LURG establishes interdisciplinary collaboration: The Geodesign LAB

The Geodesign Lab is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Architecture and Geography focusing to integrate geospatial information systems (GIS) into the analysis and the design of urban landscapes and urban environments. Challenges and questions of the built environment have rarely, at any time, corresponded to traditional disciplinary or professional boundaries. Through linking different disciplines the Lab aims to develop new possibilities for design proposals that go beyond the traditional border of architecture.

The Geodesin Lab workshop was initiated by Gunnar Ploner and Andreas Mayr at the Institute of Design Studio1 – Prof. Stefano de Martino at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Innsbruck.

Spatial effects of alpine hydro energy infrastructures on the urban landscape

Gunnar Ploner introduces interdisciplinary master course at Studio1, Faculty of Architecture, University of Innsbruck.

The studio is a collaboration between geography and architecture and focuses on the integration of GIS systems into spatial planning. In the first part of the course students will gain familiarity in working with GIS software while in the second part they will apply GIS tools in the course of a geo-spatial analysis of hydro power infrastructures within the Alps.

(1) The GIS Lab: As the amount of collected information increases rapidly the availability of precise data enables new possibilities in researching and planning urban environments and landscapes. A geographic information system (GIS) is a system that integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares, and displays geographic information for informing decision making. GIS gives data meaning through place. It allows us to observe how cities function. GIS exposes complex processes and dynamics (social, political, economical) taking place in the city. If built physical form is the hardware, GIS and geospatial data reveal the software that operate it.

(2) The Research Lab: Hydro power infrastructures are a common feature within the modern alpine landscape. Although often far away from urban regions these infrastructures are crucial components of the global urban network and serve the energetic needs of the modern city.