mobility survey: commuting

The mobility survey is an important tool for achieving the mdw's goal of climate neutrality. It enables changes in the mobility behaviour of all mdw members to be identified and measures to be developed, thereby supporting lecturers, students and administrative staff in travelling to and from the mdw's locations in the most climate- and environmentally-friendly way possible.

Commuting by staff and students accounts for more than a third of the mdw's greenhouse gas emissions. Although only 14% of commuting (in passenger kilometres) is done by car, this accounts for almost a quarter (24.6%) of the mdw's total greenhouse gas emissions. (As of: Key Figures 2024)

Every three years, a commuter-survey is conducted in cooperation with the mdw's quality management department. Surveys have been conducted in the winter semesters of 2018/19, 2022/23 and most recently in 2025/26 (data analysis in progress).

The data collected is incorporated into both the environmental management system (EMAS) and the mdw's greenhouse gas balance sheet.