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Martin Behnisch
Professor Martin Behnisch is head of the 'Spatial Information and Modelling' research area at the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER). Additionally, he holds a professorship in the same field at Dresden University of Technology (TUD). Since 2015, he has been an organiser of the International Land Use Symposium (ILUS). His key competencies are related to spatial data science, built environment and land system science, with extensive experience in leading and coordinating collaborative research projects.
He received his PhD (summa cum laude) from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, undertook a postdoc at ETH Zurich and has been a visiting scientist at Concordia University Montréal (Canada), Yonsei University (Korea) and Tianjin University (China). He has received and worked on DFG research grants.
Latest Commentaries
The Search for Urban Recovery in Lebanon
Lebanon’s history has been shaped by recurrent cycles of war, disaster, and economic collapse, with each episode leaving enduring imprints on the country’s urban and social fabric. Howayda al-Harithy (American University of Beirut) critically examines Lebanon’s historical cycles of destruction and reconstruction. Recovery involves more than rebuilding buildings; it requires a framework that is people-centered, heritage-led and place-specific together with an emphasis on restoring social relations, cultural identity, community agency while addressing structural inequalities.
Rebuilding Energy Infrastructure after War
Marco Nicola Binetti (University of Bremen) argues that energy reconstruction should be understood as a core pillar of post-conflict recovery rather than a narrowly technical undertaking. Restoring electricity and fuel supplies enables essential services, supports economic growth, strengthens state legitimacy, and reduces the likelihood of renewed violence. However, successful reconstruction requires overcoming substantial financial, logistical, institutional, and political obstacles. Reconstruction strategies must also adapt to emerging threats and vulnerabilities created by modern warfare.