Geography and Planning

A major contemporary challenge is to achieve a shift towards more sustainable systems of energy provision. Renewable energy sources are a key ingredient of such transitions, but delivering an expansion of renewable energy raises big issues for the relationship between society, energy, government and the landscape. This places planning in a pivotal position, and it is the role of this module to develop an advanced understanding of the roles that planning can perform.

Dates and cost

Please contact us for the latest timetable and fee information.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

• Understand the various factors shaping the emergence and expansion of different renewable energy technologies, including resource availability and market structures.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of key planning strategies for promoting renewable energy (zoning, centralisation, and bottom-up strategies like opportunities mapping).
• Develop a nuanced understanding of society-energy relations, as revealed and shaped by planning, including the limits of ‘NIMBY’ concepts, and ways of fostering better societal engagement.
• To evaluate the merits of different renewable energy pathways, those based on large-scale centralised infrastructures and more decentralised systems.

How the module will be delivered

The module will be delivered by a combination of: lectures, reading seminars and workshops.

Syllabus content

This module examines the role of planning in shaping renewable energy development. After introducing students to key technologies, trends and patterns in the development of renewable energy – organised with theories of ‘transition pathways’ – the module covers the following: an outline and analysis of the conventional role of planning in renewable energy decision-making; the role of zoning strategies and new infrastructure decision-making regimes; the role of planning and other actions, such as fostering community-ownership, in fostering wider societal support for renewable energy; more radical energy planning ideas, such as the pursuit of 100% renewable energy regions.

How the module will be assessed

Written assessment (100%), split as follows:

• multi-choice tests (10%)
• consultation response (30%)
• essay (60%).

This module introduces students to a set of analytical approaches which are frequently used in transport planning practice. This includes analysis of travel behaviour which aims to provide an introduction to research designs and strategies for understanding travel behaviour, acquisition and analysis of relevant data through practical exercises and transport surveys for collecting primary data. Particular emphasis is given on transport surveys for collecting revealed and stated preferences, which have been prominent in travel behaviour research. Designing such surveys and analysing the data they generate form an important part of this module.

Dates and cost

Please contact us for the latest timetable and fee information.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

• Describe the different Approaches to travel behaviour research and ability to critique them.
• Design and plan a quantitative survey while being able to identify potential areas of risk to quality.
• Distinguish and explain the differences between Revealed and Stated Preference data.
• Critically explain the strengths and weaknesses of revealed and stated preference data.
• Process and organise  survey data (using statistical software).
• Formulate hypotheses in travel-behaviour survey data.
• Test hypotheses using statistical software and interpret the findings.
• Choose appropriate statistical and graphical methods to model survey data and interpret the results.

How the module will be delivered

The module will be delivered by a combination of:

• lectures
• seminars
• computer lab practical sessions.

Syllabus content

• qpproaches to travel behaviour
• travel data acquisition
• transport surveys/questionnaires (revealed and stated preferences)
• travel data analysis; Practical One: Introduction to SPSS
• travel data analysis; Practical Two: Hypothesis Testing using IBM SPSS Statistics 20
• travel data analysis; Practical Three: Using regression methods to model questionnaire data IBM SPSS Statistics 20.

How the module will be assessed

Exam (30%), Written Report (50%), Group Presentation (20%).

This module considers the complexities involved in meeting society’s mobility needs whilst minimising negative impacts associated with surface transport. The module has three main focii:

1. Understanding the environmental, social and economic impacts of different transport modes;
2. Identifying and evaluating the efficacy of different sustainable transport solutions;
3. Exploring the social, environmental and distributional consequences of different policy, behavioural, spatial and technological solutions for achieving more sustainable transport.

Dates and cost

Please contact us for the latest timetable and fee information.

On completion of the module a student should be able to:

• Define and critically assess the main environmental, social and economic impacts of a range of surface transport modes and spatial arrangements.
• Identify and critically evaluate the main components of transport project appraisal.
• Assess the social, environmental and distributional impacts of a range of sustainable transport policies and mode choices.
• Critically examine the efficacy of proposed solutions at a range of scales and in different political and national contexts.

How the module will be delivered

A combination of lectures, group work and class discussion, plus a site visit

Syllabus content

• Introduction to the sustainable mobility paradigm and sustainability indicators.
• Overview of UK sustainable transport policy and recent developments (e.g Unified Transport Authorities).
• Identification of main social and environmental impacts of surface transport.
• Evaluation and development of transport project appraisal (e.g. DfT New Approach to Appraisal; five case model; WebTAG).
• The role of spatial planning in sustainable transport policies.
• Consultation and participation in sustainability planning.
• Assessing technology and behaviour change as the basis for sustainable transport policy.
• Evaluating the contribution of active travel.
• Evaluating new developments in vehicle technology in relation to sustainability indicators.

How the module will be assessed

Written assessment (100%), split as follows: Report (75%), Essay (25%)