Alain is a lecturer in urban design at Cardiff University School of Planning and Geography (CPLAN). His research interests are in spatial economics, spatial design economics and spatial design outcomes; spatial design analysis; design of spatial networks and activity locations systems; substantive and normative properties of location and networks of large conurbation in the USA, UK, France and China.

At CPLAN he is leading the conceptual development of spatial design network analysis software and directing the testing (sDNA, www.cardiff.ac.uk./sdna/). He teaches MA Urban Design: Urban design Foundation, Urban Design Studio 1, Development Management, and Research based Urban Design Project.

Before joining CPLAN in 2010, he was an executive and board director at the global consultancy Space Syntax Ltd. where he has been directing large scale spatial policy analysis and evidence based spatial design and policy for statutory purpose with very large population (up to 23m). At Space Syntax, while serving as operational research director (2005-09) he developed and led extensively innovative services and operational research project. The latter mainly funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund to develop methodology and new software capacity for Space Syntax Ltd. He was a senior research fellow at University College London (2000-09). His work has been widely published in international professional journals. In the UK he has been member of various research project panels (EPSRC, Successful suburban town centre, Design for London, London Development Agency, Greater London Authority, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), Joseph Rowntree Foundation).