Urban montology: Mountain cities as transdisciplinary research focus

Abstract

Montology is a transdisciplinary field of research committed to the sustainable development of the world’s mountain regions. In this context, cities in mountains have been little investigated. The aim of this chapter is to advance a montological perspective on the study of cities in mountains. One key to understanding mountain cities is their specific geographic position within natural and cultural space and their topographic location. Related to this are factors as accessibility and the reach of central-place goods and services. Location is also linked to numerous risk factors (earthquakes, volcanic activity, mass movements, floods), which are exacerbated by climate change. There are additional societal and/or cultural challenges for the sustainable development of mountain cities (peri-and post-suburbanization, tourism, immigration, etc.). A transdisciplinary human– environment approach is needed to meet these challenges and ensure sustainability, and it involves experts, decision-makers, and the population at large.