OPERLAND – Evaluating the development of urban and peri-urban operational landscapes

Operational landscapes, consisting of a mix of logistic corridors, warehouses, supply areas, office complexes, data centres and transport depots, play an increasing role in defining urban and peri-urban areas. Yet, they remain an under-researched topic in urban studies and land system science.

The overall aim of the OPERLAND project is to determine if and how the development of operational landscapes is driven by the strategic planning process and what role institutional actors at multiple planning levels play within the process. Using Romania as a case study area, the project will:

1. Evaluate the impact of operational landscapes on land changes;
2. Reveal multi-level institutional planning processes behind the development of operational landscapes;
3. Identify actors and cooperation mechanisms that enabled their development.

• Spatial analysis of land use trajectories.
• Document content analysis and text mining.
• Stakeholder interviews and surveys.