After successful completion of the course, students are able to describe the basic features of urban ecosystems and urban ecological relationships. They have a basic knowledge of the influence of urban ecology and urban climate factors on urban planning and architecture and vice versa. They can qualitatively and quantitatively describe the influence of climate change on the quality of life in cities. They are able to apply urban planning, urban design and object planning strategies and measures to improve the urban climate ("mitigation") and to adapt to climate change ("adaptation") in planning practice.

1. UNIT: basics, historical development

1.1 Introduction to the basics of urban ecology

- Energy balance

- Substance balance

- Water balance

- Soil balance

- Biotopes

- Climate

- Open spaces

1.2 Historical development of the "urban ecosystem

2. UNIT: Settlement ecology, climatology

2.1 Factors influencing climate change from a settlement ecology perspective

- Building land and soil consumption

- Material flows

- Energy use

- Mobility

2.2 Brief introduction to urban climatology

3. UNIT: Climate Change, Urban Heat Islands, Adaptation Measures

3.1 Global and regional climate zones - characteristics and differentiation

3.2 Climate change has arrived - findings, foresight, consequences

- Findings worldwide and in relation to Austria

- Foreseeable development

- Climate change in the example of Vienna: development, scenarios, impacts

- Consequences of climate change for settlement areas

3.3 Urban heat island effect and influencing factors

- Characteristics of the heat island effect using the example of Vienna, bioclimatic consequences

- Factors influencing the urban microclimate

3.4 Measures against urban heat islands - Urban Heat Island (UHI) Strategy Plan Vienna

- Spatial and urban planning compensation measures

- Measures at urban planning level

- Measures at project level

3.5 Measures against urban heat islands - fields of action

3.5.1 Water management

Infiltration, retention, drainage systems

3.5.2. green space management

Services of greenery in the city, radiation balance of different surfaces, implementation levels of greening measures, consideration of green structures in urban development planning, effect of street greenery, categories and exemplary examples of object-related greening measures in the city, building greening and its effects

4. UNIT: Urban concepts and practical examples

4.1. urban development policy in resonance with climate change - the example of Helsinki

4.2. space for green written into the DNA of the city - Rome versus Madrid

4.3 Approaches to climate change-adapted urban development "Around the Corner

- Garden City Puchenau, Linz

- Wildgarten, Vienna

- Viertel Zwei, Vienna

- Living at Helmut Zilk Park, Vienna

- Model Quarter Integration Duisburg Vierlinden (D)

4.4 New urban concepts - Masdar City

4.5 Possible paths to the Zero Carbon City

Results of the research project "Zero Emission Urban Study 2020" (ZEUS)

4.6 Energy use - active climate protection

4.7 New mobility concepts

- Individual mobility of the future - the MIT Media Lab Utopia

- Mobility as a service/ Shared Mobility - the example of MO.Point (separate supplement)

5. UNIT: Assessment Catalogues for Ecology and Sustainability in Practice

5.1 Catalogue of Protected Goods for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (separate supplement)

5.2 The "4 Pillar Model" in subsidised housing in Vienna (separate supplement)

5.3. processing concept sustainability MedCampus Graz (separate supplement)

Areas of expertise, methods and instruments addressed

• Urban ecology
• Urban climatology
• Spatial and environmental research/analysis
• Comparative urban research
• Urban planning strategies
• Urban design, landscape design
• Environmental technology, building ecology

Development and presentation of a project of approx. 10-20 pp. Contents of the project can be:

• Revision of an existing project (from studies or job) with regard to the contents of the course.
• Design sketch on an urban planning or object planning scale, which deals in particular with the topic of the VU (can also be interlinked with current design or studio), including the derivation of the design.
• Analysis and optimisation proposals of realised urban planning or architectural projects with regard to the contents of the course.
• Theoretical work (e.g. on the topic of water management, measures against heat island effects, etc.)

Group work with up to 3 participants is also possible. The scope of work is to be adapted accordingly.