Urban Landscapes and Futures
Urban systems and related transport infrastructure increasingly dominate the world´s flows and storage of energy and materials, widely affecting use of natural resources, ecosystem services and biodiversity. At the same time urban and urbanising landscapes are arenas where most people live and work. Therefore, methods and tools for integrating sustainability issues in urban development are urgently needed.
Urban nature is a key component of the urban system, providing ecosystem services such as air quality and micro climate regulation and stormwater retention but also health and recreation, and sustaining biodiversity. Research is conducted on impacts of urbanisation and transport infrastructure on biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as on development of methods and tools for integration of biodiversity objectives and an ecosystem approach in planning and management of urban systems.
Selected publications
| Adem Esmail, B., Anderson, C.C., Cortinovis, C., Bast, S., Suleiman, L., Kato Huerta, J., Högström, J., Balfors, B., Arciniegas, G., Geneletti, D., Mörtberg, U., Albert, C. 2024. Advancing boundary work to support urban planning: Geodesign with nature-based solutions in Stockholm . AMBIO. |
| Dobbs, C., Haase, D., and Mörtberg, U. 2023. Understanding land use, land cover, and landscape patterns of the world's cities for sustainable biodiversity planning . In C. Nilon & M. Aronson (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of urban biodiversity (1st ed., pp. 20). Taylor and Francis. |
| Cai, Z., Kwak, Y., Cvetkovic, V., Deal, B., Mörtberg, U., 2023. Urban spatial dynamic modeling based on urban amenity data to inform smart city planning . Anthropocene 42: 100387. |
| Adem Esmail, B., Cortinovis, C., Suleiman, L., Albert, C., Geneletti, D., Mörtberg, U., 2022. Greening cities through urban planning: A literature review on the uptake of concepts and methods in Stockholm . Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 72: 127584 |
| Kåresdotter, E., Page, J., Mörtberg, U., Näsström, H., Chen, S., Kalantari, Z., 2022. First mile/last mile problems in smart sustainable cities: A case study in Stockholm County . Journal of Urban Technology 29: 115-137. |
| Brokking, P., Mörtberg, U., Balfors, B., 2021. Municipal practices for integrated planning of nature-based solutions in urban development . Sustainability 13: 10389. |
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Eckersten, S., Balfors, B., Gunnarsson-Östling, U., 2021. Challenges and Opportunities in Early Stage Planning of Transport Infrastructure Projects: Environmental Aspects in the Strategic Choice of Measures Approach. Sustainability 13. |
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Högström, J., Brokking, P., Balfors, B., Hammer, M., 2021. Approaching Sustainability in Local Spatial Planning Processes: A Case Study in the Stockholm Region, Sweden. Sustainability 13. |
| Furberg, D., Ban, Y., Mörtberg, U., 2020. Monitoring urban green infrastructure changes and impact on habitat connectivity using high-resolution satellite data. Remote Sensing 12: 3072. |
| Page, J., Mörtberg, U., Destouni, G., Ferreira, C., Näsström, H., Kalantari, Z., 2020. Open-source planning support system use for sustainable regional planning: A case study of Stockholm County, Sweden . Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science 47: 1508-1523. |
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Khoshkar, S., Hammer, M., Borgström, S., Dinnétz, P., Balfors, B., 2020. Moving from vision to action- integrating ecosystem services in the Swedish local planning context. Land Use Policy 97: 104791. |
| Högström, J, Balfors, B. and Hammer, M. 2019. The role of small-scale planning projects in urban development: A case study in the metropolitan Stockholm region, Sweden . Land Use Policy 84: 294-304. |
| Khoshkar, S., Balfors, B. and Wärnbäck, A. 2018. Planning for green qualities in the densification of suburban Stockholm – opportunities and challenges . Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 61: 2613-2635. |
| Engström, R., Destouni, G., Mörtberg, U., Howells, M., 2018. . Land Degradation and Development 29 (3653-3662). |
| La Sorte, F., Lepczyk, C., Aronson, M., Goddard, M., Katti, M., MacGregor-Fors, I., Mörtberg, U., Nilon, C., Warren, P., Nicholas, W., Yang, J., 2018. . Diversity and Distributions 24: 928-938. |
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Goldenberg, R., Kalantari, Z., Cvetkovic, V., Mörtberg, U., Deal, B., Destouni, G., 2017. . Science of the Total Environment 593-594: 599-609. |
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Karlson, M., Seiler, A., and Mörtberg, U., 2017. . Ecological Engineering 105: 211-220. |
| Högström, J, Balfors, B and Hammer, M. 2017. Planning for sustainability in expansive metropolitan regions: exploring practices and planners’ expectations in Stockholm, Sweden . European Planning Studies 26: 439-457. |
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Högström, J., 2017. Towards sustainable urban development in expansive urban regions: Conditions and challenges for municipal spatial planning practice , TRITA-SEED-LIC 2017:01. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 15 pp. |
| Högström, J., Balfors, B., Hammer, M., 2017. Planning for sustainability in expansive metropolitan regions: Exploring practices and planners’ expectations in Stockholm, Sweden. European Planning Studies 26: 439-457 |
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Khoshkar, S. 2017. . TRITA-SEED-LIC 2017:02, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 24 pp. |
| Karlsson, C.S.J., Miliutenko, S., Björklund, A., Mörtberg, U., Olofsson, B., Toller, S., 2017. . The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 22: 1302–1317. |
| Engström, E., Mörtberg, U., Karlström, A., and Mangold, M. 2017. . Hydrogeology Journal 25: 1077-1091. |
| Kalantari, Z., Khoskhar, S., Falk, H., Cvetkovic, V. & Mörtberg, U. 2017. . Sustainability 9: 346. |
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Mörtberg, U., Goldenberg, R., Kalantari, Z., Kordas, O., Deal, B., Balfors, B. and Cvekovic, V. 2017. . Energy Policy 100: 338-340. |
| Karlsson, C.S.J., Kalantari, Z., Mörtberg, U., Olofsson, B., Lyon, S.W., 2017. . Environmental Management: (accepted). |
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Babelon, I., Ståhle, A., Balfors, B., 2017. Toward Cyborg PPGIS: exploring socio-technical requirements for the use of web-based PPGIS in two municipal planning cases, Stockholm region, Sweden. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 60: 1366-1390. |
| Balfors, B., Azcarate, J., Mörtberg, U., Karlson, M. and Odelius Gordon, S. 2016. . Chapter 8 in: Geneletti, D. (ed.). Handbook on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Impact Assessment. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp 167-194. |
| Karlson, M., Karlsson, C., Mörtberg, U., Olofsson, B. & Balfors, B. 2016. . Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment 46: 207-228. |
| Azcarate, J. 2015. . TRITA-LWR PHD 2015:02, doctoral thesis in Planning and Decision Analysis, KTH Architecture and the Built Environment, Stockholm. |
| Karlson, M. 2015. . TRITA-LWR PHD 2015:06, doctoral thesis in Land and Water Resources Engineering, KTH Architecture and the Built Environment, Stockholm. |
| Karlson, M. & Mörtberg, U. 2015. A spatial ecological assessment of fragmentation and disturbance effects of the Swedish road network . Landscape and Urban Planning 134: 53-65. |
| Engstöm, E., Balfors, B., Mörtberg, U., Thunvik, R., Gaily, T. & Mangold, M. 2015. . Science of the Total Environment 515-516: 181-187. |
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Aronson, M.F.J., La Sorte, F.A., Nilon, C.H., Katti, M., Goddard, M.A., Lepczyk, C.A., Warren, P.S., Williams, W.P.S., Cilliers, S., Clarkson, B., Dobbs, C., Dolan, R., Hedblom, M., Klotz, S., Louwe Kooijmans, J., Kühn, I., MacGregor-Fors, I., McDonnell, M., Mörtberg, U., Pyšek, P., Siebert, S., Sushinsky, J., Werner, P. & Winter, M. 2014. . Proceedings of the Royal Society B 281, 20133330. |
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Kalantari, Z. 2014. Road structures under climate and land use change: Bridging the gap between science and application. TRITA-LWR PHD 2014:01, doctoral thesis in Land and Water Resources Engineering, KTH Architecture and the Built Environment, Stockholm. |
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Karlson, M., Mörtberg, U. & Balfors, B. 2014. . Environmental Impact Assessment Review 48: 10-19. |
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Bergsten, A. & Zetterberg, A. 2013. To model the landscape as a network: A practitioner's perspective. Landscape and Urban Planning 119: 35-43. |
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Coello-Balthasar, Z. & Balfors, B. 2013. Problems faced by a national water utility in an urban area, case study: Tegucigalpa, Honduras. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning 8: 508-522, DOI: 10.2495/SDP-V8-N4-508-522. |
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Marcus, L., Balfors, B and Haas, T. 2013. Sustainable urban fabric: The development and application of analytical urban design theory. Chapter 4 in: Sustainable Stockholm: Exploring urban sustainability in Europes greenest city, eds. J. Metzger. and A. Rader Olsson. Routledge, New York, pp 71-101. |
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Mörtberg, U., Haas, J., Zetterberg, A., Franklin, J., Jonsson, D. & Deal, B. 2013. . Urban Ecosystems 16: 763-782. |
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Mörtberg, U., Zetterberg, A. & Balfors, B. 2012. . Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 14: 1250002, 31 pages. |
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Hedblom, M. & Mörtberg, U. 2011. . Chapter 20 in: Yang, X. (ed.) Urban Remote Sensing: Monitoring, Synthesis and Modeling in the Urban Environment. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK: 287-304. |
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Lundberg, K. 2011. A systems thinking approach to environmental follow-up in a Swedish central public authority: Hindrances and possibilities for learning from experience. Environmental Management 48: 123-133. |
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Zetterberg, A. 2011. Connecting the dots: Network analysis, landscape ecology, and practical application. TRITA-LWR PHD 1062. Doctoral Thesis in Land and Water Resources Engineering, KTH Architecture and the Built Environment, Stockholm. |
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Lundberg, K., Balfors, B., Folkeson, L., Nilsson, M. 2010. SEA monitoring in Swedish regional transport infrastructure plans - Improvement opportunities identified in practical experience. Environmental Impact Assessment Revew 30: 400-406. |
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Zetterberg, A., Mörtberg, U. & Balfors, B. 2010. . Landscape and Urban Planning 95: 181-191. |
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Brencic, M., Dawson, A., Folkeson, L., François, D. & Leitão, T. 2009. Pollution mitigation. Chapter 12 in: Dawson, A. (ed.), Water in Road Structures vol. 5, Springer Netherlands, pp 283-297. |
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Folkeson, L., Bækken, T., Brenčič, M., Dawson, A., Frančois, D., Kuřímská, P., Leitão, T., Ličbinský, R., Vojtěšek, M., 2009. Sources and Fate of Water Contaminants in Roads. Chapter 6 in: Dawson, A. (ed.), Water in Road Structures vol. 5. Springer Netherlands, pp. 107-146. |
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Leitão, T., Dawson, A., Bækken, T., Bren i M., Folkeson, L., François, D., Ku mská, P., Liinsk R., Vojtek, M. 2008. Contaminant sampling and analysis. Chapter 7 in: Dawson, A. (ed.), Water in Road Structures vol. 5. Springer Netherlands, pp. 147-174. |
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Lundberg, K. 2009. Monitoring as an instrument for improving environmental performance in public authorities - experience from Swedish Infrastucture Management. TRITA-LWR PHD 1048. Doctoral Thesis in Land and Water Resources Engineering, KTH Architecture and the Built Environment, Stockholm. |
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Lundberg, K., Balfors, B., Folkeson, L. 2009. Framework for environmental performance measurement in a Swedish public sector organization. Journal of Cleaner Production 17: 1017-1024. |
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Mörtberg, U. 2009. . Chapter 25 in: McDonnell, M.J., Breuste, J. and Hahs, A.K. Ecology of Cities and Towns: A Comparative Approach. Cambridge University Press, pp 439-455. |
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Faith-Ell, C., Balfors, B. & Folkeson, L. 2006. The application of environmental requirements in Swedish road maintenance contracts. Journal of Cleaner Production 14: 163-171. |
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Lundberg, K., Balfors, B., Folkeson, L. 2006. Identification of environmental aspects in an EMS context: a methodological framework for the Swedish National Rail Administration. Journal of Cleaner Production 15: 385-394. |
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Balfors, B., Mörtberg, U., Gontier, M. & Brokking, P. 2005. Impacts of region-wide urban development on biodiversity in strategic environmental assessment. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 7: 229-246, DOI: 10.1142/S1464333205002006. |
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Faith-Ell, C. 2005. The application of environmental requirements in procurement of road maintenance in Sweden. TRITA-LWR PHD 1016. Doctoral Thesis, KTH Land and Water Resources Engineering, Stockholm. |
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Lundberg, K., Balfors, B. & Folkeson, L. 2005. Environmental management systems in rail operation and maintenance: current practice and potential improvements. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 7: 433-456. |
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Brokking, P., Schmidtbauer Crona, J., Eriksson, I.-M. & Balfors, B. 2004. SEA in Swedish transportation policy-making and planning - political ambitions and practice. European Environment 14: 94-104. |
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Bäckström, M., Karlsson, S., Bäckman, L., Folkeson, L. & Lind, B. 2004. Mobilisation of heavy metals by deicing salts in a roadside environment. Water Research 38: 720-732. |
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Mörtberg, U. 2004. Landscape ecological analysis and assessment in an urbanising environment - forest birds as biodiversity indicators. TRITA-LWR PHD 1012. Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. |
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Mörtberg, U. & Balfors, B. 2003. Landskapsekologisk planering i och kring tätorter. I: Carlestål, B. (red.), Redovisning av konferens den 25 oktober 2001. Kungliga Skogs- och Lantbruksakademiens Tidskrift 142: 13-17. |
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Mörtberg, U.M. 2001. . Landscape Ecology 16: 193-203. |
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Mörtberg, U.M. & Wallentinus, H.-G. 2000. Red-listed forest bird species in an urban environment - assessment of green space corridors . Landscape and Urban Planning 50: 215-226. |