Peter Rauch

Peter Rauch is an Honorary Professor at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), affiliated with the Department of Economics and Social Sciences and the Institute of Production Management and Logistics. His work focuses on forestry logistics, sustainable business, risk management, and digital transformation in the wood industry.

• PhD in Forestry and Wood Industry
• Habilitation in Business Administration of Forestry and Wood Industry (2013)
• State examination for higher forestry service with distinction (2001)

His research centers on sustainable and resilient wood supply chains, with a strong emphasis on digitalization, simulation-based logistics planning, and risk mitigation in salvage wood management. He investigates quality-driven transport strategies, multimodal logistics, and the economic and ecological impacts of climate change on biomass supply. His work bridges process management, environmental sustainability, and corporate strategy in the forest-based sector.

Recent publications reveal a consistent trend in using simulation models—particularly discrete event simulation—to optimize wood transport, preserve log quality, and enhance supply chain resilience during bark beetle and storm-related calamities. His focus on digital transformation includes game-based workshops and web-based tools for decision support in disaster logistics.

• Elsevier & WORLD RENEWABLE ENERGY NETWORK: Renewable Energy: Outstanding Reviewer 2017

Rauch leads multiple research projects funded by national ministries and the EU, often in collaboration with public and private stakeholders. He supervises university theses and actively transfers knowledge through workshops, policy guidelines, and industry collaborations. His projects include LogWork, GreenLane, and Käfer KO, focusing on simulation-based learning and strategic logistics planning for disaster response. He is also involved in developing digital platforms for wood logistics management.

He leads and participates in research teams and projects such as the GreenLane consortium and the LogWork initiative, which integrate interdisciplinary expertise in forestry, logistics, and environmental modeling to develop resilient supply chain solutions.