareholders will be involved in the iterative process of developing, testing and improving innovative spatial planning strategies. Essential building blocks are; mapping of values, interests, spatial practices and sensibilities on the one hand and communication, knowledge and experience exchange on the other hand.

  • By order of: ministry of the Flemish government, department of planning, housing policy and heritage.
  • Researchprogram: policy research centres
  • Period: 2012-2015
  • AMRP is coordinator in the policy research centre AMRP is responsible for part 4 (infrastructure) of workpackage 1 (polycentrism), part 1 (resilience and climate) of workpackage 2 (resilience) and part 2 (evaluation of the spatial governance) of workpackage 4 (monitoring and evaluation).
  • AMRP is also responsible for the coordination of:
    • WP1: polycentrism, part 4, infrastructure. The objective is study if existing traffic networks are still geared to present en future moving behavior and traffic patterns. We compare the real and the evolving moving behavior in respect to existing and future connections.
    • WP2: resilience, part 1, resilience and climate change. Here we study possible strategies for flooding. Due to the impact of climate change it is not possible to protect every area against flooding in the conventional way. Here we focus on additional measures in flanking socio-cultural, financial, economic and transition domains in order to contribute to a more resilient spatio-community development.
    • WP4: monitoring an evaluation, part 2, evaluation of the spatial government. Here we study dynamic (co-)evaluation strategies to be used in the more dynamic, a-linear and volatile conditions of present day planning. Here we focus on several cases with respect to the spatial structure, planning instruments and governance, actor-networking with the other research topics of the policy research center.

AMRP assistants: Prof.dr.ir. Luuk Boelens, Prof.dr. (em.) Georges Allaert, Dr. ir.-arch. Kobe Boussauw, Dr. ir.-arch. Ann Pisman, Prof. ir. Dirk Lauwers, Ir.-arch. Barbara Tempels, Els Terryn, Ir. Dominique Gillis

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