10th International and Interdisciplinary Symposium of the European Academy of Land Use and Development (EALD) from September 7th to the 9th, 2023, in Bergen, Norway
2023/09/25
The European Academy of Land Use and Development (EALD) held its 10th International and Interdisciplinary Symposium at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. The symposium focused on land use and development in the context of exogenous change, with a special emphasis on demographic and technological change. This is a timely topic, as both demographic and technological change are accelerating in many jurisdictions throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Importantly, the symposium was an opportunity for scholars and practitioners from a variety of disciplines to come together to discuss the latest land-related issues at different scales, from the individual, local, or regional levels, to the national, European, and global levels. It was also an opportunity to network and build relationships with other colleagues in the field.
Technische Universität Darmstadt was properly represented by Prof. Hans-Joachim Linke from the Institute of Geodesy and some aspiring researchers who undertook two presentations. Dr. Felipe Francisco De Souza, a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer from the Department of Land Management, presented his actual research on critical junctures – major disruptive events likely to produce long-lasting legacies – and their influence on infrastructure planning in the long run. Through the lens of major events such as natural disasters, economic crises, and world wars, the ongoing research looks after key elements in which critical junctures and exogenous influences have shaped urban planning practices through land readjustment outcomes in Frankfurt (Germany) and Nagoya (Japan).
M.Sc. Laura Mato Julcamoro and M.Sc. Jan Schmid, associate researchers from the Department of Land Management, shared and discussed the Eco-Account Instrument designed to increase efficiency in the execution of large scale projects. The presentation focused on key areas such as early and continuous stakeholder engagement, risk management, and performance measures suggesting that the instrument can lead to significant improvements in time, ecologic and economic efficiency of all ongoing projects.
In addition to the presentations, the seminar provided an excursion to visit the older part of Bergen, Norway, with detailed information about the development of the historical part of the city. The tour also included how different stakeholders are handling changes in the transport system, including the new light rail lines and bike tunnels.
