Geokodierte Meldedaten als Basis bedarfsgerechter Planungen in ländlichen Gemeinden und Regionen

Population registers can make an important contribution to spatially related planning in rural municipalities. This has been illustrated in a number of recent studies that have examined processes of demographic change and service requirements in Germany’s rural areas. These investigations are usually case-study based and share an approach involving the geo-coding of municipal population registers and their analysis using Geographical Information Systems. This reveals and allows the analysis of population structures and changes thereto, also for units below the municipal level, as is rarely possible when using population data held by supra-municipal statistical authorities. This paper draws on findings from these investigations. It combines them to form a line of argument that demonstrates the value of the approach for both the municipal and the regional levels, using illustrative examples from Bavaria and Sachsen-Anhalt. In addition to general demographic aspects, the focus is on “accessibility” and “real estate” as topics that are associated with demographic processes. Discussion of the value of this approach is intended to motivate the increased use of population registers both in academic research and in planning practice. Attention is also drawn to the limits of the approach with a view to future population trends. By highlighting both the value and the limits of the use of geo-coded municipal population data the paper also aims to support the implementation of digitalisation strategies in the planning of rural areas.