Research is one of the most important activities within the Geography Department of Gent university.
The Geography Department is subdivided into the following 9 research units:
Topography (Land Surveying): evaluation of error sources and the expected accuracy of instruments and the processing methods used. Investogation of the influence of the atmospheric loading on GPS determined coördinates.
Integrated Land Use Planning: mainly focusing on the various aspects of participative and sustainable land use, with due attention paid to production and environmental conditions.
Social and Economic Geography: (i) population geography, (ii) location theoretic research, (iii) urban geography and urban policy, (iv) transport geography, and (v) spatial data collection and modelling.
Landscape science and Environmental planning:landscape genesis, landscape ecology, landscape planning, landscape architecture and land classification.
Marine and Coastal Geomorphology:submarine geomorphology and sediments dynamic on the sandbanks.
Society and Space: geographical foundations of the modern world system(Wallerstein), participation of the local communities in the organisation of local environment
Physical Geography:terrestrial and marine geomorphology, applied physical geography
Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation: mainly focused on landscape science, geomorphology and environmental and soil degradation. The geographical research areas include Belgium, Mediterranean countries, but also areas in other parts of the world.
Regional geography and spatial analysis: application fields in land evaluation, development of land information systems, environmental degradation, risk analysis and decision making.