About us

Chair for Spatial Planning and Development

Direction: Professor Dr. Bernd Scholl (Dr. sc. techn.) (* 1953).
Professor Scholl studied Civil Engineering  at the TU Darmstadt and did his post-graduate studies in Spatial Planning at the ETH Zurich, where he concluded his PhD.
Beginning of the ETH Professorship: 2006.

Professor Scholl's personal page

Four central themes are principles which inform our research:

An Economical Approach to Land Resources: Redevelopment before New Development

Land resources are a scarce property, which are not increasable. Sustainable land use is, therefore, the central basis for a lasting Spatial Development. With the various requirements of the different important actors within this scenario, extensive spatial conflicts develop. The minimum strategy for the solution of these conflicts exists in the implementation of the principle of internal development before external development. The application of this strategy requires effective local and regional land management.

Integrated Spatial and Infrastructure Development

Via an integrated space and infrastructure development significant sinergies can be reached for the organization of our habitat. This requires an early exchange of requirements and ideas among the disciplines and actors involved and a common investigation of possible solutions. For a focused and effective Spatial Development, the continuous elaboration of procedures and instruments that support these processes is of great importance.

Cross-Border Tasks of Spatial Planning

To clarify and solve relevant spatial-related issues - in particular in the closely related regions - is co-operation over political, organizational and technical borders a necessary condition. In areas of conflict regarding local planning competence and the necessary over-local space planning, extensive forms of co-operation are to be developed and tested.

Development of Innovative and Practice-Oriented Planning Methods, Instruments and Processes

To support the successful accomplishment of the tasks,  the employment of the respective suitable planning methods is essential, particularly considering the existence of limited resources, imperfect information and risks. The praxis-oriented development of innovative planning instruments and processes is, therefore, an important emphasis. Internet-based planning information systems will play an important role. Furthermore, new tools for experimental simulations are important for the estimation and examination of significant spatial developments.

In teaching, the goal is to provide conditions for students to develop the necessary skills to conceive the appropriate and environmentaly fair allocation of spatial uses as well as to be able to provide competent and professional advice in political committees. In order to do that, the chair offers also the special possibility of using the internet and e-learning. Modern planning requires the integrated view of many different technical disciplines. Therefore, interdisciplinary project studies represent an important part of the training offered, preparing students to work in teams in the study of challenging planning tasks.

The chair of Spatial Planning and Developoment also contributes to the following courses:

• Master Course  on «Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems»
• Bachelor and Master Course on «Geomatics Engineering and Planning»
• Master Course on  «Civil Engineering»

Moreover, the chair is involved in the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Spatial Planning and Spatial Development of the Network «City and Landscape» (NSL).