PhD Projects

EURODIFFUSION – Exploring EU citizens mobility and regional integration through the analysis of Euro coins circulation

 

This thesis aims at analyzing European citizens’ mobility and regional integration through the study of the spatial diffusion of national Euro coins within the Greater Region. The main challenge of the research is to bring new knowledge on the functioning of this particular cross border area, including aspects related to the attractiveness of the different places, barrier effects, limits of the Greater Region as revealed by people mobility, etc. More generally it seeks to develop a method, within a data scarce environment, to evaluate spatial diffusion processes and networks across European territories. Furthermore, this research provides the opportunity to link different families of models used in social sciences (geography, sociology, economy, and demography) or experimental sciences (medicine, biology, physics) with complex system theory.

 

Coordination: Marion Le Texier
Supervision: Claude Grasland (University Paris 7), Geoffrey Caruso
Duration: 2010-2013

Combining GIS and hedonic analysis to estimate the value of neighbourhood landscape and accessibility in suburban Luxembourg

This thesis aims to better understand the periurbanisation process in Luxembourg and quantify the value of landscape amenities and local accessibility. We plan to identify and quantify the essential attributes of periurban externalities that increase the neighbourhoods attractiveness and the willingness to pay of consumers, in order to detect the marginal value of several neighbourhood characteristics by applying the hedonic pricing method on property values. Geographical information systems (GIS) and spatial econometric tools will be combined to account for micro-geographic features and robust estimations.

Coordination: Marie-Line Glaesener
Supervision: Geoffrey Caruso
Funding: FNR AFR PhD grant
Duration: 2009-2012

Analysis of spatial dynamics of land use changes in Luxembourg’s commuting periphery by new methodologies of micro-economic urban land use modelling based on a digital city model

The project aims in predicting Luxembourg’s future urban development by means of a microeconomic urban growth model. Several parameters influencing the residential choice will be added to the model (traffic noise, distance to grocery stores, parcel’s 3D neighbourhood), which will be calibrated for resident’s preferences in Luxembourg in order to enhance its prediction power. Having adapted the model to the situation in Luxembourg it provides a powerful tool for various planning scenarios. [ more ]

Coordination: Christian Kehl
Supervision: Thomas Udelhoven (CRP Gabriel Lippmann), Geoffrey Caruso
Funding: Centre de Recherche Public Gabriel Lippmann
Duration: 2009-2012

Processes of transnational learning and knowledge exchange for regional development

The research analyses learning processes on regional development issues in transnational cooperation projects in the framework of the EU’s Structural Funds’ INTERREG programme. It explores the distinctiveness of transnational learning in interdisciplinary, inter-organisational and inter-cultural networks cooperating on issues of regional development, in particular INTERREG and analyses the conditions under which learning in INTERREG takes place. [ more ]

Coordination: Verena Hachmann
Supervision: Christian Schulz
Funding: FNR AFR PhD grant
Duration: 2008-2011

Carbon Lock-in in der Automobilindustrie? Umweltpolitik und Entwicklungspfade

Auch im Deutschland des 21. Jahrhunderts ist das Auto als wichtigstes Verkehrsmittel fest mit dem Verbrennungsmotor und fossilen Kraftstoffen verbunden. Obwohl vor allem Klimawandel und Ressourcenverknappung dieses traditionelle Antriebskonzept zunehmend unter Druck setzen, erscheint eine Ablösung durch alternative, umweltfreundlichere Antriebskonzepte mittelfristig nicht in Sicht. Können wir demnach – angesichts einer in der Vergangenheit immer wieder verzögerten Einführung von Brennstoffzelle, Elektroauto und Co – von einem Carbon Lock-in in der Automobilindustrie sprechen? [ mehr ]

Koordination: Urs Maier
Betreuung: Christian Schulz
Finanzierung: Universität Luxemburg
Dauer: 2007-2010