Field of work
Prof. dr. ir. Wendy Tan (1981, Singapore) is Professor of Spatial Planning at the Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). She is also a Senior Lecturer at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands. She specialises in sustainable mobility and inclusive, just planning. Her background in architecture and urban design across Europe and Asia brings an interdisciplinary perspective to examining how transport policies and spatial planning can create more equitable and sustainable urban environments. Her research combines digital quantitative tools (GIS/SSx) with qualitative methods from ethnography and social psychology, focusing on mobility justice and inclusive design.
As leader of the Sustainable Mobility and Transport Planning Group (SUSMOB), she currently leads several EU projects (JUST STREETS, MobileWorlds and ARTEMIS). Dr. Tan collaborates with municipalities, regional authorities, and community organizations on innovative projects, including JUST STREETS, where she is developing a mobility equity index. She partners with her students and the city of Bergen on car-free city planning and people-oriented mobility. Her work transforms complex theoretical insights into practical tools for community, industry, and policy stakeholders.
Her teaching features research-oriented, problem-based learning through real-world projects. Students work directly with local government and communities to develop solutions. She employs adaptive learning techniques and blended and flipped classroom approaches, with her courses known for innovative digital tools that enhance student engagement.
Through her research, teaching, and community engagement, she strives to create urban environments that serve all members of society, focusing on sustainable mobility solutions for marginalised communities.
Publications
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Is It Just Planning? Unpacking Markers of Justice in Spatial Planning Literature
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Spatial drone path planning: A systematic review of parameters and algorithms
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Assessing justice in sustainable mobility transitions: narratives from transport policies in Jakarta
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Climate adaptation in informal areas in hot arid climates
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Demystifying urban digital twins: Evaluating the case of Herrenberg through the lens of the Gemini and FAIR data principles