Urban and territorial transformation

Objectives

Urban transformation towards sustainability is essential to guarantee a healthy, inclusive and livable environment for future generations, both from an environmental point of view (with the improvement of air quality, the reduction of greenhouse emission gases and urban risk management, among other issues). Socially there is also a focus on analysing vulnerabilities, reducing the socio-economic inequalities and improving governance structures. A considerable percentage of the population will live in urban environments in the coming decades, and for this reason we work to provide a useful answer to the problems at various scales (from local to global) that arise in relation to the necessary sustainable adaptation for cities, without forgetting the comprehensive perspective that also foresees the role played by rural areas.  

Within the framework of this node, we look after search and elaboration through the study of different disciplines and the most appropriate tools instruments and policies in each case. Also taking into consideration, the promotion of research development and the dissemination and transfer of knowledge in this matter. 

Areas of expertise

Art and city; citizen science, risk management governance territorial planning; organization of the territory; psychology and climate change; landscape protection and management; urban sustainability; sustainable tourism. ​​​​​​

Research Lines

  • Analysis of urban public space.  
  • Communication and audiovisual production. 
  • Local and territorial development.  
  • Inequalities and urban vulnerabilities.  
  • Demographic dynamics and urban migration.  
  • Socio-demographic dynamics in rural environments.  
  • Urban fragmentation.  
  • Water management and territorial planning. 
  • Governance and tourism dynamics.  
  • Territorial impact of urban tourism.  
  • Impact, quality, evolution and evaluation of the landscape. 
  • Adaptation and mitigation mechanisms to climate change in tourist regions. 
  • Citizen participation. 
  • Seismic risk planning and management.  
  • Environmental psychology.  
  • Urban and territorial sustainability.  

Coordination

 
Albert Santasusagna is an assistant professor in the Geography Department at the University of Barcelona. He has a degree in Environmental Sciences, a PhD in Geography and Territorial Planning and is a member of the Mediterranean Environmental Research Group. He believes that one of the biggest challenges we have as a society today is to promote the development of sustainable, healthy and resilient cities and territories to face all the challenges and transformations that we are experiencing, and we will experience in the near future. For this reason, he dedicates his research to finding new formulas for urban and territorial sustainability that focus on water management and planning of fluvial spaces in urban environments.
 
 
Maria Teresa Vadrí is an associate professor of Administrative Law at the University of Barcelona and a member of the Mediterranean Environmental Research Group. She obtained the extraordinary award for her degree and is a European doctor. Her lines of research have focused on environmental law and the analysis of environmental and territorial policies from a legal perspective specifically legal environmental instruments, territorial and landscape planning, public services and governance for sustainability in light of the 2030 Agenda. She is part of the Environmental Policy Observatory as the author of reports on environmental policies in Catalonia. Vadrí has also had several management positions at the UB, currently she is a delegate of the rector of the University as an advisor on the improvement of regulatory quality.