Research topic: Making Urban Transformation happen. Carrier projects as a synergetic approach to developing urban green-blue infrastructure (Prof. M. Michaeli)

Doctoral Candidate in Urban blue-green infrastructure (m/f/x) (Entg.-Gr. TV-L)

18.11.2024, Wissenschaftliches Personal

The Research Training Group “Urban Green Infrastructure - Training Next Generation Professionals for Integrated Urban Planning Research” aims to conduct inter- and transdisciplinary research into innovative approaches for liveable, sustainable and climate change resilient cities through green infrastructure. We are looking for a candidate for a 0.75 or 1.0 position (limited to three years) to be filled as of April 1, 2025 as part of a DFG-funded Research Training Group.

Observations on transformatory urban practise show that changes to urban green infrastructure often linked to other investment and upgrading or maintenance cycles of urban infrastructure systems. While the exploitation of these opportunities is widely used practice, the UGI-dimension is often treated secondary or a collateral perspective.

To assure and speed up efficient UGI-transformation a mutual integration of the various transformation perspectives would be required in plans and processes. However, there is only few knowledge about key to successful strategic integration, strategies for priorization or even mixed investment schemes available. As a first step to develop these integrative approaches, the project investigates the conditions for productive linkages and their effects on structural-spatial optimisation processes. (Goal 1). On the basis of these findings, it will be examined whether smart coupling processes can be systematically tapped or accelerated in order to increase the quality of urban green infrastructure (Goal 2)

This project is based on the hypothesis that so-called “carrier projects” (de: “Huckepackprojekte”), namely projects which though potentially following other primary goals also might incorporate the development of and can provide a solution for the aforementioned problematic, thus substantially contributing to advance urban climate adaptation measures. Hansen & Pauleit (2014) and Monteiro et al. (2020) state that the integration of UGI with other urban infrastructures (e.g. transport/water management) is a crucial planning principle of UGI. Similarly, Lennon & Scott (2014) suspecting an “opportunistic” nature of UGI planning often focusing on positive synergies, “recognizing the potential for comparatively non-contributing landscape elements to be managed or structured differently to enhance the assets and functions of a GI network” (Lennon & Scott, 2014, p. 580).

The Research Project at SP3 (in conjunction with the project in SP4) aims to scientifically concretize this approach and address the knowledge gap of UGI synergetic implementation strategies by answering the following research questions: (1) Which kinds of urban projects and transformation processes can incorporate the development of UGI? Accordingly, which types of projects/goals can act as leverage for specific UGI types and ES? (2) Which are the institutional obstacles or favorable conditions which can inhibit or support these kinds of urban transformations? (3) How should larger-scale urban strategies be conceived in order to integrate and profit most from the potential of the “carrier project for UGI” approach?

For (1) descriptive framework will be developed (as suggested for other transformative processes, e.g. Kinigadner et al., 2024), which will be used to typify a large number of reference projects. This will allow us to gather insights into how “carrier project” goals/ characteristics are correlated with specific UGI development and ES provision. This framework will be used to identify typical project constellations and organizational patterns. Based on these patterns, specific case studies will be chosen, whose development and implementation processes will be studied in depth through interviews with involved stakeholders in order to answer question (2). Research work will then be scaled up on a strategic level by analyzing reports on climate adaptation strategies that implement a “carrier” approach (e.g., Rotterdam’s Weerwoord, c.f. Visser et al., n.d.), aiming to address question (3).

Through this research process, this project aims to produce operationalizable knowledge which can act as a basis for guidelines to urban governance institutions aiming to better coordinate urban transformation processes and optimize the development of UGI by strategically using suitable projects as “carriers”.
Your profile:
-Excellent diploma or master’s degree in related fields such as architecture, landscape planning, urban planning and urban geography
-Motivation to advance the scientific state of the art in the field of green infrastructure planning and governance
-Good skills in relevant planning and social science methods such as interviews, questionnaires, documentary analysis, case study research
-Acquaintance with foundational concepts of green infrastructure, multifunctionality, planning systems, governance
-Good communication skills in English. German is a plus.


The gender- and diversity-balanced filling of doctoral positions is a particular concern of ours.

Interested?
Send us your informative application documents (letter of motivation, CV, certificates) including a brief description of your previous activities as a single PDF file (file name: Research Topic_Lastname.Surename.pdf) to rtg.lapl@ls.tum.de

For technical and organizational questions about the Research Training Group, please contact the spokesperson:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Pauleit, pauleit@tum.de
If you have any questions about the various research topics, the professors mentioned will be happy to answer them.

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Kontakt: rtg.lapl@ls.tum.de

More Information

https://www.gs.tum.de/en/grk/urban-green-infrastructure/cluster-and-subprojects/cluster-1/subproject-3-urban-reconstruction-processes/