Dr. Martijn Kuller

Assistant Professor
Environmental Sciences

I am an Assistant Professor of Nature-Based Solutions and Water at Utrecht University’s Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. My research focuses on urban water management, nature-based solutions, and planning support systems for water-sensitive urban design, with the aim of contributing to sustainable and climate-resilient urban areas. I completed my PhD in Urban Water Management at Monash University in Australia, where I developed SSANTO, a spatial analysis tool that integrates GIS and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (GIS-MCDA) to support the strategic planning of green infrastructure in cities.

My expertise in GIS-MCDA has been applied across various international projects, enabling spatially explicit and stakeholder-informed planning of water-sensitive and nature-based solutions. By incorporating multiple criteria—from ecological impacts to social preferences—my work in GIS-MCDA allows for more inclusive and effective decision-making processes in urban and environmental planning.

In the past I have held research positions at several internationally recognised institutions, including the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Université Laval in Quebec, and the University of New South Wales in Sydney. My work has spanned projects in flood early warning systems for West African countries, urban stormwater quality modelling in Australia, and frameworks for blue-green infrastructure in Canadian cities. My recent Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship, undertaken with Eawag and Université Laval, focused on developing decision-support frameworks to enhance the implementation of nature-based solutions in urban planning.

At Utrecht University, I increasingly emphasise the role of nature-based solutions not only in water management but also in supporting biodiversity and enhancing ecological connectivity across the urban-rural continuum. Through my teaching and supervision of MSc and BSc students, I aim to foster an integrated approach to sustainable planning, considering both biodiversity and resilience in urban and rural landscapes.

I am an active member of the IWA working group on Nature-Based Solutions and have served on scientific committees for conferences such as NOVATECH and Watermatex. I attend and present at conferences including ICUD, NOVATECH, EURO and others.