The geo-economic position of Belgium and Flanders within the EU, the open Belgian economy and the fact that Belgium is densely populated create challenges for different policy levels and governments confronted with long term decision making on sustainable mobility and transport infrastructure. These sustainable decisions require the integration of social, economic, strategic, spacial, environmental and operational objectives. Therefore, it is very important to have knowledge on developing thorough and legitimate solutions.
Our department has built a serious reputation on methodology and empirical analyses of socio-economic evaluation methods, such as cost-benefit analysis, regional economic impact studies, eclectic multi criteria analysis etc. Complementary and innovating evaluation techniques were developed to integrate a large number of criteria and stakeholders in one analysis.
Our VUB team has built its expertise from transport studies to regional development, including the design of master plans, the formulation of policy measures and transport and infrastructure projects and the evaluation of societal acceptance. Given the multi disciplinary character of the majority of these research and advisory projects, we are also experienced in the management of multidisciplinary research teams, including engineers, architects, special planners, environmental and mobility specialists, lawyers etc.
The BEDR team of VUB has focused on transport, port and infrastructure analysis and strategy, with special attention to societal impacts. Examples of recent research projects in transport analysis and strategy with external funding carried out are:
- 2002 – 2006: Masterplan for the Port of Brussels, horizon 2015 (Client: Haven van Brussel – Port of Brussels). Development of an integrated vision for the port area (time horizon 2015).
- 2004: Economic impact study of the extension plan of DHL at Brussels Airport (Client: Provincie Vlaams-Brabant – Province of Flemish Brabant). Regional Economic Impact Study of the extension project.
- 2004 – 2005: Economic development study for the port of Antwerp, horizon 2030(Client: Antwerp Port Authority). In a 5-month span, an economic development study was delivered, including an extensive literature study of all past studies executed in the strategic planning process of the port of Antwerp, as well as scientific literature and other ports’ strategic studies.
- 2004 – 2006: Study on financing and charging practices of seaports in the EU(Client: European Commission – DG TREN). Faced with efforts towards enhanced transparency as regards the financial linkages between the public purse and the port sector, the European Commission commissioned a study to supplement the existing information base line by adopting a dual approach, i.e. by identifying and analysing direct (=conventional) sources of information, and simultaneously tapping into indirect (alternative) sources of information.
- 2005-2007: Study into new financing techniques for brownfield development (Client: OVAM – Public Waste Agency of Flanders). The Public Waste Agency of Flanders, responsible for soil remediation, commissioned this study in order to get insights in new evolutions into financing of brownfield development projects.
- 2006: The impact of the implementation of telework on external transport costs in Flanders (Client: Minister of Mobility of the Flemish Region). In this study, the long-term effects in terms of external transport cost reduction of the implementation of telework were calculated.
- 2008-2009: Study into the socio-economic value and justification of a nuclear waste project in Mol-Dessel (Client: MONA).
