Dr. Ellen Banzhaf
Senior Scientist
Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology
Helmholtz Centre
for Environmental Research - UFZ
Permoserstr. 15
04318 Leipzig, Germany
phone: ++49 341 235 1738
fax: ++49 341 235 451738
Dr. Ellen Banzhaf

Current projects
Research Areas
The main focus is on quantitative analyses of spatial and temporal dynamics in urban regions using remote sensing techniques. Monitoring and classifying land use and delineating change detection of LULC elementary procedures in the interdisciplinary field of urban development studies. Urban structures and further spatial indicators are derived to understand processes of spatial dynamics and corresponding socio-demographic and socio-economic development in neighbourhoods, cities and urban regions. Regional, national and international contexts are taken into consideration.
- Monitoring urban land use and land cover at various scales from urban regions to neighbourhoods.
- Analysing impacts of land-use dynamics and population development as drivers for urban transformations.
- Investigating urban structures regarding their urban ecological and socio-economic parameters to foster resilient urban development.
- Mapping and monitoring urban ecosystems and their services towards a more sustainable environmental development.
Supervision of internships, B.Sc. and M.Sc. thesis
Current publications
2020 (3)
- Banzhaf, E., Kollai, H., Kindler, A., (2020):
Mapping urban grey and green structures for liveable cities using a 3D enhanced OBIA approach and vital statistics
Geocarto Int. 35 (6), 623 - 640
full text (doi) - Mangalasseril Mohammad, A., Mann, D., Sharma, M., Banzhaf, E., Joshi, P.K., (2020):
Assessment of urban dynamics to understand spatiotemporal differentiation at various scales using remote sensing and geospatial tools
Remote Sens. 12 (8), art. 1306
full text (doi) - Palliwoda, J., Banzhaf, E., Priess, J.A., (2020):
How do the green components of urban green infrastructure influence the use of ecosystem services? Examples from Leipzig, Germany
Landsc. Ecol. 35 (5), 1127 - 1142
full text (doi)
2019 (3)
- Banzhaf, E., de la Barrera, F., Reyes-Paecke, S., (2019):
Urban green infrastructure in support of ecosystem services in a highly dynamic South American city: a multi-scale assessment of Santiago de Chile
In: Schröter, M., Bonn, A., Klotz, S., Seppelt, R., Baessler, C., (eds.)
Atlas of ecosystem services : drivers, risks, and societal responses
Springer International Publishing, Cham, p. 157 - 165
full text (doi) - Wang, J., Pauleit, S., Banzhaf, E., (2019):
An integrated indicator framework for the assessment of multifunctional green infrastructure—Exemplified in a European city
Remote Sens. 11 (16), art. 1869
full text (doi) - Wang, J., Xu, C., Pauleit, S., Kindler, A., Banzhaf, E., (2019):
Spatial patterns of urban green infrastructure for equity: A novel exploration
J. Clean Prod. 238 , art. 117858
full text (doi)
2018 (5)
- Banzhaf, E., Arndt, T., Ladiges, J., (2018):
Potenziale städtischer Gewerbebrachflächen für eine integrierte Stadtentwicklung. Monitoring für ein nachhaltiges Flächenmanagement am Beispiel der wieder wachsenden Stadt Leipzig. Potential performance of commercial urban Brownfield sites in integrated urban development – Monitoring for sustainable land-use management based on the example of the city of Leipzig
disP - The Planning Review 54 (2), 26 - 43
full text (doi) - Banzhaf, E., Arndt, T., Ladiges, J., (2018):
Potentials of urban brownfields for improving the quality of urban space
In: Kabisch, S., Koch, F., Gawel, E., Haase, A., Knapp, S., Krellenberg, K., Nivala, J., Zehnsdorf, A., (eds.)
Urban transformations - Sustainable urban development through resource efficiency, quality of life and resilience
Future City 10
Springer International Publishing, Cham, p. 221 - 232
full text (doi) - Banzhaf, E., Knapp, S., Koch, F., (2018):
Part III. Quality of life and ecosystem services : outline
In: Kabisch, S., Koch, F., Gawel, E., Haase, A., Knapp, S., Krellenberg, K., Nivala, J., Zehnsdorf, A., (eds.)
Urban transformations - Sustainable urban development through resource efficiency, quality of life and resilience
Future City 10
Springer International Publishing, Cham, p. 233 - 234
full text (doi) - Banzhaf, E., Reyes-Paecke, S.M., de la Barrera, F., (2018):
What really matters in green infrastructure for the urban quality of life? Santiago de Chile as a showcase city
In: Kabisch, S., Koch, F., Gawel, E., Haase, A., Knapp, S., Krellenberg, K., Nivala, J., Zehnsdorf, A., (eds.)
Urban transformations - Sustainable urban development through resource efficiency, quality of life and resilience
Future City 10
Springer International Publishing, Cham, p. 281 - 300
full text (doi) - Wang, J., Banzhaf, E., (2018):
Towards a better understanding of Green Infrastructure: A critical review
Ecol. Indic. 85 , 758 - 772
full text (doi)
2017 (5)
- Banzhaf, E., de la Barrera, F., (2017):
Evaluating public green spaces for the quality of life in cities by integrating RS mapping tools and social science techniques
2017 Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event; Dubai; UAE; 06 March 2017 through 08 March 2017
Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event (JURSE) 2017
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), New York, NY, p. 1 - 4
full text (doi) - Banzhaf, E., Kabisch, S., Knapp, S., Rink, D., Wolff, M., Kindler, A., (2017):
Integrated research on land-use changes in the face of urban transformations – an analytic framework for further studies
Land Use Pol. 60 , 403 - 407
full text (doi) - Cabral, I., Keim, J., Engelmann, R., Kraemer, R., Siebert, J., Wolf, F., Banzhaf, E., Bonn, A., (2017):
Assessing the contribution of urban gardens to ecosystem services and biodiversity in the city of Leipzig
In: Kabisch, N., Stadler, J., Duffield, S., Korn, H., Bonn, A., (eds.)
Proceedings of the European Conference “Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change in Urban Areas and their Rural Surroundings“ Bonn, Germany, 17-19 November 2015
BfN-Skripten 456
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN), Bonn, p. 68 - 69
full text (url) - Haase, D., Kabisch, S., Haase, A., Andersson, E., Banzhaf, E., Baró, F., Brenck, M., Fischer, L.K., Frantzeskaki, N., Kabisch, N., Krellenberg, K., Kremer, P., Kronenberg, J., Larondelle, N., Mathey, J., Pauleit, S., Ring, I., Rink, D., Schwarz, N., Wolff, M., (2017):
Greening cities – To be socially inclusive? About the alleged paradox of society and ecology in cities
Habitat Int. 64 , 41 - 48
full text (doi) - Wang, J., Banzhaf, E., (2017):
Derive an understanding of Green Infrastructure for the quality of life in cities by means of integrated RS mapping tools
2017 Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event; Dubai; UAE; 06 March 2017 through 08 March 2017
Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event (JURSE) 2017
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), New York, NY, p. 1 - 4
full text (doi)
2016 (3)
- de la Barrera, F., Reyes-Paecke, S., Banzhaf, E., (2016):
Indicators for green spaces in contrasting urban settings
Ecol. Indic. 62 , 212 - 219
full text (doi) - de la Barrera, F., Rubio, P., Banzhaf, E., (2016):
The value of vegetation cover for ecosystem services in the suburban context
Urban For. Urban Green. 16 , 110 - 122
full text (doi) - Kindler, A., Banzhaf, E., Reyes-Paecke, S., Weiland, U., Müller, A., (2016):
Escenarios para ordenamiento territorial y gestión del riesgo por inundación
In: Barton, J.R., Kopfmüller, J., (eds.)
Santiago 2030 : escenarios para la planificacion estrategica
RiL Editores, Santiago, p. 131 - 160