Mette Olesen

Mette Olesen is a Part-time Lecturer in the Bachelor in Planning and Environment program at the Department of Sustainability and Planning, The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Aalborg University, Denmark. Her work focuses on Planning for Urban Sustainability, with an emphasis on mobility, urban structure, and sustainable development.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of urban planning and mobility, particularly in light rail systems, urban-rural linkages, and the integration of place and mobility. She explores how transport infrastructure shapes urban and regional development, with a strong focus on case study methodologies and real-world policy implications.

The trends in her publications reflect a consistent engagement with sustainable urban mobility, especially light rail projects across European cities. Her work combines transport geography, urban planning theory, and social mobility studies, often addressing questions of access, equity, and spatial development. She frequently employs qualitative and critical analysis to examine the rationalities and materialities of transport landscapes.

• Honored by Minister for Industry PhD work (2014)
• Recognition for effective communication of research (2014)

Mette Olesen completed a PhD project titled "Light Rail in a Mobility Perspective – experience, effects and rationality" (2011–2014), which formed the basis of her academic contributions. She has been actively involved in public and academic discourse, participating in conferences such as the Association of European Schools of Planning and UITP, and contributing to media discussions on urban mobility and policy. While no formal grants are listed, her industry PhD suggests collaboration with external partners. She has contributed to policy discussions, with her work referenced in policy sources.

She has co-organized events like the 2018 conference on rural mobility challenges and has collaborated with researchers such as D.B. Lanng and C. Lassen. Her work is associated with interdisciplinary urban research at Aalborg University, particularly in the context of sustainable planning and mobility transitions.