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Research project "Logist.Plus" 

Duration: 60 months (36 months research & development, 24 months implementation & institutionalisation)

Objectives of the project Logist.Plus
The project aims at supporting a sustainable development of the region by also integrating interests of the logistic sector. Conflicts and synergies between economic interests and environmental goals will be identified and practical development paths drawn. The project will finally recommend specific actions that can be implemented within the Osnabrück and Steinfurt counties, and transferred to other regions.

Realization of objectives
In order to achieve presented aims and reduce land use conflicts, the logistic sector needs to reduce its space requirements and its impact on the environment. For this purpose, the project develops tools and strategies to guide the choice of new locations for the logistic sector that conserve soil and land uses. Approaches aiming at the reduction of space, including cooperative and multifunctional land use, and innovative business and governance models, are also examined. After a thorough analysis of the current and planned measures of the study area, best practice examples and innovations from the literature will be adapted to fit to the regional context. In all its steps the project builds on participatory methods and interdisciplinary cooperation.

Role of University of Osnabrück
The University of Osnabrück seeks to make a tangible contribution to a sustainable development of the logistic sector in the region. The University of Osnabrück provides three working groups (WG) to the project to address the following research areas:

• WG Human and Economic Geography (Franz/ Schumacher):
  sustainable transformation of land use, transformation of the logistic sector

• WG Resources Management (Pahl-Wostl/ Halbe/ Schattan):
  participatory modelling, integrated assessment, merge of participatory system-science-based modelling with GIS for scenario development

• WG Agroecology and Soil Research (Broll/ Brauckmann/ Schurat):
  soil quality assessment, soil conservation and protection

Major contributions of WG Resources Management
The contribution of the WG Resources Management is the development and application of an indicator system, which describes the manifold effects of the logistic sector especially on the environment. This includes impacts on soil quality, ecosystems, economic development and emissions. Moreover, the WG participates in the thorough analyses of the situation and of available innovations through participatory methods. Based on these findings, the WG develops status quo and positive scenarios, to illustrate possible regional development paths. The research focuses on the creation of coherent future visions for the logistic sector that allows for the achievement of both economic and environmental goals.

Project Partners
Science: University of Osnabrueck, University of Applied Science Osnabrueck, Wissenschaftsladen Bonn e.V.
Practice Partners: Kompetenznetz Individuallogistik e.V., European Land and Soil Alliance e.V., county of Steinfurt, county of Osnabrueck, city of Osnabrueck