Department of Geography and Regional Planning Scope

Department of Geography and Regional Planning

 

Scope

The Department of Geography and Regional Planning, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is involved in Research and Teaching activities that focus on spatial, developmental, environmental, mobility, etc. problems at various spatial scales (urban/periurban, regional, national). Teaching and research work of the members of this Department fall into the following four fields:

  1. Spatial Planning and Regional Development
  2. Urban Planning
  3. Environmental Planning and Impact Assessment
  4. Spatial Analysis and Geographical Information Systems

These are further described in the following:

1. Spatial Planning and Regional Development

The focus of this field is on the study of different region typologies (e.g. coastal, mountainous, insular, peripheral or border and lagging behind regions), which are confronted with a range of spatial and developmental problems. The study of these problems can orient planning endeavours and related spatial, sectoral and/or other interventions, targeting regional development objectives as well as social, economic and territorial cohesion. Towards this end, emphasis is placed on the goals and directions of current policy frameworks – of national, European and global reach – as well as developments in planning approaches, methodologies and related tools. By getting familiar with both the policy frameworks and the planning arsenal, students are able to deal with the current contemporary planning challenges and problems of spatial and developmental nature; and become members of interdisciplinary teams that conduct relevant spatial and developmental plans and programs, applying to broader spatial and developmental entities.

The lectures, incorporated in this field, are:

  • Spatial planning
  • Theory and Methods of Participatory Planning
  • Spatial Planning and Regional Development
  • Evaluation in Spatial Planning
  • Methods and Applications of Spatial Planning
  • Economic Geography

2. Urban Planning

The focus of this field is on the study of the urban context. In this respect, it provides the theoretical and methodological background for coping with problems of the urban environment.

For this purpose, it involves a range of lectures focusing on the study of the urban settlements, such as:

  • Introduction to Urban Planning and Urban Settlements
  • Urban Geography
  • Urban Planning
  • Geography of Transport
  • Methods and Applications of Urban Planning

3. Environmental Planning and Impact Assessment

This field provides the necessary background to assess the impacts of human activities (plans, projects etc.) on the natural and built environment.

It involves a range of lectures supporting students in coping with: the study of physical variables, management of natural resources, impact assessment emerging from the implementation of plans and projects. More specifically it involves lectures on:

  • Physical Geography and Environment
  • Natural Resources Management
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Sustainable Development and Environment
  • Environmental Planning

4. Spatial Analysis and Geographical Information Systems

This specific field reflects the geographical view, adopted in the study of spatial structures at different geographical scales. Its focus is on the analysis and mapping of the quantitative and qualitative attributes of the geographical space; the study of the processes that cause changes in attributes of spatial structures; and the exploration of the spatial interaction, taking place among various spatial entities. Study of the spatial attributes and their change through time by means of specific tools, methods and technologies for analysing and managing spatial data contribute to the identification of spatial and developmental problems, forming thus the ground for dealing with these problems in planning endeavours at various spatial scales.

Courses falling into this specific field are:

  • Geography and Spatial Analysis
  • Geographical Information Systems