Master theses

Das Bild zeigt einen Ausschnitt einer studentischen Arbeit mit dem Thema "Auwaldstation Leipzig".

The master’s thesis at the Department of Landscape Planning offers students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge acquired during their studies from a scientific-theoretical perspective or to apply it in a planning context through an intensive examination of the substantive and methodological issues within the field.

Topics in Landscape Planning for Master’s Theses in the Winter Semester 2026/27

If you are interested, please send an email to Prof. Catrin Schmidt by September 14, 2026, at the latest (feel free to contact us earlier; some topics are offered only once and will be assigned to the first applicant(s)) and please cc Ilka Werblow. In addition to the topics listed below, we are also happy to support individual topics; please submit your ideas as early as possible! Workstations can be reserved through Ilka Werblow.

Basic GIS knowledge is required for all topics, as data is typically provided in Shapes format and at least one data export must be performed. If advanced GIS knowledge is required for selected topics, this is indicated in the brief descriptions below.

The following topics, described below and illustrated in the video, will be offered in the upcoming winter semester.

Seeds of Change. Experimental Design.

The financial resources for BUGA in Dresden 2033 are limited, whereas the two “lifelines” to be developed cover a very large area, creating the risk that, in the end, only the central core areas will be designed and the lifelines will remain on paper. So why not take advantage of the temporary nature of the exhibition event and adopt a more experimental approach from the outset, focusing on actions taken in a targeted manner during the half-year BUGA exhibition—the “Seeds of Change”? The task of this master’s thesis is to design temporary initiatives along the two “lifelines” for the duration of BUGA 2033 that make the possibilities of a green urban transformation more tangible and vivid. They should be designed in such a way that they can be evaluated during BUGA, and once BUGA concludes, the urban community will decide which elements will be retained, expanded, or dismantled. Examples of such initiatives are diverse and can range from pilot projects for repurposing parking lots and streets to guerrilla gardening and street trees, which are initially transported in pots to various locations along a “lifeline” on a trial basis before a decision is made on their final planting site. The focus is on experimentation. Integrated into a coherent overall concept, these initiatives are intended to help bring the “lifelines” to life despite limited financial resources and to make them visible and tangible both during and after the BUGA. The initiatives should be illustrated in spatial representations, cross-sections, and visualizations, and detailed in appropriate sub-areas.

Design Work (exclusively plans and design book; no GIS skills required)

Compass or Mandatory Exercise? The Municipal Landscape Plan in Brandenburg.

Municipal landscape planning in Brandenburg now looks back on a history spanning more than 25 years. But what level of development and quality have municipal landscape plans in Brandenburg actually achieved? The objective of this master’s thesis is to obtain a current overview of the status of landscape plans, as well as experiences, problems, opportunities, and specific areas requiring action, through a quantitative survey of Brandenburg’s municipal offices. Digitally available landscape plans are to be researched and evaluated to create a catalog of best-practice examples. In addition, there are a number of new challenges, ranging from climate change to the management of open-space solar power systems. Against this backdrop, many municipalities are expected to revise or update their landscape plans in the coming years. But what should a modern landscape plan look like, and what guidance and suggestions should be provided for the upcoming phase? The master’s thesis should conclude with recommendations for future planning.

Planning and scientific thesis (text and maps; no GIS skills required)

A New Mining Boom in the Ore Mountains?

During the Middle Ages, the Ore Mountains experienced their first “great mining boom” with large-scale silver mining, which completely transformed the landscape. Is a new “mining boom” on the horizon? At the very least, the Saxon State Mining Authority has recently granted mining permits covering very large areas for the exploration of critical technology metals such as lithium, tin, tungsten, and others. In some cases, the first planning approval procedures are already underway. Shouldn’t large-scale, precautionary strategies be developed to strike a good balance between raw material extraction and landscape conservation before local communities are overwhelmed by these developments? The objective of this master’s thesis is first to provide an overview of the current planning status of the exploration and planned mining of critical technology metals in the Ore Mountains. Research and analysis of EIA reports on comparable mining projects, along with a review of the literature, will also serve as the basis for an overview of the expected environmental impacts of mining. This, in turn, will result in the conceptual development of a landscape resilience map for the Ore Mountains, in which particularly sensitive areas of the landscape—and, when overlaid with mining permits, potential conflict hotspots—will be identified. At the same time, a requirements profile for future EIAs will be developed, and sustainable strategies for dealing with the “new Berggeschrey” will be formulated.

Planning and scientific work (text and maps; advanced GIS skills recommended)

From Tree to Tree: Green Bicycle Routes in the Leipziger Land District

Who really enjoys cycling in the blazing summer sun? Cycle paths that offer regular shade while still providing magnificent views seem much more pleasant—especially during the increasingly frequent heat waves. However, shade is in short supply on some of the bike routes in the Leipziger Land district. There is also the question of how rows of trees along the route will survive potential future droughts. And which tree species could serve as both anchors of identity and design hallmarks in which landscapes? The objective of this master’s thesis is to develop a sustainable greening concept for the main SachsenNetz bike routes; additional routes may be selected as optional. To this end, the tree population must be analyzed using aerial imagery, and its condition must be assessed on-site through random sampling. At the same time, research must be conducted to determine which tree species were historically particularly characteristic of the district’s various landscapes, which could support the distinctiveness of the individual regions, and which tree species would be suitable for the specific sites, taking climate change into account. Based on this, a planting concept must be developed for the individual routes that highlights the distinctive character of the surrounding cultural landscapes and designs the bike routes as connecting axes of blue-green infrastructure. Furthermore, the project should demonstrate how a sustainable water supply for the plantings can be ensured.

Planning and scientific project (text and maps; basic GIS skills required)

Golden Jackal and Meadow Breeders

More and more golden jackals are migrating into Germany largely unnoticed and filling a niche between wolves and foxes. Could this affect ground-nesting birds and smaller mammals in particular, or is it more of an ecological opportunity? What precautionary conservation measures could be taken to safeguard the population of meadow-nesting birds? The objective of this master’s thesis is, based on species data and an analysis of the population trend of golden jackals and their habitat requirements, to develop a habitat model for Germany that describes their future range and, based on this, to research and further develop appropriate conservation measures, particularly for the aforementioned meadow and open-country birds.

Planning and scientific thesis (text and maps; advanced GIS skills required)

The 3-30-300 Rule. A Study in Dresden.

Although the 3-30-300 rule is only about five years old, it has already spread—originating in the Netherlands—to large parts of Europe. Does it deliver on its promise? It was conceived as an easy-to-communicate policy target for more green space in the city: Every city resident should have 3 trees within visible range, live in a neighborhood with 30% tree canopy cover, and be able to reach the nearest green space within 300 m. How can these targets be operationalized in urban planning? Do the targets even make sense? And do they point to a vague need for action, or do they provide a solid planning basis for new urban green spaces? Since there are no valid pilot studies yet, the goal of this master’s thesis is to operationalize all three targets using the neighborhoods of Löbtau-Süd, Südvorstadt-West, and Plauen as examples, and to test the practicality of the 3-30-300 rule. Alternatively, the Blasewitz-Stresen-Gruna district may be selected. For tree canopy cover, various publicly available remote sensing data and data from the City of Dresden can be used for comparative testing. For other parameters, GIS-based methods must be developed. The master’s thesis should conclude with technical recommendations: Is the 3-30-300 rule an opportunity or a misguided approach?

Planning and scientific thesis (text and maps; advanced GIS skills required)

Environmental Report versus Green Space Plan

Using the example of a zoning plan being developed for the Höckendorf Wildlife Reserve in the municipality of Klingenberg, the interfaces between the environmental report and the green space plan are to be discussed and explored. Do these instruments complement each other effectively, or do they compete with one another? To answer this question, the key components of both an environmental report and a green space plan will be developed based on a landscape planning analysis and assessment of the planning area (approx. 27,000 m²) as well as a draft of the zoning plan. The result can be presented as an environmental report with an integrated green space plan. Building on the case study, synergies and potential overlaps between the two instruments will be discussed, and solution strategies will be identified.

Planning-related academic thesis (text and plans); advanced GIS skills required

Current master’s theses

Current Master’s Theses

Previous Master’s Thesis Topics

Previous topics for diploma theses

You can view completed master’s theses or diploma theses on site by sending an email request to the Chair’s office.