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Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:30:01
Abstract
In the course, students learn about methods for the identification and measurement of landscape characteristics, as well as measures and policies for landscape planning. Landscape planning is put into the context of environmental systems (soil, water, air, climate, flora and fauna) and discussed with regard to socio-political questions of the future.
Objective
The aims of this course are: 1) To illustrate the concept of landscape planning, the economic relevance of landscape and nature in the context of the environmental systems (soil, water, air, climate, flora and fauna). 2) To show landscape planning as an integral information system for the coordination of different instruments by illustrating the aims, methods, instruments and their functions in landscape planning. 3) To show the importance of ecosystem services. 4) To learn basics about nature and landscape: Analysis and assessment of the complex interactions between landscape elements, effects of current and future land use (ecosystem goods and services, landscape functions). 5) To identify and measure the characteristics of landscape. 6) Learn how to use spatial data in landscape planning.
Content
In this course, the following topics are discussed: - Definition of the concept of landscape - Relevance of landscape planning - Landscape metrics - Landscape change - Methods, instruments and aims of landscape planning (policy) - Socio-political questions of the future - Environmental systems, ecological connectivity - Ecosystem services - Urban landscape services - Practice of landscape planning - Use of GIS in landscape planning
Resources
Lecture Notes
No script. The documentation, consisting of presentation slides are partly handed out and are provided for download on Moodle.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- Calculator (not capable of external communication)
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Landscape Planning and Environmental Systems |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Elective Modules (For all majors.)
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EM: Landscape (Elective Module for Majors "Environmental Technologies", "Resource Management", "River and Hydraulic Engineering" and "Urban Water Management".)
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