OTB Research Institute for Urban, Housing and Mobility Studies Independent research and consultancy services in housing, construction and the built environment OTB Research Institute for Urban, Housing and Mobility Studies
OTB Research Institute for Urban, Housing and Mobility Studies If you have any further questions about our research or would like us to send you more information about our institute, please feel free to call or e-mail us: OTB Research Institute for Urban, Housing and Mobility Studies TU Delft Address: Jaffalaan 9, 2628 BX Delft Correspondence address: P.O. Box 5030, 2600 GA Delft Phone: +31 (0)15 27 83005 Fax: +31 (0)15 27 84422 E-mail: mailbox@otb.tudelft.nl Internet: www.otb.tudelft.nl Publishing details: Design: B&M Design BV, Brielle Printing: Schefferdrukkerij BV, Dordrecht Editing: OTB Research Institute, Marketing & Communication Photos: OTB Research Institute archive
National and international practical and scientific partnerships OTB's main objective is to conduct strategic research in the areas of housing studies, urban studies, mobility studies and geo-information studies. This type of research, which can be described as "use-inspired basic research", occupies a position between fundamental and applied research. University education One of our key objectives in the years ahead is to strengthen our ties with the teaching curricula at TU Delft. We shall achieve this by various means, ranging from guest lectures (at TU Delft and elsewhere) and a BSc or MSc module to (shared) responsibility for a full BSc or MSc programme. Delft Research Centres The university has identified thirteen multidisciplinary primary research themes, the Delft Research Centres (DRC's). We participate in four Delft Research Centres. atmosphere. We need to learn more about these processes to improve sustainability, conserve natural resources and address potential threats. Participation in research schools In the academic world, the OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies participates in two national research schools: the Netherlands Graduate School of Housing and Urban Research (NETHUR) and the Research School for Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics (TRAIL). The aim of NETHUR is to concentrate, strengthen and streamline urban research in the Netherlands. TRAIL combines research and education in the field of transport, infrastructure and logistics. Our institute is also going to participate in a collaborative institute presently being created in the field of geo-information and earth observation. International collaboration We greatly value collaboration with the international research institutes on projects relating to housing, urban, mobility and geo-information studies. Our institute offers permanent research positions for foreign research fellows and post-doc researchers. Delft Centre for Sustainable Urban Areas (headed by OTB Research Institute) The Delft Research Centre for Sustainable Urban Areas combines research on various aspects of the home environment: urban planning, the property market, social cohesion in neighbourhoods and sustainable building. Delft Centre for Next Generation Infrastructures (headed by the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management) Next Generation Infrastructures links technological expertise with economics and social sciences to improve the quality and reliability of infrastructures and infrastructure management. Transport Research Centre Delft (headed by the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences) The research teams at Transport Research Centre Delft develop techniques for improving the reliability of goods transport and passenger mobility. The international networks in which we participate are: European Network for Housing Research (ENHR) Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) European Urban Research Association (EURA) International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) Network on European Communication and Transport Activities (NECTAR) Benelux Interuniversity Association of Transport Economists (BIVEC) Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) Fédération Internationale des Géomètres (FIG) Association of Geographic Information Laboratories for Europe (AGILE) Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association (GSDI) Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Urban Data Management Society (UDMS) International Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Earth Research Centre Delft (headed by the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences) Delft Earth aims to deepen our understanding of the Earth's dynamics: beneath the surface, on the surface, and in the
Foreword Since it was founded in 1985 OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies has been searching for and developing innovative solutions to societal problems connected with housing, urban, mobility and geo-information studies. In the next few years we intend to: maintain our high level of fundamental and internationallyoriented research and, where possible, further expand into agenda-shaping international research projects. continue to focus on practical and policy-support projects, also in association with partners, with the aim of finding optimal solutions to societal problems and issues. strengthen the relationship between OTB research and the teaching curricula in the faculties (at TU Delft and elsewhere) with which we have close ties. achieve a constant intake and outflow of young PhDs and visiting researchers from abroad. Prof. dr. Peter Boelhouwer Managing Director
OTB Research Institute for Urban, Housing and Mobility Studies OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies is an interfaculty institute at TU Delft which specialises in independent research in housing, urban, mobility and geo-information studies. We have close ties with the teaching and research activities at various faculties of TU Delft. Our mission The OTB Research Institute develops solutions for societal issues and problems connected with housing, urban, mobility and geoinformation studies. We assist in the realisation of sustainable urban areas capable of providing excellent housing, working and leisure facilities now and in the future. We differ from many other research institutes in that we combine fundamental and applied research on a national and international scale: we translate theoretical insights into solutions for societal and policy issues and use practical studies to flesh out and address new scientific questions. We also focus closely on the dissemination of knowledge via teaching, educational courses, conferences and publications. Our core activities Fundamental research Applied research Policy advice and support Education, courses and conferences Scientific research, applied research and policy advice What matters most to us is the interchange between theory and practice. Using scientific methods and insights, we develop instruments that can be of help when policies are being determined and formulated. If possible and wherever relevant, we look at the know-how and experience gained in other countries. As well as carrying out policy-related research, we also offer evaluation research or expert reappraisal. Our many years' experience is a sound basis for practical advice, process management and secondment. Our role here can vary from drawing up discussion memoranda, advising on achievement targets and mediation, to writing policy plans and giving support to the implementation of policies and projects. Multidisciplinary teams Research is carried out by multidisciplinary teams of experts in housing, systems engineering, policy analysis, management, architecture, social geography, town and country planning, economics, sociology, civil engineering, law, geodesy and GIS technology. Knowledge transfer OTB researchers are regularly asked to contribute to bachelor's and master's programmes at TU Delft. We also transfer knowledge to a broader public by running courses, conferences, (international) congresses, a post-doctoral programme in Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies and various symposia.
Research Programmes All our research themes revolve around the built environment. We run seven research programmes that focus on relevant societal issues. At present over 150 researchers from a wide range of disciplines are working on solutions for a sustainable living environment. Urban Renewal and Housing Urban Renewal Social and Spatial Integration in Residential Neighbourhoods The Organisation of Urban Renewal How do city districts change? And how can we engineer change in city districts? These two questions lie at the heart of our research on urban renewal and housing. We explore the physical and socio-cultural changes in city districts and the organisational aspects of urban renewal. How does a neighbourhood rate on the housing market? What does the neighbourhood mean to the residents? How do residents relate to one another and the neighbourhood? How do technical players work together with social partners? Housing systems The development of housing systems Housebuilding (Residential Construction) Market Housing Preferences Financial and Economic Aspects of the Housing Market Amid the complex interplay of market forces, institutions and regulations future generations must also be assured of a proper living environment. This means sufficient affordable housing and homes which reflect the needs and tastes of the residents. The OTB Research Institute studies developments in the housing market, the interaction between housing market processes and other trends in society. Urban and Regional Development Spatial Development Spatial Governance Households and businesses are affected in innumerable ways by developments in society. Activity patterns are becoming evermore complex with new spatial configurations and dynamics evolving all the time. Spatial planning and the transport network are under mounting pressure. The OTB Research Institute is investigating the structural development of urban networks and the underlying activity patterns within a decision-making scenario involving more public and private players. Sustainable Housing Transformations Sustainable and Healthy Housing Strategic Housing Stock Policy and Technical Management Building Regulations and Quality Assurance The need for a sustainable urban environment is continuing to draw national and international attention. But how can the quality of our homes be guaranteed, now and in the future? The keywords are environmentally-friendly, energy-saving and health. Our research teams look for innovative processes, quality standards and policy instruments which enable the quality of housing to be improved in a sustainable manner. We also advise housing associations on technical management and strategic housing stock policy. Geo-Information and Land Development Government Intervention in the Land Market Provision of Geo-Information We are committed to improving the availability and accessibility of spatial information, particularly real-estate information regarding, for example, rights of possession and rights of use. Another of our key research themes is land policy, including possible interventions in the ownership and control of land and property, with the main emphasis on how government can participate in spatial planning through development projects and the instruments at their disposal. Mobility Studies Sustainable and Reliable Intermodal Freight Transport Systems Feasibility of Hub-and-Spoke Transport Networks Behaviour of Suppliers of Transport Services under Changing Conditions Innovative developments to make transport systems more sustainable and reliable are imperative in order to maintain mobility in the Netherlands and Europe as a whole. We conduct research into freight and passenger transport by rail, inland shipping, sea, air and road. The main topics are transport innovation, transport quality, network design, bottleneck analyses, market reconnaissance, sustainability and cost/benefit analyses. GIS Technology Crisis Management Spatial Information-Infrastructure In our increasingly complex society a growing demand is emerging for up-to-date, reliable, and readily available geographical infor-mation. We are working on a new geo-information infrastructure for the Netherlands and elsewhere. The aim is to present geographical information in a standard format and to open it up to more user groups. The infrastructure is based on geographical database-management and storage systems.