Spatial Planning and Management

Code:

GEOGR091

Acronym:

PGT

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Geography

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Geography

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
GEOGR	70	study plan	3	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

To recognize the relation between urban and regional planning and territorial development and well-being promotion

To identify the principles and policies of spatial planning and management.

To identify the main objectives and constraints of spatial planning.

To know the structure and elements of Portugal's national, regional and local planning.

To know how to contribute to preparing spatial planning and management instruments.

Learning outcomes and competences

To recognise the main options for territorial development and planning.

To develop organisational, methods, and spatial planning project analysis skills.

To be aware of the spatial planning theories and be able to run a project.

To use the geographic information systems appropriately for the preparation of spatial plans.

To understand the relation between spatial planning and spatial management and the relevance of different management forms.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Not required

Program

Theoretical component:

1. Territorial planning: theories and models


2. Objectives and difficulties of planning


3. Territorial management system - examples


4. Territorial planning on a national scale - PNPOT, sectoral programmes and strategic programmes


5. Territorial planning on a regional scale - PROT


6. Territorial planning on a municipal scale - PDM, PU, PP

Practical component:

       1. Territorial planning techniques
          1.1 Analysis strategies
          1.2 Definition and construction of analysis indicators.
          1.3 Collecting and processing data.
          1.4 Cartographic representation techniques
          1.5 Interpretation and synthesis techniques
          1.6. Report writing and communicating results
       2. Carrying out project work

Mandatory literature

Direção Geral do Território; Programa Nacional da Política de Ordenamento do Território, 2020 (https://pnpot.dgterritorio.gov.pt/sites/default/files/SQ_Vconc_PNPOT_1.pdf)
CONDESSO, F. ; Ordenamento do Território,, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Politicas, 2005
DASÍ, J., GONZALEZ, J. ; Ordenación del Territorio y Desarrollo Territorial - El gobierno del território en Europa: tradiciones, contextos, culturas y nuevas visiones, Ediciones Trea, 2004
FERRÃO, J. ; O Ordenamento do Território como Política Pública, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 2011
Healey, P. ; Making Better Places : the planning project in the 21st century, Palgrave-Macmillan., 2010
João Mourato (tradutor); João Ferrão (revisão e adaptação),; GLOSSÁRIO DO DESENVOLVIMENTO TERRITORIAL, DGOTDU, 2011
MORPHET, J.; Effective Planning in Spatial Planning, Routledge,, 2011
Portas N., Domingues A., Cabral, J.; Políticas Urbanas e Tendências, estratégias e oportunidades, FCG, 2003
Rydin, Y. ; The future of planning: Beyond Growth Dependence., Policy Press, 2013

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching methodologies selected for the UC aim to meet the training needs of students. The theoretical and practical components are intended to address the program's content, implying participation and responsibility of the students in the learning process through extended discussions,  reflection on the theoretical contents, and acquisition of concepts and methods. In practical classes, expository methodologies, participatory and collaborative, using the discussion-oriented reflection and use of GIS.;

- Personal tutorial sessions;

- Conferences by experts on spatial planning;

- Research work in spatial planning at the Porto Metropolitan Area.

Software

ArcMap/ArcGis Pro
Excel

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	35,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	50,00
Trabalho escrito	15,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	60,00
Estudo autónomo	61,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attend at least 75% of classes

A minimun of 7.5 in the theorethical component

Calculation formula of final grade

(Project X 0,5) + (Test 0,35 + mini reports 0,15)

To obtain a positive grade, the student must have a minimum grade of 7.5 in each component (on a scale from 0 to 20).

The " Test " evaluation component includes a written test and individual reports to be done throughout the year.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not required

Internship work/project

Not required

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The students unable to perform some or all of the evaluation activities during the year will be assessed in the final examination, theoretical-practical, which will include a practical part and may include an oral examination.

Classification improvement

Improving classification is possible only in the theoretical part.