Department Spatial Analysis and Decision Support (SPACE)
The department Spatial Analysis and Decision Support of the Institute for Environmental Studies investigates the role of spatial variation in environmental systems to increase our understanding of environmental change and support environmental management. We study how socio-economic and biophysical processes lead to the emergence of spatial patterns. Methods include monitoring environmental change by remote sensing and multi-scale analysis of spatial patterns and processes. Adaptation to climate change is addressed by mapping risks and associated costs. Alternative adaptation strategies are evaluated in the context of both developed and developing countries. Temporal dynamics and future scenarios are explored with spatial modeling of changes in land use and ecosystem services, including rural, urban, marine and coastal systems. Advanced methods for stakeholder participation and ex-ante evaluation are developed and tested to support environmental management and land use planning. Prof. dr. ir. Peter Verburg is head of the department which consists of approx. thirty researchers and PhD candidates.
Contact information: Professor dr. ir. Peter Verburg
Objectives
• To develop, demonstrate and test methods for environmental spatial analysis in the context of problems of scientific and social significance.
• To apply spatial analysis and modelling to real environmental problems.
• To train a new generation of spatially enabled scientists, resource managers and policy analysts
Research themes
• Adaptation to climate change risk
• Mapping and modelling ecosystem services
• Land use modelling
• Decision support tools
Addressing the spatial dimensions of environmental systems
The department Spatial Analysis and Decision Support investigates the role of spatial variation in environmental systems to increase our understanding of environmental change and support environmental management. Spatial heterogeneity of the environment and human activity causes the impacts of global environmental change to depend on location and context. The identification of vulnerable people and places under conditions of environmental change is of prime importance in designing effective environmental management strategies and planning.
The department contributes to this challenge by high-level education and research. We develop innovative methods for monitoring environmental change by remote sensing and use state-of-the-art methods for analyzing spatial patterns to better understand processes across different scales. Explicit attention is given to feedback mechanisms and the emergence of spatial patterns as a result of interacting human-environment processes. Climate change is a central topic and is addressed by mapping exposure, risks and associated costs. Adaptation strategies are evaluated in the context of both developed and developing countries. To support discussion on future environmental problems, and to evaluate proposed policies temporal dynamics and future scenarios of land use and ecosystem services are explored with spatial modeling. Besides addressing rural and urban systems the department has a strong expertise in marine and coastal systems. Advanced methods for stakeholder participation and ex-ante evaluation of policy are developed and tested to support environmental management and land use planning. The department is also a key player in the communication and dissemination of the Dutch national research programmes on climate change.
Bridging disciplines
The interdisciplinary expertise of the department has been used in a wide variation of integrated projects. The researchers have a strong expertise and experience in bridging different disciplinary perspectives of environmental change and integrated assessment modeling. The complexity of the environmental problems we address requires understanding and fusion of spatial and other data from many sources and multiple disciplinary perspectives. For this reason, we are capable of resolving problems of integration that are both technological and human in nature.
Satellite derived estimates of phytoplankton for coastal (7-10) and open water (1-6) modeling of nutrient budgets (Source: Vermaat, J.E., McQuatters-Gollop, A., Eleveld, M.A. & Gilbert, A. (2008).Past, present and future nutrient loads of the North Sea: causes and consequences.Est. Coast. Shelf Sci. 80(1), 53-59. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2008.07.005)
Contributing to higher level education
Within IVM the Spatial Analysis and Decision Support department makes a strong contribution to the MSc programme Environment and Resource Management, the BSc and MSc Earth Science and Economy, the distance learning initiative UNIGIS and many other courses within VU University Amsterdam and the Amsterdam University College. Besides organizing and contributing to these programmes the department contributes to IVM’s PhD programme and hosts several PhD students.
Resources:
MSc Environment and Resource Management: http://www.environmentmaster.nl
BSc Earth Science and Economy: http://www.falw.vu.nl/nl/opleidingen/bacheloropleidingen/aarde-en-economie/index.asp
MSc Earth Science and Economy: http://www.falw.vu.nl/nl/opleidingen/masteropleidingen/earth-sciences/specializations/earth-and-economics.asp
UNIGIS: http://www.unigis.nl
IVM PhD programme: http://www.ivm.vu.nl/en/teaching/PhD-programme/index.asp
Outreach and collaboration
In the coming years the department aims to consolidate and strengthen its position as a major player in the European field of integrated analysis and spatial modelling. Intensive collaboration with universities and research institutes in Europe and worldwide is key to our research strategy. A substantial number of scientific papers by the staff members are published in top peer reviewed international journals in the fields of climate change, geography, (landscape) ecology, marine sciences, environmental management and land use planning. Furthermore, members of the Spatial Analysis and Decision Support department are represented in multiple editorial boards (e.g. Journal of Environmental Management, Landscape Ecology, Aquatic Botany, Environmental Modelling and Software). Prof. dr. Ir. Peter Verburg is head of the department which consists of approx. thirty researchers and PhD candidates.
More information: Staff Department Spatial Analysis and Decision Support
More information: Brochure Department Spatial Analysis and Decision Support
