Technical infrastructures face the challenge of becoming more sustainable and future-proof. Key areas of focus include climate-friendly energy and heat supply, the prudent use of water, and innovative solutions for a resilient infrastructure. Theses may explore technical, economic, environmental and legal aspects.

Possible topics include:

• Local heating supply in rural areas
• A concept for supplying electricity to public buildings using photovoltaics
• A conceptual analysis of decentralised rainwater management in existing neighbourhoods
• Collective public services for mobility and infrastructure provision in rural areas – transferability and comparison of international strategies

Mobility Planning is undergoing a period of change. Faced with the challenge of increased sustainability requirements combined with rising mobility needs, forward-looking planning approaches are essential. Key areas of research include, for example, measures to adjust the modal split, the transformation of road space, and the expansion of charging networks for electric vehicles. Theses may cover technical, legal, environmental and economic aspects.

Possible topics include:

• Parking space requirements in new and existing neighbourhoods
• Heat-adapted mobility options (public transport, walking and cycling) – What does a sustainable system look like?
• Mobility Planning for the Lausitz Science Park
• Community-based public services for mobility and infrastructure provision in rural areas – transferability and comparison of international strategies
• Analysis of event-related traffic at the Lausitz Festival
• Defining an optimal modal split – recommendations for an optimal transport policy for medium-sized towns and small cities
• Mobility between the BTU’s campuses
• The importance of urban thoroughfares (e.g. in Hamburg) in Mobility Planning
• Costs of public transport services (scheduled services, alternative services) using the Spree-Neiße district as an example

In an increasingly digitalised world, data is becoming ever more important as the basis for well-informed decisions. This subject area focuses on the systematic collection, analysis and meaningful interpretation of data. Research questions can be addressed using existing datasets (e.g. SAM, MiD, the German Mobility Panel, ALKIS data, heat consumption data) or on the basis of your own surveys. Programmes such as Excel, R, Visum or ArcGIS are used for this purpose.

Possible topics include:

• Development of indicators for the georeferenced delineation of heat supply areas
• Assessment of on-demand transport services
• Public transport use and the Deutschlandticket
• Accessibility analyses in Mobility Planning
• Mapping of georeferenced infrastructure and mobility services in rural areas
• Impacts of climate change on demand patterns for technical infrastructure

In addition to comprehensive climate protection measures, we must address the existing consequences of climate change. These impacts are particularly evident in their effects on people, the environment and technical infrastructure, whether through heatwaves, floods or, for example, wildfires. The focus of the relevant research is on investigating behavioural changes in response to climate change and the challenges facing infrastructure systems.

Possible topics include:

• The effects of heat on mobility behaviour
• Cycling and walking in the context of climate change 
• The impact of extreme weather events on the reliability of public transport
• The effects of climate change on demand patterns for technical infrastructure

Formal and informal planning instruments (policies, regulations, legislation, etc.) provide an important foundation for transformation processes relating to climate protection and climate adaptation, and offer guidance. In final-year dissertations, students can develop their own instruments or critically analyse existing ones.

Possible topics include:

• Implementation of the Federal Climate Protection Act at local authority level
• SUMPs as a tool for the mobility transition