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 School of Geography and the Environment

University of Oxford

 The Transport Studies Unit

Outreach

Part of the School of Geography and the Environment
Dr Frederic Dobruszkes

People

Dr Frederic Dobruszkes

Academic Profile

Frederic Dobruszkes is a full time post-doctoral researcher at the Transport Studies Unit which is part of the School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE) at the University of Oxford. He is also a part time lecturer at the Free University of Brussels (ULB) and Vice-President of the Brussels Regional Commission of Mobility which aims to give recommendations to the regional government.

He has an MA in Geography (1995), an MA in Transports (1996) and a PhD in Geography (2007) from the Brussels Free University. Before joining the TSU in June 2011, he was employed as a post-doctoral researcher in Brussels (2008-2009) and at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Dr Nadine Cattan's research unit no. 8504 'Géographie-cités' (Paris, 2010-2011).

His main research interests relate to the geography and the liberalisation of the air transport, low-cost airlines and airline/high-speed rail competition. Additionally, he keeps in touch with urban transport policy and the links between social classes and urban mobilities.

Current Research

Frederic's is currently working on the DATE project (Dynamic between Airplanes and high-speed Train modes in Europe) funded by the European Marie Curie People program and led by Dr Moshe Givoni. The aim of this research is to investigate this dynamic in order to evaluate the potential for HST development to cut air transport flows and the conditions required to support it. The project will give a new look on HST/airline competition in Europe, notably by taking into account the low-cost airlines issue and focusing on the supply dynamic rather than on demand. By refusing the traditional premise according to which HSTs reduce air supply out of hand, four objectives are set. First, leading a critical analysis of the literature on the relationships between HSTs and air services, providing a new vision linking both modes. Second, analysing all European HSTs services to determine the extent to which HSTs were able to reduce the supply of air services from 1981 to 2012. Third, analysing the factors determining the extent to which HST services can reduce air transport services, accounting also for regulatory frameworks. And finally determining the policy and planning implications of the results for the future development of European air and HST networks.

Teaching

Frederic is currently:

  • Lecturer at the Free University of Brussels (ULB). Course: Tourism, transport and environment (24 hours/year, 2 ECTS).
  • Supervising MA theses in Geography, Environment or Tourism every year and the Xavier Courtois doctoral research on the dynamic of European long-distance rail services.

He was formerly:

  • Invited-lecturer at the Francisco Ferrer Higher School (Brussels, 2000-2010). Course: Transport geography (30 hours/year).
  • Lecturer at the Free University of Brussels (ULB, 2001-2004). Course: Transport and local development (12 hours/year).
  • Teaching assistant at the Free University of Brussels (ULB, 2001-2007).

Selected Publications

Books
Papers in referred journals
  • Dobruszkes, F., Hubert, M., Laporte, F. and Veiders, C. (2011) Réorganisation d'un réseau de transport collectif urbain, ruptures de charge et mobilités éprouvantes: l'expérience bruxelloise. (Reorganisation of an urban public transport network, transfers and difficult journeys: the experience in Brussels). Articulo - Journal of Urban Research, 7: 1-16.
  • Dobruszkes F. (2011) High-speed rail and air transport competition in Western Europe: A supply-oriented perspective. Transport Policy, 18(6): 870-879.
  • Dobruszkes F., Van Hamme G. (2011) The impact of the current economic crisis on the geography of air traffic volumes: an empirical analysis. Journal of Transport Geography, 19(6): 1387-1398.
  • Dobruszkes, F., Lennert, M., and Van Hamme, G. (2011) An analysis of the determinants of air traffic volume for European metropolitan areas. Journal of Transport Geography, 19(4): 755-762.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Rérat, P. (2010) Entre position dans le système-monde et stratégies des compagnies aériennes: une comparaison de la desserte aérienne de Bruxelles et Zurich. (Between world-system and airlines strategies: comparing the development of air services in Brussels and Zurich). Géo-Regards, 3: 55-71.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2010) Baptiser un grand équipement urbain: pratiques et enjeux autour du nom des stations de métro à Bruxelles. (Naming a large urban facility: practices and stakes regarding underground stations in Brussels). Belgeo, 2010/1-2: 229-240.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2009) New Europe, new low-cost air services. Journal of Transport Geography, 17(6): 423-432.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2009) Does liberalisation of air transport imply increasing competition? Lessons from the European case. Transport Policy, 16(1): 29-39.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2009) Systèmes urbains, économie régionale, stratégies d'acteurs et desserte aérienne européenne: une analyse empirique. (Urban systems, regional economy, actors' strategies and European air transport services: an empirical analysis). Cahiers Scientifiques du Transport, 56: 9-36.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2009) Élargissement européen et réseaux aériens à bas prix. À la conquête de l'Est ou de l'Ouest? (European enlargement and low-price airline networks. Winning the East or the West?) Bulletin de l'Association de géographes français, 2009-4: 459-471.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2009) La prise des participations de compagnies aériennes dans de plus petites compagnies: quels impacts sur la géographie des réseaux aériens? (Major airlines buying stakes in smaller airlines in Europe: impact on the geography of the air network). Mappemonde, 93: 1-19.
  • Hubert, M., Dobruszkes, F. and Macharis, C. (2008) Mobility to and from, around and about Brussels, Brussels Studies, Synopsis nr. 1: 1-14.
  • Courtois, X. and Dobruszkes, F. (2008) The (in)efficiency of trams and buses in Brussels: a fine geographical analysis. Brussels Studies, 20: 1-24.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Courtois, X. (2008) De l'intérêt des SAE pour l'analyse géographique des performances du transport collectif: aspects méthodologiques et application à Bruxelles. (The value of VSCSs for the geographical analysis of the performance of public transport. Methodological aspects and application to Brussels). Recherche, Transports et Sécurité, 98: 39-51.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2008) Éléments pour une géographie sociale de la contestation des nuisances aériennes à Bruxelles (Elements for a social geography of contesting the aircraft noise in Brussels). Espace, populations, sociétés, 2008-1: 145-157.
  • Dobruszkes ,F. and Fourneau, Y. (2007) The direct cost and geography of Brussels mass transport's operating delays. Brussels Studies, 7: 1-19.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Mwanza, H. (2007) Marginalisation et dépendance aérienne de l'Afrique sub-saharienne. (Marginalization and air dependence of sub-Saharan Africa). Belgeo, 2007-2: 203-226.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2007) Une géographie des services publics aériens en Europe et en France. (A geography of public air services in Europe). L'Espace Géographique, 2007-4: 320-336.
  • Dobruszkes F. (2007) Air transport public service obligations in face of liberalisation of the European sky. European Union Review, 12(1-2): 105-125.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2007) A few comments on the text: 'Can economic instruments regulate noise pollution in locations near airports?' Brussels Studies, 12: 5-9.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2006) An analysis of European low-cost airlines and their networks. Journal of Transport Geography, 14(4): 249-264.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Vandermotten, C. (2006) Éléments pour une géographie des clivages philosophiques à Bruxelles. (Elements for a geography of philosophical divides in Brussels). L'Espace Géographique, 36(1): 31-43.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2005) L'idée d'un 'ensemble méditerranéen' à l'épreuve de l'offre aérienne voyageurs. (The idea of a Mediterranean cohesion put to the test of passengers air services). Revue de l'Économie Méridionale, 53(209-210): 17-27.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2005) Compagnies low-cost européennes et aéroports secondaires: quelles dépendances pour quel développement régional? (European low-cost carriers and secondary airports: dependency and regional development). Les Cahiers Scientifiques du Transport, 47: 39-59.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Duquenne, T. (2004) Métro ou tramway? De l'effet des densités de population et des répartitions modales à Bruxelles. (Metro or tram? The effect of population densities and modal split in Brussels). Recherche Transports et Sécurité, 85: 221-240.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Marissal P. (2002) Réflexions sur l'usage des modèles dans les études de transports et les sciences sociales. (A consideration of the use of models in transport studies and the social sciences). Recherche Transports et Sécurité, 74: 2-25.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2001) Multimodalité TGV - avion: considérations sur le cas de Bruxelles. (Multimodality HST-airplane: some considerations on the Brussels case). Belgeo, 2001(4): 335-350.
  • De Borman, L., Dobruszkes, F. and Marissal, P. (2001) Analyse socio-spatiale du lieu de résidence des élus communaux à Bruxelles. (Socio-spatial analysis of the places of residence of the communal representatives in Brussels and its periphery). Belgeo, 1: 63-76.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (1998) Pour la mise en œuvre de CityBus dans le centre de Bruxelles. (A call for the launching of CityBus services in the cirty centre of Brussels). Revue Belge de Géographie, 63(1): 71-84.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Marissal P. (1995) La problématique des déplacements à Bruxelles. (The problems of mobility in Brussels). Revue Belge de Géographie, 118(3): 133-153.
Chapters in books
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2009) Religions et pratiques de mobilité. (Religions and daily mobility). In, Fumey, G. and J. Varlet (eds.) Mobilités contemporaines et transports. Approches géoculturelles, Paris, Ellipses, pp. 105-115.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2009) Les quartiers de bureaux face aux problèmes de mobilité. (The office-districts in view of the problem of mobility). In, Dessouroux, C. and J. Puissant (eds.) Bruxelles, ses employés, ses bureaux, pp. 209-215.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2007) Les obligations de services publics aériens en Europe, ou l'intervention résiduelle des États face au libre marché. (The public service obligations in air transport within the EU: the residual intervention of the States in view of the free market). In, Faure, A. and E. Négrier (eds.) Critiques de la territorialisation - Les politiques publiques à l'épreuve de l'action locale, Paris, L'Harmattan, coll. Logiques politiques, pp. 93-103.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2007) Les nuisances aériennes à Bruxelles: dispersion des nuisances, concentration de la contestation? (The aircraft noise in Brussels: dispersal of the nuisances, concentration of the protests?) In, Cornut P., Bauler T., and E. Zaccaï (eds.) Environnement et inégalités sociales, Brussels, Éditions de l'Université de Bruxelles, pp. 95-108.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2005) Déplacements et effets de la distance ou du temps: pour une prise en compte des surdéterminants sociaux. (Mobility and distance or time impacts: a call for taking into account the social factors). In, Montulet, B. et al. (eds.) Mobilités et temporalité, Bruxelles, Facultés universitaires Saint-Louis, coll. Travaux et Recherches, n°51, pp. 67-88.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2005) La recomposition de l'offre aérienne en ex-Yougoslavie. (The total transformation of air services to and from the former Yugoslavia). In, Sanguin A.-L., Cattaruzza, A. and E. Chaveneau - Le Brun (eds.) L'ex-Yougoslavie dix ans après Dayton - De nouveaux États entre déchirements communautaires et intégration européenne, Paris, L'Harmattan, pp. 164-175.
  • Dobruszkes, F. (2004) Le positionnement de la Jonction Nord - Midi face à l'évolution régionale bruxelloise. (The positioning of the North-South rail link in view of the evolution of the Brussels' region). In, Jaumain, S. (ed.) Bruxelles et la Jonction Nord - Midi, Brussels, Archives de la Ville Bruxelles, pp. 207-218.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Rouyet, Y. (2002) Le mythe du développement économique induit par les grandes infrastructures de transports. (The myth of the development leaded by main transport infrastructures). In, Vandermotten C. (ed.) Le développement durable des territoires, Brussels, Editions de l'Université de Bruxelles, pp. 85-90.
Edited special issues of peer-reviewed journals
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Lanneau, M-A. (2010) Cities and main transport facilities: competition, tensions, reconstructions. Special issue of Belgeo (Belgian Journal of Geography), 2010/1-2.
  • Dobruszkes, F. and Mwanza Wa Mwanza, H. (2007) Transport geography in Africa: legacies, constraints, and prospects. Special issue of Belgeo (Belgian Journal of Geography), 2007/2.
Book reviews for academic journals