Theses
Students can write their final theses (Bachelor/Master) at the WISTS group. For an application, we assume a strong interest in relevant topics of the group's research areas and expect previous knowledge in the field of Information Systems.
Theses are usually linked to current research topics and projects of the research group. Students are closely supervised and gain insights into the scientific research work of the group.
We regularly announce current questions and topics for bachelor and master theses. Practical work, case studies and your own suggestions for theses along our main topics are welcome. In the case of unsolicited applications, we reserve the right to review the relevance and chances of success. If you would like to write your thesis with us, we would ask you to fill out our application form and send it together with your current Transcript of Records to abschlussarbeiten-wists.inf"AT"uni-hamburg.de.
If you want to request a second opinion, please send the exposé for yout theses and an informal letter to abschlussarbeiten-wists.inf"AT"uni-hamburg.de.
Open Topics
Here you find current announcements for theses topics.
Disaster Management for Hamburg
Key Words:
Disaster Management, Preventive Citizen Participation, Information Management, Mobile App Development, Storm Surges & Flooding, Prototyping, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning
Background:
Within the research project Rescue-Mate, the challenge of creating situational awareness and optimizing information flows in the security scenario of a storm surge in Hamburg is being investigated. This challenge arises against the backdrop of rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, and a growing number of residents who may need to be evacuated and provided for in the event of a disaster. The key stakeholders in this scenario include government agencies and their affiliated units such as the fire department, police, the harbor authority, and various relief organizations. Comprehensive situational awareness and an informed and prepared population are particularly relevant for disaster response planning in situations like a storm surge, which involves aspects such as drowning individuals, drifting ships, and blocked roads.
It is possible to write theses that contribute to the content and objectives of the Rescue-Mate project, exploring selected subject areas and developing and testing prototypes. Through the project consortium, access to experts can also be provided.
Research Objectives:
Depending on the academic level (bachelor's or master's), specific areas of focus, and interests, various tasks and research questions can be addressed. Collaborations with organizations and/or companies are also possible but not mandatory. The following thematic areas are of particular interest and can be explored:
- Analysis and development of concepts and mobile prototypes for informing and proactively educating citizens in urban areas, particularly in Hamburg-Mitte, as well as their involvement in crisis situations to efficiently collect data and support crisis-relevant stakeholders.
- Development of AI-based prototypes for the automated evaluation of data from mobile crisis applications, such as aggregating automatically collected data, including locations, and presenting them to crisis management teams in the form of interactive maps or similar tools.
These topics are especially suitable for students majoring in computer science, business informatics, human-computer interaction, software system development, IT management and consulting, and intelligent adaptive systems. Theses can be written in either German or English.
Smart City & Urban Planning
Key Words:
Smart City, Urban Planning and Design, Smart Mobility, Machine Learning (especially Natural Language Processing), Data Science
Background:
In recent years, urbanization has led to significant growth in cities and metropolitan regions, and various organizations predict that this trend will continue in the coming years. For instance, the UN estimates that by 2050, over 70% of the global population will reside in urban areas, representing an increase of up to 25%. However, the growth rates vary significantly by country and region. In Europe, for example, nearly 60% of the population already lives in cities, resulting in an average local growth rate of only about two percent, whereas in Africa and Asia, this rate can reach 4% to 5%. This development gives rise to new challenges and exacerbates existing conflicts, affecting aspects such as urban mobility, the housing market, and recreational areas in various ways.
To address these challenges and support the (further) development of cities, responsible stakeholders are increasingly focusing on involving citizens, local political organizations, and associations. This involvement aims to enable participatory design in construction projects and similar initiatives. Furthermore, digital discussions on social media platforms, as well as in the political arena (including municipal councils and district assemblies), generate additional data and information that are aggregated into decisions. Decisions related to planned or desired construction projects are of high interest to implementing stakeholders and government bodies, as they can lead to (political) actions and, consequently, urban changes. Decisions and topics discussed in district assemblies are particularly significant, as they have a direct impact on developments in neighborhoods and districts. Therefore, early recognition of these decisions is beneficial, allowing representatives and citizens to participate in development and decision-making processes, fostering co-creative design, and providing participants with the opportunity to contribute to the development of their environment.
Research Objectives:
Depending on the academic level (bachelor's or master's), specific areas of focus, and interests, various tasks and research questions can be addressed. Additionally, collaborations with organizations and/or companies are possible but not mandatory. The following thematic areas are of particular interest and can be explored:
- Analysis and development of prototypes to support digital citizen participation in urban or rural areas with the aim of making such participation scalable and efficient. The quality of contributions is crucial, as digital scenarios differ from on-site formats, and various circumstances, functions, and designs target different audiences.
- Development of prototypes for the automated evaluation of data from citizen participation. The increasing success of digital participation underscores citizens' interest in shaping their environment, leading to improved urban planning projects, as demonstrated by past projects. Simultaneously, the volume of data collected in citizen participation is growing, making evaluation more challenging and costly. Therefore, it is essential to investigate how evaluation processes can be automated using AI/ML and how experts can be supported in this regard. Theses on this topic can be written in cooperation with the State Agency for Geoinformation and Surveying, and existing data from past participation projects via the Hamburg platform DIPAS can be made available as needed and in consultation with cooperation partners.
- Systematic exploration and automated collection of publicly available resolutions from Hamburg district assemblies, including content analysis (e.g., selection and/or summarization) concerning (construction) projects related to urban mobility. Possible thesis title: "Intelligent Capture and Evaluation of Requirements from Urban Actors to Promote Urban Mobility."
- Systematic comparison of existing machine learning methods for natural language processing using full texts and/or tweets to summarize and/or assess texts in terms of content and/or sentiment analysis. Statements related to mobility, particularly in the context of Smart Mobility, are of particular interest.
These thematic areas can be worked on in collaboration with various partners of the working group, such as HOCHBAHN or the State Agency for Geoinformation and Surveying.
These topics are especially suitable for students majoring in computer science, business informatics, human-computer interaction, software system development, IT management and consulting, and intelligent adaptive systems. Theses can be written in either German or English.
University-Industry Collaboration: AI Competencies, Data-based Innovation
University-Industry Collaboration (UIC) provides a platform for knowledge exchange, collaborative research, and the practical application of AI in partnership with companies. Through this collaboration, students can benefit from expert knowledge and hands-on experiences to develop their competencies in data analysis, machine learning, neural networks, and other AI technologies.
The impact of this collaboration on students' employability is multifaceted. On the one hand, practical training in cooperation with companies enables students to acquire relevant knowledge and skills increasingly demanded by employers. This can enhance their employability and give them a competitive advantage in the job market.
Furthermore, University-Industry Collaboration can also promote students' entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurship. Through direct interaction with companies and involvement in AI solution development projects, students are encouraged to develop and implement innovative ideas. This contributes to fostering entrepreneurial thinking and action and may inspire them to start their own businesses or drive innovative AI applications within existing companies.
Task assignment:
Depending on the chosen degree program (bachelor or master), academic focus, and individual interests, there are various opportunities for assignments and research questions. There is also the option to collaborate with external organizations and/or companies, although this is not mandatory. Students have the flexibility to either work with organizations/companies they have acquired themselves or utilize the existing partners of DDLitLab for potential collaborations. The following are some areas of particular interest that can be explored as research topics:
- The role of University-Industry Collaboration in developing AI competencies and its impact on students' employability.
- Analysis of best practices in University-Industry Collaboration in the field of AI to identify the relevant skills and competencies for graduates' employability.
- Examining the impact of University-Industry Collaboration on closing competency gaps in the field of AI and promoting graduates' employability.
- Identifying AI-based tools and technologies that can be utilized in University-Industry Collaboration to enhance skills development and students' employability.
- Researching industry needs and expectations regarding graduates with AI competencies and their influence on curricula and programs in higher education.
- Developing measures and strategies for assessing and validating AI competencies acquired in University-Industry Collaboration to enhance students' employability and facilitate their transition into the job market.
- The impact of University-Industry Collaboration on the development of AI skills and their contribution to sustainable innovation in companies and organizations.
- The effectiveness of University-Industry Collaboration in developing AI competencies and its contribution to the sustainable development of companies and organizations.
Theses can be written in either German or English.
Information on the Design of a Seminar Paper/ Final Paper
For the design of your seminar or final thesis, please read the following important information and guidelines.
Application Form
Do you want to write your thesis at our group? If so, we look forward to receiving your completed application form.
Style Sheet
For the layout of your thesis please use our style sheet: