The purpose of this project is to study water management in an urban planning perspective using theories of urban and social complexity. More specifically, I intend to understand how local authorities and utilities can create (“together”) the bases for managing and catalyzing the technical and organizational innovation necessary for a “sustainable” transition of the urban area in the direction of “more integrated” approaches to urban planning and water management in the city. In particular, my aim is to answer to the following specific questions:
1) What is the role of water management in the planning of urban spaces and services? In particular what do we mean with “more integrated” approaches between urban planning and water management in the city? Why is this important for a “sustainable” transition?
2) How are the present institutional/governance (formal and informal) settings influencing the capacity of local authorities and utilities for transitioning to what we define “more integrated” approaches between urban planning and water management in Danish urban settings?
3) What are the transitions that have characterized water services at the municipal, regional and national level in Denmark? How have those influenced present practices in urban planning and water management in Danish cities?