The Doctoral Programme in Planning and Development combines research activities within the Department of Sustainability and Planning. PhD research activities are further strengthened by links with the Danish Building Research Institute and Center for Communication, Media and Information Technologies.

Research within the programme is wide ranging and inter-disciplinary, and deals with the organisation, management and design of technology, environmental governance and management at societal and at company level, urban and mobility planning and societal infrastructural systems. In 2008 the Aalborg University Centre for Blue Governance was integrated with the Department of Sustainability and Planning, bringing a new research focus on questions of governance within an ecosystem-based approach to marine management.

A STRONG FOCUS ON PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT DIMENSIONS

Emphasis is put on the planning and management dimensions, focusing on the policies and other regulatory instruments that are used in relation to technological, infrastructural and urban development projects, and environmental policy and planning.

INTERDISCIPLINARY AND PROBLEM-ORIENTED RESEARCH

Research draws on perspectives from the engineering sciences, as well as from relevant social sciences. It is often interdisciplinary and problem-oriented, seeking to identify practical alternatives for solving particular management and planning problems. The research environment consists of academics with different professional backgrounds, representing a wide range of academic disciplines. PhD research is carried out in partnership with a wide range of external public and private sector bodies.