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Professor Johan Woltjer

Professor of Urban Infrastructures

+44 20 7911 5000 ext 66630
35 Marylebone Road London NW1 5LS

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Planning and Transport | Department
Eco-cities | Research

Johan Woltjer (1968) is Professor of Urban Infrastructures at the University of Westminster, UK. He also is an Honorary Professor in urban and regional development at the University of Groningen and a Visiting Professor at the University of Reading. He was previously at the University of Groningen, the University of Amsterdam, and the University of Twente, Netherlands. Professor Woltjer focuses his substantive work on understanding international urban and regional development (particularly Europe and Asia), resilient cities, urban geographies, and capacities for water and infrastructure management. 

Professor Woltjer has held a wide range of international positions, in educational development (e.g. with universities in Indonesia, Germany, and China), for reviewing panels (e.g., Economic and Social Research Council UK, Swedish Research Council for Environment, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) and research networks (e.g., Urban Infrastructure Research Centre, Sustainable Society Institute, Coastal Governance and Resilience Group, International Planning Evaluation network). He is a board member for the Journal of Regional and City Planning and an editor for Cities, one of the leading journals in the global field of urban studies. 

The impact of his research is visible through funded projects, books and articles appearing in high-impact journals, and the delivery of policy advice on issues like water and infrastructure for several institutions including a large variety of government agencies.

Professor Woltjer is strongly committed to teaching and capacity building in his field. During his career he has been instrumental to the development of various international degree programs, featuring advanced collaboration with international partners in Indonesia, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Johan Woltjer is been responsible for tutorial teaching and courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Currently for a range of department programs in the fields of Planning, Urban Design and Transport. Responsibilities have included international programs like ‘MSc Environmental and Infrastructure Planning’, ‘MSc Development Planning and Infrastructure Management’, and ‘MSc Water and Coastal Management’. Typical course modules have been focusing on urban geographies, infrastructure, water policies, comparative research and international planning, and policy evaluation. Prof Woltjer has been a winner of various teaching awards, and an enthusiastic supporter of international teaching.

Research work by Professor Woltjer focuses on regional governance, international development and urban planning. He contributes an international and internationally comparative view to urban planning and infrastructure development, particularly focusing on Europe and Asia. The impact of his work is visible through papers and articles on urban governance, regional development, infrastructure development, water management, policy evaluation, and capacity building, appearing in high-impact journals. Recent books are ‘Place-Based Evaluation for Infrastructure and Spatial Projects (Ashgate)’, and ‘Evaluation for Participation and Sustainability in Planning’ (Routledge).

Recent Grants and Projects:

  • Sustainable urban infrastructure and wellbeing in the UK and China (British Council)
  • Urban Planning and Management, Jharkhand Institute India (Department for International Development)
  • Designing Cities (Quintin Hogg Fund)
  • Worldwide Governance Indicators and Contemporary Governance in Indonesia (World Bank)
  • Learning Capacity in Water Way Programmes (National Waterway Agency)
  • Resilience strategies in flood risk management and urban planning  (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)
  • Metropoles and the Future of Urban Indonesia (Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences)

2018

Resilience unpacked: Framing of ‘uncertainty’ and ‘adaptability’ in long-term flood risk management strategies in the regions of London and Rotterdam (2018)
Woltjer, J., Restemeyer, B. and van den Brink, M. 2018. Resilience unpacked: Framing of ‘uncertainty’ and ‘adaptability’ in long-term flood risk management strategies in the regions of London and Rotterdam. European Planning Studies.
Co-creating value through renewing waterway networks: a transaction-cost perspective (2018)
Willems, J., Busscher, T., Woltjer, J. and Arts, J. 2018. Co-creating value through renewing waterway networks: a transaction-cost perspective. Journal of Transport Geography. 69, pp. 26-35.
Dutch and American waterway development: identification and classification of tools for value creation (2018)
Hijdra, A., Woltjer, J. and Arts, J. 2018. Dutch and American waterway development: identification and classification of tools for value creation. International Planning Studies.

2017

Between adaptability and the urge to control: making long-term water policies in the Netherlands (2017)
Restemeyer, B., van den Brink, M. and Woltjer, J. 2017. Between adaptability and the urge to control: making long-term water policies in the Netherlands. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 60 (5), pp. 920-940.
Market-based instruments for the governance of coastal and marine ecosystem services: An analysis based on the Chinese case (2017)
Li, R., Woltjer, J. and van den Brink, M. 2017. Market-based instruments for the governance of coastal and marine ecosystem services: An analysis based on the Chinese case. Ecosystem Services. 23, pp. 71-81.

2016

Gentrifying the Peri-urban: Land use Conflicts and institutional dynamics at the Frontier of an Indonesian Metropolis (2016)
Hudalah, D., Winarso, H. and Woltjer, J. 2016. Gentrifying the Peri-urban: Land use Conflicts and institutional dynamics at the Frontier of an Indonesian Metropolis. Urban Studies. 53 (3), pp. 593-608.
How coastal strategic planning reflects interrelationships between ecosystem services: a four-step method (2016)
Li, R., Woltjer, J., van den Brink, M. and Li, Y. 2016. How coastal strategic planning reflects interrelationships between ecosystem services: a four-step method. Marine Policy. 70
, pp. 114-127.
Rules for the governance of coastal and marine ecosystem services: An evaluative framework based on the IAD framework (2016)
Li, R., van den Brink, M. and Woltjer, J. 2016. Rules for the governance of coastal and marine ecosystem services: An evaluative framework based on the IAD framework. Land Use Policy. 59, p. 298–309.

2015

Troubled waters: an institutional analysis of ageing Dutch and American waterway infrastructure (2015)
Hijdra, A., Woltjer, J. and Arts, J. 2015. Troubled waters: an institutional analysis of ageing Dutch and American waterway infrastructure. Transport Policy. 42, p. 64–74.
A strategy-based framework for assessing the flood resilience of cities – the Hamburg case study (2015)
Restemeyer, B., Woltjer, J. and van den Brink, M. 2015. A strategy-based framework for assessing the flood resilience of cities – the Hamburg case study. Planning Theory and Practice. 16 (1), pp. 45-62.
The capacities of institutions for the integration of ecosystem services in coastal strategic planning: The case of Jiaozhou Bay (2015)
Li, R., Li, Y., van den Brink, M. and Woltjer, J. 2015. The capacities of institutions for the integration of ecosystem services in coastal strategic planning: The case of Jiaozhou Bay. Ocean & Coastal Management. 107, p. 1–15.

2014

Linking the ecosystem service approach to social preferences and needs in integrated coastal land use management - a planning approach (2014)
Karrasch, L., Klenke, T. and Woltjer, J. 2014. Linking the ecosystem service approach to social preferences and needs in integrated coastal land use management - a planning approach. Land Use Policy. 38, pp. 522-532.
Extended urbanization in small and medium-sized cities: the case of Cirebon Indonesia (2014)
Fahmi Fikri, Z., Hudalah, D., Rahayu, P. and Woltjer, J. 2014. Extended urbanization in small and medium-sized cities: the case of Cirebon Indonesia. Habitat International. 42, pp. 1-10.
Cultural cooperation, institution building, and metropolitan governance in decentralizing Indonesia (2014)
Hudalah, D., Firman, T. and Woltjer, J. 2014. Cultural cooperation, institution building, and metropolitan governance in decentralizing Indonesia. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research. 38 (6), p. 2217–34.
A Global Review on Peri-Urban Development and Planning (2014)
Woltjer, J. 2014. A Global Review on Peri-Urban Development and Planning. Jurnal Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota. 25 (1), pp. 1-16.
Do we need to rethink our waterways? Values of ageing waterways in current and future society (2014)
Hijdra, A., Arts, J. and Woltjer, J. 2014. Do we need to rethink our waterways? Values of ageing waterways in current and future society. Water Resources Management. 28 (9), pp. 2599-2613.

2013

Value creation in capital waterway projects: Application of a transaction cost and transaction benefit framework for the Miami River and the New Orleans Inner Harbour Navigation Canal (2013)
Hijdra, A., Woltjer, J. and Arts, J. 2013. Value creation in capital waterway projects: Application of a transaction cost and transaction benefit framework for the Miami River and the New Orleans Inner Harbour Navigation Canal. Land Use Policy. 38, pp. 91-103.
Industrial land development and manufacturing deconcentration in Greater Jakarta (2013)
Hudalah, D., Viantari, D., Firman, T. and Woltjer, J. 2013. Industrial land development and manufacturing deconcentration in Greater Jakarta. Urban Geography. 34 (7), pp. 950-971.
Workshop report: Evaluation in Integrated Land-Use Management: Towards an Area-Oriented and Place-Based Evaluation for Infrastructure and Spatial Projects, University of Groningen, 13-15 March 2014 (2013)
Esti, D.R.S., Woltjer, J. and Hasanov, M. 2013. Workshop report: Evaluation in Integrated Land-Use Management: Towards an Area-Oriented and Place-Based Evaluation for Infrastructure and Spatial Projects, University of Groningen, 13-15 March 2014. Town Planning Review. 84 (5), pp. 671-677.

2010

Policy networking as capacity building: An analysis of regional road development conflict in Indonesia (2010)
Hudalah, D., Winarso, H. and Woltjer, J. 2010. Policy networking as capacity building: An analysis of regional road development conflict in Indonesia. Planning Theory. 9 (4), pp. 315-332.
British discretion in Dutch planning: Establishing a comparative perspective for regional planning and local development in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (2010)
Janssen-Jansen, L.B. and Woltjer, J. 2010. British discretion in Dutch planning: Establishing a comparative perspective for regional planning and local development in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Land Use Policy. 27 (3), pp. 96-106.
Inter-local government collaboration and perceived transaction costs in Indonesian metropolitan transport planning (2010)
Miharja, M. and Woltjer, J. 2010. Inter-local government collaboration and perceived transaction costs in Indonesian metropolitan transport planning. International Development Planning Review. 32 (2), pp. 167-189.
Planning by opportunity: an analysis of periurban environmental conflicts in Indonesia (2010)
Hudalah, D., Winarso, H. and Woltjer, J. 2010. Planning by opportunity: an analysis of periurban environmental conflicts in Indonesia. Environment and Planning A. 42 (9), pp. 2254-2269.

2009

Consequences of governance restructuring for quality of urban living in the transformation era in Beijing: A view of job accessibility (2009)
Zhao, P., Lü, B. and Woltjer, J. 2009. Consequences of governance restructuring for quality of urban living in the transformation era in Beijing: A view of job accessibility. Habitat International. 33 (4), pp. 436-444.
Conflicts in urban fringe in the transformation era: An examination of performance of the metropolitan growth management in Beijing (2009)
Zhao, P., Lü, B. and Woltjer, J. 2009. Conflicts in urban fringe in the transformation era: An examination of performance of the metropolitan growth management in Beijing. Habitat International. 33 (4), pp. 347-356.
Growth management and decentralisation: An assessment of urban containment policies in Beijing in the 1990s (2009)
Zhao, P., Lü, B. and Woltjer, J. 2009. Growth management and decentralisation: An assessment of urban containment policies in Beijing in the 1990s. International Development Planning Review. 31 (1), pp. 55-79.
New concepts of strategic spatial planning dilemmas in the Dutch Randstad region (2009)
Salet, W. and Woltjer, J. 2009. New concepts of strategic spatial planning dilemmas in the Dutch Randstad region. International Journal of Public Sector Management. 22 (3), pp. 235-248.

2007

Peri-urbanisation in East Asia: A new challenge for planning? (2007)
Hudalah, D., Winarso, H. and Woltjer, J. 2007. Peri-urbanisation in East Asia: A new challenge for planning? International Development Planning Review. 29 (4), pp. 315-332.
Integrating Water Management and Spatial Planning: Strategies Based on the Dutch Experience (2007)
Woltjer, J. and Al, N. 2007. Integrating Water Management and Spatial Planning: Strategies Based on the Dutch Experience. Journal of the American Planning Association. 73 (2), pp. 211-222.
Spatial Planning System in Transitional Indonesia (2007)
Hudalah, D. and Woltjer, J. 2007. Spatial Planning System in Transitional Indonesia. International Planning Studies. 12 (3), pp. 291-303.

2017

Gentrifying the Peri-Urban (2017)
Woltjer, J. and Hudalah, D. 2017. Gentrifying the Peri-Urban. in: Silver, C., Freestone, R. and Demaziere, C. (ed.) Dialogues in Urban and Regional Planning New York & Abingdon Routledge. pp. 134-153
Flood Groups in England: Flood Groups in England: Governance arrangements and contribution to flood resilience (2017)
Forrest, S., Trell, E.M. and Woltjer, J. 2017. Flood Groups in England: Flood Groups in England: Governance arrangements and contribution to flood resilience. in: Trell, E.M., Restemeyer, B., Bakema, M. and Van Hoven, B. (ed.) Governing for Resilience in Vulnerable Places Routledge. pp. 92-115

2016

Metropolitan Governance and Institutional Design: Transportation in the Jakarta Metropolitan Region (2016)
Putra, T., Woltjer, J. and Tan, W. 2016. Metropolitan Governance and Institutional Design: Transportation in the Jakarta Metropolitan Region. in: Holzhacker, R., Wittek, R. and Woltjer, J. (ed.) Decentralization and Governance in Indonesia New York Springer. pp. 171-200

2015

Place-Based Evaluation for Infrastructure and Spatial Projects: An Introduction (2015)
Woltjer, J., Alexander, E.R., Hull, A. and Ruth, M. 2015. Place-Based Evaluation for Infrastructure and Spatial Projects: An Introduction. in: Woltjer, J., Alexander, E.R., Hull, A. and Ruth, M. (ed.) Place-Based Evaluation for Integrated Land-Use Management Farnham Ashgate. pp. 1-12
Decentralization and Governance for Sustainable Society in Indonesia (2015)
Holzhacker, R., Wittek, R. and Woltjer, J. 2015. Decentralization and Governance for Sustainable Society in Indonesia. in: Holzhacker, R., Wittek, R. and Woltjer, J. (ed.) Decentralization and Governance in Indonesia New York Springer. pp. 3-29

2011

Wellbeing and a Capability Approach in Planning Evaluation and Regional Development (2011)
D Pramono, R.W. and Woltjer, J. 2011. Wellbeing and a Capability Approach in Planning Evaluation and Regional Development. in: Hull, A., Alexander, E., Khakee, A. and Woltjer, J. (ed.) Evaluation for Sustainability and Participation in Planning London, UK Routledge.

2009

Water management and spatial planning: Dutch approaches to furthering linkages between water and land-use (2009)
Voogd, H. and Woltjer, J. 2009. Water management and spatial planning: Dutch approaches to furthering linkages between water and land-use. in: Reinhard, S. and Folmer, H. (ed.) Water Policy in the Netherlands: Integrated Management in a Densely Populated Delta Routledge.
Regional Planning (2009)
Woltjer, J. 2009. Regional Planning. in: Hutchison, R. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Urban Studies Sage.
Concepts of Participatory Decision-Making in Dutch Infrastructure Planning (2009)
Woltjer, J. 2009. Concepts of Participatory Decision-Making in Dutch Infrastructure Planning. in: Coenen, F.H.J.M. (ed.) Public Participation and Better Environmental Decisions: The Promise and Limits of Participatory Processes for the Quality of Environmentally Related Decision-making Springer. pp. 153-163
Participatory Decision-Making for Sustainable Consumption (2009)
Coenen, F.H.J.M., Huitema, D. and Woltjer, J. 2009. Participatory Decision-Making for Sustainable Consumption. in: Coenen, F.H.J.M. (ed.) Public Participation and Better Environmental Decisions: The Promise and Limits of Participatory Processes for the Quality of Environmentally Related Decision-making Springer. pp. 89-110

2008

How water flows in spatial planning: The strategic role of water in Dutch regional planning projects (2008)
Woltjer, J. 2008. How water flows in spatial planning: The strategic role of water in Dutch regional planning projects. in: Feyen, J., Shannon, K. and Neville, M. (ed.) Water and Urban Development Paradigms: Towards an Integration of Engineering, Design and Management Approaches CRC Press.
Strategic Spatial Planning and Planning Evaluation: Developing an Entrepreneurial Urbanization Strategy in South-Holland (2008)
Woltjer, J. 2008. Strategic Spatial Planning and Planning Evaluation: Developing an Entrepreneurial Urbanization Strategy in South-Holland. in: Hull, A., Khakee, A., Miller, D. and Woltjer, J. (ed.) New Principles in Planning and Evaluation Aldershot, UK Ashgate. pp. 201-209

2015

Decentralization and Governance in Indonesia (2015)
Woltjer, J. Holzhacker, R., Wittek, R. and Woltjer, J. (ed.) 2015. Decentralization and Governance in Indonesia. New York Springer.
Place-Based Evaluation for Integrated Land-Use Management (2015)
Woltjer, J., Alexander, E.R., Hull, A. and Ruth, M. (ed.) 2015. Place-Based Evaluation for Integrated Land-Use Management. Farnham Ashgate.
Place-Based Evaluation for Integrated Land-Use Management (2015)
Woltjer, J., Alexander, E.R., Hull, A. and Ruth, M. (ed.) 2015. Place-Based Evaluation for Integrated Land-Use Management. Farnham Ashgate.

2011

Evaluation for Participation and Sustainability in Planning (2011)
Hull, A., Alexander, E.R., Khakee, A. and Woltjer, J. (ed.) 2011. Evaluation for Participation and Sustainability in Planning. London Routledge.
Evaluation for Sustainability and Participation in Planning (2011)
Hull, A., Alexander, E., Khakee, A. and Woltjer, J. (ed.) 2011. Evaluation for Sustainability and Participation in Planning. London, UK Routledge.

2008

Consensus Planning: The Relevance of Communicative Planning Theory in Dutch Infrastructure Development (2008)
Woltjer, J. 2008. Consensus Planning: The Relevance of Communicative Planning Theory in Dutch Infrastructure Development. Aldershot, UK Ashgate.
New Principles in Planning Evaluation (2008)
Woltjer, J. Woltjer, J., Khakee, A., Miller, D. and Hull, A. (ed.) 2008. New Principles in Planning Evaluation. Aldershot Ashgate.
New principles in planning and evaluation (2008)
Hull, A., Khakee, A., Miller, D. and Woltjer, J. (ed.) 2008. New principles in planning and evaluation. Aldershot, UK Ashgate.

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