Knowledge Discovery in Data Bases on Land Consumption in Germany

• Applicants: Dr.-Ing. Martin Behnisch; Professor Dr. Alfred Ultsch
• Subject Area: Urbanism, Spatial Planning, Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, Landscape Planning
• Term: from 2013 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 236371660

The disparity between the continuing high level of the change of land not hitherto built upon for residential/commercial and transport purposes (land consumption) on the one hand, and the vision of sustainable land development on the other has become highly relevant in spatial research, as well as in policy discussions on spatial development, both at the national and the international levels. Quantitative studies on the causes of land consumption are still in the initial phase in Germany. Geo-referenced data sources, together with data from official statistics, provide a considerable potential for evaluation in this context. The intention of the present project is to make the concepts of multidimensional data analysis, data mining and knowledge discovery already established in information science systematically available for use in spatial planning. This will achieved through joint research work of spatial scientists and information scientists for transfer of methods and appropriate application to the respective discipline. The goal of the research project is a quantitative description and explanation of land consumption for residential/ commercial and transport purposes in Germany, with respect to the characteristics extent, physical structure and spatial distribution. Which factors and regular frequencies determine the land consumption and land-use structure within administrative territorial units, particularly of counties (in German Kreise) and municipalities (in German Gemeinden), is to be investigated. The results will be useful in the context of a monitoring framework, and as the basis for spatially decision support systems (SDSS). Moreover, the results will help planning practice in the development and optimization of plans and programmes, with the goal of sustainable development.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants