KOLA - Empirical basic research on theories and methods of contemporary landscape framework planning

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Christian Albert; Dr. Stefan Schmidt
• Subject Area: Urbanism, Spatial Planning, Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, Landscape Planning
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 507295003

Within the German planning system, the task of landscape planning is to specify the goals of nature conservation and to designate requirements and actions for their implementation. A comprehensive set of theories and methods on landscape planning have been developed. Knowledge gaps exist regarding the extent to which the scientific theories and methods are considered in landscape planning practice. The overarching aim of the KOLA project is to generate empirical knowledge on the application of theories and methods in contemporary landscape framework plans at the level of counties and regions in Germany, and to contribute to the further development of those theories and methods. KOLA addresses four interwoven objectives. Objective 1 focuses on theories and methods as applied in contemporary landscape framework plans for the assessment and evaluation of the state of nature and landscape. Objective 2 analyses which categories of goals, measures and implementation strategies are proposed in contemporary landscape framework plans, as well as which theories and methods drive the the respective process of development. Objective 3 concerns the analysis of the process design, participation, and digitalization in contemporary landscape framework plans. Objective 4 develops and critically reflects upon an integrative understanding of the state of development of contemporary landscape framework plans. It also identifies points of reference for the further development of theories and methods. The sample of the analysis includes all landscape framework plans that have been both published since the year of 2010 and developed in German federal states that stipulate stand-alone landscape planning documents or at least individual sections. The research design consists of five working packages. In the first work package, a knowledge network (ontology) is created which specifies essential theories and methods of landscape framework planning and relations among them. In addition, a respective database is developed. In three further work packages, the knowledge network is used as an analytical scheme for the review of landscape framework plans. Systematic document analyses, interviews and data analyses are used to achieve the first three objectives. In a fifth work package, a symposium is organized to critically discuss results and to identify overarching perspectives for the further development of landscape framework planning. The expected results include the ontology as a basis for semantic analyses as well as empirical insights on the uptake of scientific theories and methods in contemporary landscape framework plans. Moreover, based on those results from empirical basic research, the project will derive new insights for the further development of, and recommendations for harmonizing, theories and methods of landscape framework plans.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants