Tom 72 (2014): Zeszyt 3 (June 2014)

In urban research and planning, “density” is one of the most important measures to analyze a city’s structural morphology. Compared to other measures such as “neighborhood mix of uses”, “polycentricity” or “compactness”, density seems to be a rather objective and comprehensible choice. However, when having a closer look at it, it is a rather complex concept with different measurement options. There is no internationally accepted standard for the implementation of density or density measures that would allow for a robust comparison of different countries, regions or cities. This article deals with the analytical opportunities that new geodata options offer with regards to an objective and transparent measurement of cities’ structural and use-related densities. A case study for the city of Cologne demonstrates possible applications based on highresolution and disaggregated density data.

In the last years the area used as permanent grassland declined considerably in Germany. This decline raised public concerns as grassland produces more environmental benefits compared to arable land. In the public debate the loss of grassland is frequently linked to the promotion of silage maize as feedstock for bio-methane production via the renewable energy law. We present a geo information system, which is capable to process various high resolution data on land use, land use change and site conditions. With the help of the system we analyse whether the expansion of bio-methane production is the primary reason for the observed land use change in the period 1999–2007.

We provide results for Germany as a whole. These general results are supplemented by an analysis conducted for the federal state of Lower Saxony (2005–2007). This state is a stronghold of the bio-methane production and more detailed data are available. Our results show, that feedstock for the production of bio-methane is primarily cultivated on existing arable land. Farms growing feedstock for biomethane production have a higher probability to convert grassland to arable land though these farms cultivate only very few areas of former grassland. The probability of grassland conversion increases with the vicinity of biogas plants. However, most of the conversion can be attributed to dairy farms without the cultivation of feedstock for bio-methane production. Generally, the likelihood that grassland is converted increases markedly if the managing farmer changes. Based on our findings we discuss different options to protect permanent grassland. We argue that our conclusions do also apply to the general context of limiting undesired direct and indirect land use change.

The research project CC-LandStraD analyses interactions between land use and climate change. It therefore contributes to the challenges of climate change and the availability of scarce land resources. Within the project, land use scenarios are developed for Germany until the year 2030. The focus of this study is on the development of settlement and transport area. The approach applies the simulation model Land Use Scanner that integrates and combines different types of data. This includes statistical information on the socio-economic development as well as numerous spatial data sets like current land use, physical properties or spatial planning regulations. The paper introduces the different data sets, describes the modeling approach and demonstrates how the various data sets are used in the simulation model Land Use Scanner to calculate a spatial land use scenario for Germany in 2030. The model therefore integrates data sets of different spatial, temporal and thematic resolutions and consistently merges the information of different scales. The results of the model show that despite demographic change some regions still face high pressure of urban density in Germany.

In Germany, a rising relevance of adapting the built environment and a rising relevance of GIS-based analyses of the built environment can be observed. But there seems to be a communication or knowledge lack between planners and providers of built environment data. For this reason, this article investigates potentials for using small-scale built environment data and the additional value of it by conducting a literature review. The focus is on literature concerning settlement development, inner-city development and transformation processes of housing. The literature suggests that built environment data opens up effective ways to analyse patterns and transformation of settlement structures as well as population patterns and transformation related to specific housing types. This information can be used for strategic planning, housing policies and evaluation of planning targets. It is also useful for a computer assisted management of cities. As the official data is insufficient and other data sources limited in access, requirements for built environment data are formulated. In conclusion, this article argues for using small-scale built environment data as an essential part of communal monitoring systems and geo data infrastructure.

Marine spatial planning in Europe is a young and dynamic extension of traditional land-based spatial planning. Much more than land-based planning marine spatial planning has an intensified need for cross-border consultation and transnational data exchange. But particularly regional stakeholders struggle to get easy and transparent access to transnational geodata, which often require specific GIS knowledge. This study focuses on the potential of new geodata services and web based map applications to increase the participation of stakeholders in spatial management processes. It reflects the experience made with the use of new geodata using the example of a geodata portal. It is shown that stakeholders have a strong need for easy and centralized access to spatial planning data and that such access can be provided without too much effort. But it becomes also apparent that spatial planning authorities are often not in the position to provide such transnational services. Here non-governmental actors may play a central role.