The department’s objective is to play a prominent role in academic and societal interdisciplinary and intersectoral research, internationally and nationally. The aim is to provide an understanding of urban life and the functioning of urban areas, the implications for the sustainability of cities as well as the quality of life of their inhabitants and visitors, and in identifying effective pathways at the individual and urban level to stimulate urban vitality and liveability. 

Major thematic issues on the research agenda are housing, financial centres development, spatial development, cross-border metropolitan integration, local and cross-border mobilities, public health, and smart cities. The two observatories, one on housing and another one on spatial development, including expertise in GIS, form an important basis for research. 

The UDM Department contributes also to the three inter-disciplinary research programmes:

Cross-border issues are central to many studies of the department. Analysing cross-border flows and the relationships with political, social, cultural, economic and institutional factors fosters multiple collaborations with the cross-border interdisciplinary programme. 

UDM has developed strong competences in research on the health implications of mobility and exposures to urban environments and in health interventions, which will be further extended to contribute optimally to the Health & Health Systems interdisciplinary programme.

In a digitalised society, internet and smartphones offer opportunities to participate in e-activities in a manner less constrained by time and place. In addition, the implementation of automotive vehicles could change daily mobility. The social and spatio-temporal implications of a digitalised society will be an axe of research for the Digital Transformation interdisciplinary programme.