Suggested by: Martin Loidl

Short description: Parcel delivery systems increasingly rely on decentralised pickup stations whose performance and sustainability depend strongly on their spatial setting. Identifying suitable locations requires a detailed understanding of the spatial context and accessibility of potential locations.
This master thesis focuses on developing a spatial, data-driven approach to analyse and evaluate locations for parcel pickup stations. It includes compiling a comprehensive geodata inventory and applying accessibility modelling to assess site quality for walking, cycling, public transport, and motorised modes. Visual and analytic methods will be used to identify relationships between spatial structure, usage patterns, and CO2-reduction potential. The thesis may also involve developing or adapting automated GIS workflows for location scoring, or analysing the effect of different location types (e.g., residential areas, retail clusters, transportation hubs) on expected user behaviour.

By Matti Blume - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69491925

Research for this master thesis should address one or more of the following questions (but is not limited to):

• Which spatial, infrastructural, and demographic characteristics define high-quality locations for parcel pickup stations?
• How can multimodal accessibility be modelled to support objective and comparable assessment of potential locations?
• How do different location types influence usage patterns and the potential reduction of motorised delivery trips?

References, suggested reading:

• PRANDTSTETTER, M., SERAGIOTTO, C., BRAITH, J., EITLER, S., ENNSER, B., HAUGER, G., HOHENECKER, N., SCHODL, R. & STEINBAUER, M. 2021. On the Impact of Open Parcel Lockers on Traffic. Sustainability, 13, 755. doi:10.3390/su13020755 
• NIEMEIJER, R. & BUIJS, P. 2023. A greener last mile: Analyzing the carbon emission impact of pickup points in last-mile parcel delivery. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 186, 113630. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2023.113630 
• VAN DER MEER, L., WERNER, C. & LOIDL, M. 2024. Assessment of bicycle accessibility to mobility hubs under different criteria for cycling network quality. AGILE GIScience Ser., 5, 48. doi: 10.5194/agile-giss-5-48-2024
• OZYAVAS, P., BUIJS, P., URSAVAS, E. & TEUNTER, R. 2025. Designing a sustainable delivery network with parcel locker systems as collection and transfer points. Omega, 131, 103199. doi:10.1016/j.omega.2024.103199

Start/finish: anytime

Prerequisites/qualifications: Interest in spatial analysis, mobility behaviour, and data-driven urban logistics. Experience with GIS and data management is required; scripting skills (Python, R) are beneficial for automated workflows.