(Re)Connecting Maritime Ecosystems: Geospatial Mapping of the ‘Spaces of Flows’ in Port-City Regions
The worldwide shock of the 2020 Beirut Blast has directed public attention towards the challenges of the close relationship between ports, maritime-related activities, and their cities and regions. Abundant literature already exists on port geography and port city development. Yet, the question of facilitating sustainable port expansion and city development in a limited space remains unanswered. We need more in-depth exploration of how global flows running through ports reshape the built environment.
In the RePortFlows project, the definition of the ‘port-city-region’ is inspired by considering cities and regions as constantly dependent on and composed of complex networks, large associations, and identities rather than fixed spatial territories marked by clear margins. Considering the current challenges, such as globalisation, climate change, migration, digitalisation, and the pandemic, I will investigate the spatial planning, transport and sustainability-related issues and questions in Rotterdam and Genoa.