The 6th World Symposium on Transport and Land Use Research (WSTLUR) took place in the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR-CAS) in Beijing from June 7 to 11. The symposium drew more than 180 scholars from over 90 universities and research institutions across 26 countries and regions, fostering international exchanges on transport and land use research.

The opening ceremony of WSTLUR2026 was staged on June 8. Professor Jonas De Vos, President of the World Society for Transport and Land Use Research, delivered opening remarks outlining the history and milestones of the World Society for Transport and Land Use Research. Professor SUN Fubao, Director-General of IGSNRR-CAS and Vice President and Secretary-General of the Geographical Society of China (GSC), extended welcome remarks, highlighting the extensive international cooperation network of the transport and land use research at the IGSNRR-CAS.

Six invited scholars delivered keynote speeches over three days, presenting diversified and inspiring research perspectives. They are Professor Karen Lucas from the University of Manchester, Professor Jason Cao from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities), Professor Mark Zuidgeest from the University of Cape Town, Professor WANG Jiaoe from the IGSNRR-CAS, Professor Dick Ettema from Utrecht University, and Professor WANG Donggen from Hong Kong Baptist University. Their keynote speeches spanned diverse topics about mobility, accessibility, transport planning, travel behavior analysis, linking theoretical innovations with empirical studies in transport and land use research.

Over 140 presentations were arranged in seven parallel sessions and one best thesis session. Their themes covered accessibility and land use, travel behavior and experience, active and micro-mobility, public transit systems, regional transport planning, electric vehicles and autonomous driving, as well as shared mobility. Participants delved into prevailing industry challenges, technological innovations, policy frameworks and future research priorities.

WSTLUR2026 was hosted by IGSNRR-CAS and GSC, and co-organized by Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Commission on Economic Geography from GSC, Peking University-Lincoln Institute Center for Urban Development and Land Policy, School of Geography from the Faculty of Geographical Science at Beijing Normal University, and Transit-Oriented Development Academy in Beijing Jiaotong University. The symposium was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China.

The symposium has been a flagship international academic event in transport geography, urban planning, land use and sustainable transport. Launched in 2011, the symposium runs every two to three years. Previous symposiums have been hosted in Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, the United States and Colombia respectively, and WSTLUR2026 marks its inaugural staging in Asia.

Further details are available via the official website of World Society for Transport and Land Use Research (https://www.wstlur.org/).

Group Photo at the WSTLUR2026

Co-Chairs of WSTLUR2026