About this course

The course provides an introduction to the planning of sustainable transport, mobility, and coordinated land use and transportation planning.

Mobility as a topic is explored with a focus on how planning can balance various sustainability dimensions. There is particular emphasis on sustainable mobility in cities, the role of urban and transport planning in promoting sustainable mobility, and the measures that must be taken to develop sustainable transport strategies and policies.

Throughout the course, a current real-world case study in which mobility and transport are central themes will be examined. By investigating and analysing the case, students will gain an understanding of how theories and concepts are applied in practice and in reality. The structure of the course varies based on the chosen case, but the following topics are relevant: (1) Introduction to planning for sustainable transport, (2) Balancing environmental, social, and economic sustainability in mobility planning, (3) New forms of transport and implications for sustainable mobility, (4) Strategies and policies for achieving sustainability goals in transport planning.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, students should:

  1. Possess knowledge of transport planning, balancing sustainability dimensions in planning work, and various roles in planning work.
  2. Develop skills to contribute to the development of strategies and plans for sustainable mobility in cities. Students should also be able to describe the effects of various transport systems and transport policy, as well as think critically about goals and outcomes.
  3. Possess general competence in coordinated land use and transport planning, and continuity as a theme in planning.

  • Learning activities

    Lectures, guest lectures, self-study, student presentations, group discussions, excursions to relevant organisations, and an individual assignment. Each student is required to complete an individual assignment that examines one or more of the course topics based on the course's main case study. It is also expected that the individual assignment draws on input from discussions with fellow students and their work. Examples of possible assignments (students choose one themselves):

    1. A quantitative or qualitative analysis as part of the main case study
    2. Discussion of land use and transport plans and associated policies
    3. Stakeholder analysis of various actors participating in planning work
    4. Analysis using GIS tools (network analyses, etc.) to explore various concepts
    5. Applying statistical methods to examine and analyse available data
    6. A synthesis and discussion of a selection of academic literature on one of the course topics
    7. Discuss a current issue and a design intervention that addresses it

    Students are encouraged to consider their choice of topic early in the teaching period, and to select a topic that is relevant to their programme of study. It is permitted to build on assignments the student has previously developed (site analyses, etc.), but important findings and results must be included and presented anew within the scope of this assignment. Any extension of a previous assignment must be agreed upon with the teacher in connection with the supervision sessions.

  • Teaching support

    In connection with the preparation of student assignments, students have access to one supervision session with the teacher (30-45 minutes), and supervision must be scheduled within the time allocated for supervision in the course plan. A prerequisite for supervision is that the student has chosen a topic and has prepared an outline for the assignment. If there is a further need for supervision, this must be agreed upon with the teacher.

  • Syllabus

    The curriculum includes literature that contributes to theoretical understanding, examples of developed knowledge bases for planning, proposed and adopted strategic plans for mobility and transport, as well as policy documents. The reading list will be made available in Canvas.

  • Prerequisites

    None

  • Recommended prerequisites

    APL100/EIE100/LAA115 or a basic understanding of the Norwegian planning system.

  • Assessment method

    The assessment is based on an individual student assignment. An external examiner together with the course coordinator will award a grade on an A-F scale following evaluation of the written report. A detailed description of the format and other requirements for the assignment is specified in the course's Canvas room.

    Project assignment Karakterregel: Letter grades

  • About use of AI

    Category 2 (K2) - Specified use of AI applies to this course.

    In the student assignment, AI may be used for brainstorming, language editing, and gathering information alongside other academic sources or big data. The student is personally responsible for quality-assuring any information obtained. The use of AI must be described in the assignment with a brief explanation of which tools have been used and how they were used. The student is responsible for the final content of the text following completed language editing.

    Reference is also made to NMBU's guidelines on the use of AI - https://www.nmbu.no/retningslinjer-bruk-av-kunstig-intelligens-ki-ved-nmbu

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    An external examiner assesses the individual assignment or a selection of the assignments. The grade is determined in collaboration with an internal examiner.

  • Mandatory activity

    Attendance at course activities, self-study, presenting and discussing the course topics, participation in supervision activities, and submission of the student assignment/final report. It is expected that the student attends at least 80% of the course activities.

  • Notes

    This course has synergies with IND251 Transport Modelling and Planning - Theory and Practice. Students are encouraged to build on APL270 by taking IND251.

  • Teaching hours

    The timetable will be made available on Canvas. The timetable in TimeEdit is used by the teacher to reserve classrooms/teaching rooms throughout the teaching period, and therefore does not necessarily correspond exactly to the actual teaching schedule.

  • Preferential right

    M-BYREG (priority), M-LA, M-EIE.

  • Admission requirements

    GSK