David Muthui
Research assistant

Presentation

David is a Research Assistant at the Department of Urban Studies at Malmö University and affiliated to the Institute of Urban Research-IUR. His work contributes to advancing knowledge on urbanization and the rapidly expanding built environment across Africa. With a master’s degree in urban studies - Real Estate and Transport, he specializes in GIS-based spatial analysis using remote sensing and satellite data to examine how cities, landscapes and human settlement patterns change over time.
His research focuses on urban development and promoting sustainable use of building materials to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment. By generating data-driven insights, he supports evidence-based planning, improved land-use management, and a deeper understanding of how political initiatives impact urban growth in rapidly transforming cities and urban areas in Africa.
David collaborates with multidisciplinary research teams and works closely with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne at the Global Hub for Sustainable Built Environment (GHSBE). The initiative aims to promote resilient cities and contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by producing actionable insights for sustainable urban development.
Recognizing the complexity of urbanization in the Global South, he is also actively strengthening collaborations with partners across Africa, fostering meaningful connections between African and European institutions through the GHSBE initiative to advance multidisciplinary approaches that support sustainable land use, affordable housing, and equitable urban development in Africa.