Framing Land Use Dynamics

Integrating knowledge on spatial dynamics in socio-economic and environmental systems for spatial planning in western urbanized countries

International Conference 16-18 April 2003
Utrecht University, The Netherlands

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This conference has been held.
Have a look at the photos we took during the conference and the extended abstracts.

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RPB Netherlands Institute for spatial research

Introduction
Pressure on land in western urbanized societies is increasing. Conflicts arise from incompatibility in land use in different socio-economic and environmental systems leading to undesirable social, economic and environmental impacts. Examples of these are the loss of life and property through river flooding following deforestation, the drainage of wetlands and floodplain embankments, conflicts between housing and economic land use, the loss of biodiversity following the fragmentation of ecological habitats by urbanization and transport infrastructure, and deterioration in the quality of life.

Aim and scope
The aim of this conference is to identify (potential) land use changes in western urbanized countries, and the conflicts which may arise from these changes, through considering such questions as:

• How can 'smart' spatial configurations of socio-economic and environmental systems reduce spatial conflicts and enhance sustainable development?
• What improvements are necessary in integrated modeling to analyze, simulate and assess spatial land use dynamics?
• In what way can we improve the application of scientific knowledge on land use dynamics in spatial planning processes?

Central issues of the conference are:

• The integration of knowledge on land use dynamics from different disciplines
• The application of that knowledge to spatial planning in western urbanized countries

Theoretical, methodological and practical viewpoints will be shared from such disciplines as the environmental and social sciences, housing and transport, planning and integrated modeling. Discussions are planned between academics, policy makers and planners to reveal ways of enhancing the integration of scientific knowledge in spatial planning aimed at sustainable development.

Conference themes
The conference will consist of plenary sessions for which keynote speakers are invited and thematic parallel sessions where participants present and discuss papers. The thematic sessions will be clustered around the following themes:

• Integrating socio-economic and environmental knowledge for spatial planning
• Integrated River Basin Management and spatial planning
• Planning spatial configurations of ecological habitats
• Dynamics in urbanization patterns and spatial planning
• Infrastructure, mobility and land use planning

Keynotes (titles of presentations provisional)

• Michael Batty (University College London, United Kingdom):
  New Models of Urban Systems: Dynamics and Representation Using Agent-Based and Cellular Automata Approaches.
• Professor dr. Helen Couclelis (University of California, USA; Professeur Invitee, Universite Pantheon-Sorbonne, Paris)
  Planning Support Systems and Decision-Making within Integrated Models and within Planning Systems.
• Bruce Mitchell (University of Waterloo, Canada):
  Integration of water and ecosystem processes into spatial planning.
• Billy Turner II (Clark University, USA):
  Integrating Socio-Economic and Biophysical Analysis for the Identification of Vulnerability of People and Places.

Scientific Advisory Committee

Prof. dr. Michael Batty	(University College London, United Kingdom)
Prof. dr. Peter Burrough	(Utrecht University, The Netherlands)
Prof. dr. Helen Couclelis	(University of California, USA; Professeur Invitee, Universite Pantheon-Sorbonne, Paris)
Prof. dr. Bruce Mitchell	(University of Waterloo, Canada)
Prof. dr. Mark Rounsevell	(Universiti Catholique Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)
Prof. dr. Frans Dieleman	(Utrecht University, The Netherlands)
Prof. dr. Harry Timmermans	(Eindhoven Technical University, The Netherlands)
Prof. dr. Billy Turner II	(Clark University, USA)
Prof. dr. Pier Vellinga	(Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands)