General objectives – General learning outcomes
The main purpose of the course is to enhance understanding of the interconnection between spatial planning and the digital transition of cities and wider urban areas. Given the intensifying urbanization, spatial planning is called upon to enable the adaptation to the challenges arising from technological developments, climate change and evolving societal needs. The course introduces students to the key concepts, methods, and technologies that are reshaping the way we analyze, design, and manage space in the digital age. The course covers the evolution of spatial planning from traditional, top-down, conventional methods to modern, data-driven and participatory approaches, supported by digital tools and technologies.
Knowledge
The course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of how digital technologies (e.g. Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, etc.) and new media, such as Social Networks, are integrated into spatial planning processes to enhance urban resilience, sustainability, and governance.
In relation to the above, the course focuses on the broader framework of the evolution of spatial planning and governance methods in the digital age. The course approaches planning and governance as dynamic and interdependent processes, where technology is not just a tool but a transformative factor in the way we perceive and organize space. It provides theoretical training on concepts such as multi-level planning culture, participatory governance, smart cities, sustainable and resilient growth, as well as digital innovation in the public sector, and contributes to the understanding of institutional frameworks and e-government models, with a focus on the role of data, transparency and citizen participation. It also includes examples of practical application, and highlights ethical and legal issues in digital spatial planning.
The course also offers in-depth theoretical and applied knowledge of the field of transport digitalization with a view to sustainable urban mobility. In particular, students acquire the necessary theoretical background to understand the characteristics of the digital transition in the field of urban mobility and to comprehend the contemporary policy framework in the European Union. Detailed examples from the application of technological innovation in urban transport modes and services (e.g. autonomous driving, shared mobility and Mobility as a Service) and their impact on sustainable mobility and sustainable urban development in general are presented. The processes of strategic planning of urban mobility are described through the framework of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) with emphasis on the integration of approaches and digital tools of public participation. In addition, the digital transition in other sectors, such as teleworking, is correlated with the transport and urban mobility sector.
Skills
At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
- Understand key concepts of spatial planning and digital transition
- Analyze the impact of emerging digital technologies on spatial planning
- Recognize the challenges and opportunities of integrating digital tools into planning practice with focus on Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans
- Acquire a critical view of the impacts of digital transition on urban sustainability and governance
- Develop skills in the application of digital and conventional participatory planning tools
- Contribute to planning, management and policy projects, both in the public and private sectors, in an ever-changing technological and social environment
Abilities
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to understand the scientific literature related to spatial planning in the digital age and will have the opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams and in studies and research projects that include the political, strategic and technical dimensions of the digital transition in spatial planning.
