Topics for theses / master

A person's mobility behavior changes over the course of their lifetime. It is well known that mobility restrictions increase in old age and that the out-of-home rate and the distance traveled are reduced. The proportion of journeys on foot increases, while the proportion of journeys by private motorized transport decreases. Due to the current age distribution in Germany, there will be a high proportion of very elderly people in the coming years. However, very elderly people living in care facilities are particularly difficult to reach for surveys. The aim of the study is to record the mobility of people in care facilities (people requiring care) more precisely. To this end, around 10-15 interviews are to be conducted with some residents of Kassel care homes and they are to be asked about their mobility.

Extensive data on traffic volumes is available for the city of Kassel from various sources, including data on bicycle traffic from permanent counting stations, motor vehicle traffic count data and AFZS data from NVV buses. This data will be used to investigate whether and to what extent public transport strikes have an impact on traffic behavior (since often only municipal transport companies are on strike, NVV buses run regularly). To this end, time series of the various count data are analyzed and periods with public transport strikes are compared with suitable reference periods. The aim of the work is to identify and quantify possible changes in traffic volumes and (temporary) modal shift effects.

The department has access to booking data for the "Schaddel" ridepooling service offered by Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG), which can be used for final theses. The data allows you to analyze the use and demand of the service as well as spatial and temporal patterns or operational issues. On this basis, you can develop your own research questions and work on them as part of your thesis.

Infection protection in public transport was an important topic during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to regulations on wearing masks, this also included the ventilation systems in public transport vehicles. Several years after the pandemic, the standard and handling of ventilation systems in the public transport industry is now to be recorded.

The aim of the master's thesis is to develop, conduct and evaluate a standardized survey to record the state of practice in infection protection in public transport. The survey will focus on the handling of ventilation systems. Several expert interviews with people from the industry are to be conducted in advance for the questionnaire. The results of the standardized survey are to be interpreted against the background of the findings on infection protection - including those from the EMILIA project's guidelines for action.

There are a variety of scientific methods for surveying people's mobility behavior. For several decades now, surveys using participants' smartphones have become increasingly relevant. The participants' data is recorded, usually using a software application (tracking app) installed on the device. This starts with the participants' location data, but now often also includes information on the length and duration of the trip, as well as the means of transport used and the purpose of the trip.
The use of tracking apps promises a number of methodological advantages, such as less effort for the participants and a reduction in errors, for example by automatically recording and thus not forgetting short trips. Accordingly, tracking apps are being used more and more frequently.
However, the question arises as to how valid the recorded data actually is. In order to answer this question, the relevant literature will be systematically searched and summarized for this master's thesis. Scientific studies in which the tracking app data was reviewed will be compared. Attention will be paid to which tracking apps were examined at what time and which survey parameters were checked.

One problem with the representation of tourist mobility behavior in transport demand models is that only very limited temporally finely resolved data on the attractiveness of tourist attractions is available. As part of a final thesis, the extent to which data generated by Google searches (Google Trends) is suitable for reducing this data gap is to be examined.

To this end, data from Google Trends and the visitor numbers of selected German museums will be evaluated in order to check whether Google Trends data is suitable as a reference data source for estimating visitor numbers. The first step is to investigate whether there is a correlation between search behavior and actual visitor numbers. If the data is suitable, a method will be developed and used as an example to enable the data to be used to estimate visitor numbers.

Not only the use of transportation but also the use of land for transportation has an impact on the environment. For example, sealed surfaces damage the soil and encourage flooding. The German government wants to reduce land consumption to less than 30 hectares per day by 2030. According to the European Union's resource strategy and the German government's climate protection plan, the transition to a circular economy (net zero target) is to be achieved by 2050 at the latest. But how is the current traffic area divided up between cars, public transport and bicycles? Does the percentage distribution of space between the modes of transport correspond to the modal split? These questions are to be answered on a GIS basis and with the aid of the assumptions of our department's CostTool, using a rural area with sufficient data availability as an example.

In March 2025, the results of the current "Mobility in Germany" survey (MiD 2023/24) were published, which provides representative data on the mobility behavior of the German population. The MiD 2023/24 provides interesting comparisons with the 2017 survey, for example, as well as insights into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and current measures such as the Deutschlandticket. We want to offer them the opportunity to analyze this data as part of their final theses, whereby both the following question and their own topic suggestions can be worked on. It is also possible to combine the MiD data analysis with the implementation and evaluation of focus groups (e.g. with young moped riders from large cities and rural areas).

Question: What socio-demographic characteristics characterize the group of pedelec riders, moped riders and motorcyclists (e.g. age, gender, income, residential area, household type)? What are the characteristics of the journeys made in each case (journey length, distance, travel time)? Are there significant differences between the three groups? Are there significant differences within the three groups (e.g. by gender, income, residential area, household type)?

The gradual switch to electric drives requires a robust electricity infrastructure. To this end, it is necessary to estimate the expected electricity demand at an early stage on a small scale (e.g. at the level of individual neighborhoods or building types in the urban area) along daily hydrographs. The electricity demand for electric vehicles depends in particular on the following factors

- The ramp-up of electric vehicles (especially passenger cars and commercial vehicles) in Germany,

- modal split shares in traffic,

- travel times, journey lengths and charging times of electric vehicle drivers

- mileage of the corresponding electric vehicles.

A large number of studies are available on the ramp-up of electric vehicles (e.g. ADAC, Agora Verkehrswende). The same applies to data on the everyday mobility of the current population (e.g. MiD, SrV). Here, an intersection with spatial structure data available for scientific purposes should also be examined (e.g. building types, settlement density, population composition at neighborhood level).

The aim of the work is to evaluate the data and studies and to examine the extent to which well-founded estimates can be derived from them - possibly with the aid of further assumptions, if possible based on further specialist literature - for the expected future electricity demand in 2045, in particular along daily hydrographs.

Efficient public transport and good accessibility are considered location factors for the economic development of rural areas. The so-called traffic turnaround with a shift from motorized private transport to eco-mobility should not only improve the CO₂ balance of the transport sector, but could also increase the attractiveness of rural regions as residential and business locations. But how does accessibility by public transport actually affect the regional economy and what direct and indirect economic effects can be demonstrated in rural areas? This research question is to be investigated with the help of a Master's thesis. The following methodological approach is conceivable:

• Case study analysis of model regions with before-and-after comparison,
• Statistical analyses of correlations between public transport services and economic indicators,
• Interviews with regional stakeholders and companies.

In March 2025, the results of the current "Mobility in Germany" survey (MiD 2023/24) were published, which provides representative data on the mobility behavior of the German population. The MiD 2023/24 provides interesting comparisons with the 2017 survey, for example, as well as insights into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and current measures such as the Deutschlandticket. We want to offer them the opportunity to analyze this data as part of their final theses, whereby they can work on the following questions as well as their own topic suggestions. It is also possible to combine the MiD data with other panels (e.g. SOEP or SrV).

Question: How do mobility restrictions affect transport behavior and social participation? What different reasons for mobility restrictions (financial, health-related, supply-related) can be identified?

In March 2025, the results of the current "Mobility in Germany" survey (MiD 2023/24) were published, which provides representative data on the mobility behavior of the German population. The MiD 2023/24 provides interesting comparisons with the 2017 survey, for example, as well as insights into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and current measures such as the Deutschlandticket. We want to offer them the opportunity to analyze this data as part of their final theses, whereby they can work on the following questions as well as their own topic suggestions. A combination of MiD data with other panels (e.g. SOEP or SrV) is also possible.

Question: A behavioral-psychological analysis of the discrepancy between availability of means of transport and actual use as an indicator of preference structures. How can implicit preferences and decision heuristics be derived from usage patterns (frequency, regularity, situation specificity)?

In March 2025, the results of the current "Mobility in Germany" survey (MiD 2023/24) were published, which provides representative data on the mobility behavior of the German population. The MiD 2023/24 provides interesting comparisons with the 2017 survey, for example, as well as insights into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and current measures such as the Deutschlandticket. We want to offer them the opportunity to analyze this data as part of their final theses, whereby they can work on the following questions as well as their own topic suggestions. It is also possible to combine the MiD data with other panels (e.g. SOEP or SrV).

Research question: How do accompanying persons and household constellations influence gender-specific mobility patterns? An analysis of trip chains, accompanying patterns (number/type of accompanying persons) and their connection with trip purposes such as 'bringing/picking up people', taking into account household type and employment status.

In March 2025, the results of the current "Mobility in Germany" survey (MiD 2023/24) were published, which provides representative data on the mobility behavior of the German population. The MiD 2023/24 provides interesting comparisons with the 2017 survey, for example, as well as insights into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and current measures such as the Deutschlandticket. We want to offer them the opportunity to analyze this data as part of their final theses, whereby they can work on the following questions as well as their own topic suggestions. It is also possible to combine the MiD data with other panels (e.g. SOEP or SrV).

Question: What gender-specific differences can be seen in the choice of means of transport, trip lengths and trip purposes, and how do these vary according to household type and employment status? Have these differences changed since the last MiD survey?

In March 2025, the results of the current "Mobility in Germany" survey (MiD 2023/24) were published, which provides representative data on the mobility behavior of the German population. The MiD 2023/24 provides interesting comparisons with the 2017 survey, for example, as well as insights into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and current measures such as the Deutschlandticket. We want to offer them the opportunity to analyze this data as part of their final theses, whereby they can work on the following questions as well as their own topic suggestions. It is also possible to combine the MiD data with other panels (e.g. SOEP or SrV).

Question: How has the mobility behavior of 18-29 year olds changed between the MiD surveys? Can the often-discussed loss of importance of the car be empirically confirmed on the basis of reduced daily use while availability remains the same?

Chapter S7 of the 2015 Manual for the Design of Road Traffic Facilities (HBS) contains an analytical procedure for assessing the speed-related quality of local public transport services. This procedure has some shortcomings that lead to low acceptance in practice. To remedy these shortcomings, a research project commissioned by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) developed a draft for a new version of Chapter S7, which also covers the use case "quality assurance in existing traffic" and allows and regulates the inclusion of measurement data.

In this work, this new procedure is to be applied and evaluated for the use case "quality assurance in existing vehicles" with the use of measurement data for some public transport lines of the Kasseler Verkehrsgesellschaft (KVG) and the Nordhessischer VerkehrsVerbund (NVV). The results of the evaluation of the speed-related service quality will be used to derive proposals for measures to improve it.

In addition to its function as an important component of the transport transition, local public transport also plays a key role in providing services of general interest. Against this background, local public transport planning must meet the various needs of different user groups. The strategy of gender mainstreaming offers a central point of reference for this.

Although it has been known for some time that there are differences in gender-specific mobility behavior and that this results in different requirements for transport systems, there has been repeated criticism in recent years that transport planning is primarily oriented towards the mobility patterns of working people who are free from care work. For this reason, the thesis will investigate the question: "What role do gender aspects play in public transport planning?".

To answer the research question, a quantitative survey is to be prepared, conducted and evaluated using an online questionnaire. The anonymous survey is aimed at employees of German public transport planning offices and public transport authorities. The results will be used to identify obstacles and derive recommendations for action with the aim of making public transport planning more target group-oriented.

In cooperation with the VDV, key decision-makers in the public transport sector are to be interviewed about their choice of transport. The focus is on their everyday lives, their strategies and how they deal with cognitive dissonance.

What is the current state of research on this topic (literature review)?
How can the unwanted avoidance of journeys in the sense of a lack of participation be distinguished from an ecologically desirable avoidance of transportation? Which questions can be used to approach immobility in a differentiated way?

The large commercial car-sharing providers continue to concentrate on the big cities. Nevertheless, cars are also lent to each other and shared in rural areas. However, these lending processes are not recognizable as such by outsiders and have hardly been researched scientifically. In the context of this work, the example of a rural community will be used to investigate how often, due to which circumstances, according to which decision criteria and for which purposes private cars are currently informally lent between households.

For this purpose a questionnaire is to be developed on the basis of a literature research, which determines the everyday practices and attitudes to informal car sharing with differently familiar groups of persons. With this questionnaire a pretest is to be carried out and evaluated with simple statistical procedures. On the basis of the response behavior, the suitability of the questionnaire for the research objective is to be reflected, including concrete suggestions for changes. The questionnaire can be filled out by the target group in presence or online.

Similar to car sharing, the large commercial ridesharing providers also concentrate on the big cities. Nevertheless, even in rural areas, people are given rides in their private cars or something is brought to them on demand. However, these ridesharing and bring-along practices are not recognizable as such by outsiders and have hardly been researched scientifically. In the context of this work it is to be examined on the example of a rural municipality, how often, due to which circumstances, after which decision criteria and for which purposes at present informally private people take others or bring them certain goods.

For this, a questionnaire is to be developed on the basis of a literature research, which determines the everyday practices and attitudes to the informal taking along and bringing along with differently familiar groups of persons. A pretest is to be conducted with this questionnaire and evaluated with simple statistical methods. On the basis of the response behavior, the suitability of the questionnaire for the research objective is to be reflected, including concrete suggestions for changes. The questionnaire can be filled out by the target group in presence or online.