The WPSC has been organized every 4 to 6 years since 2001 by international planning networks such as AESOP. This year, Aalto University, opens an external URL in a new window, the University of Helsinki, opens an external URL in a new window, and the University of Tampere, opens an external URL in a new window jointly hosted the event. More than 30 representatives from TU Wien attended, four of whom were from the Research Unit for Regional Planning and Regional Development. In numerous sessions and roundtables, planners from around the world discussed and presented current research findings and future perspectives on spatial planning.

Alois Humer presented conceptual extensions of the “15-minute city” approach, as well as research perspectives on land use, planning culture, and education in urban and regional planning. Thomas Dillinger joined colleagues from Sweden, Greece, and Germany in a roundtable discussion of various scenarios for the future of spatial planning. Elias Grinzinger presented his “Soil Walks” project, a method for raising awareness of land use and soil sealing that generated significant interest among the international audience.

Together with Thomas Dillinger, Paul Koo, and their Slovak colleague Vladimír Ondrejička, opens an external URL in a new window, Elias Grinzinger also presented the Soil Walks Dashboard, which clearly visualizes land use at the municipal level. The dashboard is being further developed as part of the STICS (Smart Transformation and Innovation Consortium Slovakia) project and adapted for use in Slovakia.

More about Soil Walks (only available in German), opens an external URL in a new window

More about STICS, opens an external URL in a new window

The intensive exchange and the numerous engaging discussions provided valuable insights for future research and strengthened both existing and new international collaborations.