Summer semester 2020

Module: Urban Sociology (2 LVS / 3 CP)
Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Frank Eckardt
S Introduction to Urban Sociology (1724415)

Content

Life in German cities has undergone substantial changes in the last decade. Not only the East German cities had to address new challenges after the reunification of the German nation in 1990, but also the West German cities had to reformulate their place in the complex urban networks. Cities are mirroring wider changes in German society where new social and political developments can be observed. Economic and cultural globalization has had a major impact on many aspects of urban life. This lecture will give an overview about major developments in German cities since the German reunification in 1990. It will provide both a sound source of information on the most important issues of German society and reflect important discussion of the international debate on urban studies. After delivering a historical overview of German cities, basic concepts of urban sociology will developed by discussing subjects like gentrification, segregation, migration, life style diversity and others. The lecture provides an insight view into classical theories of urban sociology as deriving from Max Weber, Georg Simmel and the Chicago School.

Module: Urban Sociology (2 LVS / 3 CP)
Dr. phil. Bernhard Stratmann
S Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form (118220601)

Content

When looking at suburbs, people and planners often see something very different. Whereas the former dream of a better lifestyle, the latter often talk about urban sprawl and point to a long list of negative aspects of this kind of urban from. Particularly in view of rising energy consumption, Peak Oil and possible climate change continuing trends towards global suburbanization have caused concerns. However, more recently the “reading” of suburbs has changed. The prevailing critical discourse has been challenged by the assumption that suburbs – if designed and managed well – can be aligned with the overall goal of sustainability. This includes a reappraisal of “suburbanism as a way of life” that might offer a lot. The seminar will examine the current debate by taking American, Australian, Chinese and German cities as an example. To this end concepts of sustainable urban development will be explored, followed by a practice review. It will be argued that the debate on suburbia is embedded in a much larger, underlying debate on the good life.

Module: Computational Urban Analysis and Simulation (2 LVS / 3 CP)
Vertr.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sven Schneider, Dipl.-Arch. Ekaterina Fuchkina, Abdulmalik  Abdulmawla M.A.
S + E Parametric Urban Design and Analysis II (119122403)

Content

Cities are complex human made objects. They consist of thousands of elements and need to satisfy numerous human needs. The definition of urban form (street network, plots, building volumes) is a crucial step in the planning of cities because it has the longest lasting effect on their social, economic and ecological performance. Thus, this step needs to be undertaken with greatest care. In this course we will deal with computational methods to support this process.

The course extends the knowledge and methods you learned in PUDA I. You will learn and train advanced parametric modeling techniques and further analysis methods as well as basic knowledge about statistics to study relationships between urban form and its manifold functions.

You apply the learned skills in an urban planning project for new towns in Ethiopia (IUDD Study Project “Circular Urbanism”). It is expected that the participants have absolved the course “Parametric Urban Design and Analysis” from the previous semester.
 

Module: Introduction to Master´s Thesis (2 LVS / 3 CP)
Vertr.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sven Schneider, Dipl.-Ing.(FH) Philippe Schmidt M.Sc
S Introduction to Master´s Thesis (119123701)

Content

The preparatory seminar is a combination of various aspects that support students to prepare and organise their master’s thesis. It aims to the individual thematic development of the thesis topic. Derived from the subject areas of IUDD the thesis refers to the inductive development of interdisciplinarity. Students are guided through the logic of research, the definition of individual research interest and the more objective need to communicate specific knowledge related to a certain subject of interest. At the end of the seminar, a thesis proposal should be developed based on an adequate research framework and research design, considering methodological aspects and quality of research. This seminar is arranged as intensive workshop with lectures, discussions, exercises and group work..

Module: Study Project (10 LVS / 15 CP)
Vert-Prof. Sven Schneider, Jun.-Prof. Reinhard König, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Philippe Schmidt M.Sc.
P Circular Urbanism: Metabolism-based Planning Strategie for
Rural-urban Transformation in Ethiopia (119122401)

Content

With the Millenium Development Goals the United Nations are setting a framework to foster a more sustainable development world-wide. The goals are ambitious and their realistation challenging, especially when it comes about responding to changes in developing countries. In this study project, we are adressing these challenges by creating models for the development of small cities in Ethiopia.
Ethiopias ongoing transformation from a mainly agricultural society to industrialisation is linked to substantial changes of the country’s rural and urban areas. In their current “Growth and Transformation Plan II“ the Ethiopian government plans to develop a large number of small cities in order to ensure the provision of water, food, energy as well as social and traffic infrastructure to foster economic growth.

For a sustainable development of these new towns the consideration of flows of resources and people within the urban system is crucial. To better understand how such flows are linked to building activities in rural urbanisation processes and their impact on the existing environment, we are referring to urban metabolism as a framework for urban design and planning of small cities.

Participants will be analysing urban patterns and flows of small cities, learn about urban metabolism and its spatial implications and apply tools and methods for spatial analysis and finally implement that knowledge to simulate possible development scenarios, supported as parametric models.

Module: Study Project (10 LVS / 15 CP)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Nentwig, Shimin Huang M.Sc., Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Schmitz-Gielsdorf M.Sc.
P Hotel and Regional Development Concept for the History
Capital of Meuse-Rhine Euroregion: Limburg, Belgium (120120201)

Content

Limbourg in Belgium is currently establishing itself as the "Historic Capital of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion " based on its historical importance as the "Old Capital of the Duchy of Limbourg". This development should be taken further and made known in the Euroregion and beyond.

A regional development concept is to be drawn up for the region of the former Duchy of Limbourg, which analyzes and takes up the tourism, landscape, cultural and socio-economic potential of the region. A mission statement and a forward-looking, sustainable concept for the next decades should be set up. The Ambassade du Pays de Rode based in Limbourg and its Ambassadeur / Ambassador in Limbourg along with other local planning and administrative staffs from the German and Dutch border regions as well as from the Belgian area will support the project. The subproject would be the design of a hotel: the castle hotel Chateau d’Andrimont.

Excursion: Expected excursion will take place from 27.04.2020 to 30.04.2020

Module: Elective Module (2 LVS / 3 CP)
Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reinhard König
S Urban Modeling and Simulation - Advanced Methods (120120201)

Content

In this seminar, you learn to work with advanced urban modeling and simulation techniques based and system dynamics methods. We deal with the modeling of complex spatial systems on the regional and urban level. In this context computational analysis methods for urban fabric (e.g. for pedestrian movement or economic potentials) and models for computing interactions between land uses are introduced. By means of system dynamics models we can simulate temporal changes of stocks and flows.

You apply the learned skills in an urban planning project for new towns in Ethiopia. It is expected that the participants have absolved the course ”Computational Urban Modeling and Simulation” from the previous Semester.

Module: Master´s Thesis (2 LVS / 3 CP)
Academic Staff / BUW Prof.
S Master Colloquium

Content

The course is the platform for presentation and discussion of the Masters theses. The candidates will present the intermediate results of their work on their individual topics. Suggestions for further action will be made by fellow students and academics attending the colloquium. Admission for the Master examination is required for participation. Performance record (attestation) will be achieved by giving an oral presentation. 

Module: Model Project (4 LVS / 6 CP)
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Philippe Schmidt M.Sc.
Model Project Forum 

Content

The course is the platform for presentation and discussion of the Masters theses. The candidates will present the intermediate results of their work on their individual topics. Suggestions for further action will be made by fellow students and academics attending the colloquium. Admission for the Master examination is required for participation. Performance record (attestation) will be achieved by giving an oral presentation.