What does Raum+ mean?

With the Raum+ method, an overview of the settlement area reserves is created without much effort and with expert support for a specific area either at the municipal, regional, state or cantonal level (Switzerland). When creating an overview of settlement area reserves, it is not just the quantity that matters, but also the quality of the areas. This means that information on the area reserves, such as for availability, blockade and ownership, are included, so later statements on the mobilizability of the respective area can be made.
Particularly in the present time with the trend of the migration of the population from rural areas an attractive living environment in the country, but also in the cities must be secured. The prerequisite for this is an orderly settlement development, which can be created with Raum + as the basis for settlement area monitoring and thus promotes a targeted and differentiated settlement area management.

The Raum + Method offers support to municipalities and cities in their municipal development with practicable and uncomplicated tools as well as advice and recommendations.
In many areas of Germany and Switzerland, work has already been carried out with the Raum + method, which was developed at the ETH Zurich and the University of Karlsruhe and has been steadily refined and expanded.

So that Raum+ can be carried out successfully and a comprehensive and detailed overview of the settlement area potentials can be worked out, the following tasks have to be carried out:

  • Preliminary work, in the form of a GIS-based potential analysis, which will be identified in advance of the surveys in order to optimize the survey
  • Carrying out comprehensive surveys, which are collected together in an interview with the local communities
  • public Internet-based platform as an essential tool of the overview with access authorizations and continuous updating
  • Evaluation of the surveyed settlement area potentials in a situation assessment as a basis for the development of recommendations for action for municipalities