Dr. Alexandre Pereira Santos

Research

My inter and transdisciplinary research investigates multi-dimensional vulnerability in urban settings.

In I am a member of the TRANSCEND and LIRLAP research projects, in which I look into the future vulnerability and adaptation to flood risks in the coastal megacities of Mumbai (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Manila (Philippines).

My research seeks to connect urban development dynamics, climate and health vulnerability and adaptation. It does so by focusing on the urban form dynamics (e.g., uneven urban development and growth), along with changes in society and the biophysical environment, for example migration and natural hazards. To investigate these issues, I implement inter- and transdisciplinary methods, often mixing statistical and geospatial analysis and simulation (including GIS and agent-based models) with participatory research, surveys, and interviews. Besides this empirical focus, I am also interested in the complexity of vulnerability assessments, especially around trans-scalar, and cross-sectoral dynamics.

Publications

Selected publications (see Google Scholar or Research Gate for a complete list of publications):

Santos, A. P., J. M. Rodriguez Lopez, Y. Peng & J. Scheffran (2024): Integrating broad and deep multiple-stressor research: A framework for translating across scales and disciplines, One Earth, 7(10), pp. 1713-1726, Reviewed published. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.09.006

Petzold, J., M. Garschagen, S. Deshpande, R. Dhiman, D. Doshi, A. Katzschner, A. P. Santos & D. Parthasarathy (2024): Identifying future challenges for climate change adaptation through insights from participatory scenario-downscaling in Mumbai, npj Climate Action, 3(111), Reviewed, published. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-024-00197-z

Santos, A. P., K. Heider, S. Gresse Junior, J. M. Rodriguez Lopez (2024): The uneven burden of COVID-19 in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil – Risk analysis from a bottom-up perspective, Applied Geography, 162, 103146, Reviewed published. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2023.103146

Biography

Before joining the LMU in October 2023, I worked in the COVIDGI Project at Universität Hamburg. In this project, I developed my PhD in multidimensional urban vulnerability at the Center for Earth Systems Research and Sustainability (CEN) as a member of the Research Group Climate and Security (CLISEC). During the PhD, I co-led the research project "Volunteered Geographic Information on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South" (COVIDGI), supported by the Volkswagen Foundation's "Corona Crisis and Beyond" grant.

I am originally from Brazil and received a DAAD Doctoral Fellowship. I also hold a master’s degree in Contemporary Urbanism from the Federal University of Pelotas (2015) and a bachelor’s degree in architecture and urban planning from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2008). I have received awards for my professional and academic work, led interdisciplinary teams in 19 urban plans, and collaborated in policymaking, including contributions to UNDRR and UNEP.