Accessibility in the local food supply. A multidimensional conception, modelling and analysis based on empirical consumer surveys.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jürgen Rauh
• Subject Area: Human Geography
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 467088138

The retail-geography project has a focus on spatial consumer behaviour and the accessibility of grocery shopping as well as its modelling. The study area has different settlement structures. The relationships between supplier and consumer are to be empirically investigated in the context of questions of accessibility in local supply. The empirical results are to be transferred into GIS-models on the basis of a multidimensional operationalisation of accessibility. Three main goals are pursued:Objective I is to generate a deeper understanding of (situational) contexts, perceptions, behaviours, satisfaction and weightings in the food supply of the population using empirical-analytical methods. Special attention will be given to the embedding of food shopping in everyday activities as well as to the evaluation of local supply quality. Objective II: The empirical findings are to be transferred to a statistical population by means of modelling procedures, which have to be developed or adapted specifically for this purpose. The methodological goal is to test the combination of utility functions known from spatial interaction models and GIS accessibility models for the example of local food supply. In addition to large-area accessibility analyses, individual perspectives will be implemented in several models with different thematic focuses (car, pedestrian, public transport and commuter accessibility).Objective III: The results obtained from empirical research and modelling will finally be used to analyse, discuss and evaluate accessibility in the food supply under the aspect of social (in)justice. An important basis for this is a reflection of the GIS-based model results with selected participants by qualitative interviews. This allows to determine further subjective criteria of accessibility and reasonability.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants