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04 TOMORROWTODAY QUARTERLY 2013
Developing the technologies, methods and tools of tomorrow
Healthy Prospects
NEW INFECTION DIAGNOSTICS
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PERSONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS FORESIGHT ENERGY
SAFETY & SECURITY
IECON CONFERENCE IN VIENNA
SMART TRAMS SAFE ON TRACK
MOBILITY
SOLAR-DECATHLON
LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS FOR WATERWAYS
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LISI - THE AWARD-WINNING SOLAR HOUSE
SAVE THE DATE:
ALPBACH
TECHNOLOGY FORUM 2014 At the Crossroads
21.-23.08.2014 Congress Centrum Alpbach/Tirol
Details: www.alpbach-technologyforum.com, Information: claudia.klement@ait.ac.at
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➜ CONTENT/EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
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What is the secret of success of the ‘innovation incubator’ Silicon Valley? A report.
SHOOTING STAR
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Klemens Wassermann, PhD student at AIT, won the Young Innovator of the Year 2013 award at the international science conference Falling Walls in Berlin. An interview.
PRIZE-WINNING SOLAR HOUSE
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A team of Austrian students won the most prestigious competition for solar houses in the USA, the ‘Solar Decathlon’. AIT provided technological support. An insight.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN THE SERVICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
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AIT has developed an innovative driver assistance system with intelligent 3D cameras for trams. The new system will make urban traffic safer.
HIGHTECH TOOLBOX FOR RAPID INFECTION DIAGNOSIS
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New test methods developed at AIT will make it possible to identify infections more quickly and reliably than ever before
THE PATHWAY TO A PERSONALISED HEALTH SYSTEM
This issue of Tomorrow Today focuses on the subject of health in two different ways. The first involves presenting the new capabilities we have developed in the field of infection diagnosis and the achievements of our PhD student, Klemens Wassermann: with his revolutionary approach to diagnosis, he won the Young Innovator of the Year 2013 award from the jury and audience at this year’s international Falling Walls conference. We also report on the Personal Health Systems Foresight research project, which examines the framework conditions needed for Europe to overcome the numerous challenges it faces through the use of technology. AIT’s primary focus is placed on the key role of public funding in this respect. Being able to examine the subject of health from two very different perspectives is one of AIT's major assets. Thanks to our interdisciplinary approach, we can effectively develop innovative solutions for our customers in cooperation with our partners.
This year’s IECON 2013 took place in Vienna. The most important international conference on industrial electronics attracted a record number of participants. The focus was on (power) electronics for sustainable energy systems.
SMART TRAMS – SAFE ON TRACK
Photo: www.peterrigaud.com
THE SECRET TO SILICON VALLEY
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The ‘Personal Health Systems Foresight’ project shows pathways for Europe’s health systems. AIT focuses on investigating the potential roles of public authorities.
This interdisciplinary approach is clearly successful, as demonstrated in this year's Solar Decathlon competition. Led by the Vienna University of Technology, and with technological support from AIT, an Austrian team of 45 students went out and won the most important university competition for solar and sustainable housing in the USA. You can read the report of this victory on page ten. We are determined to stay at the cutting-edge of developments by organising the Alpbach Technology Talks together with Austrian radio station Ö1. From 21 to 23 August 2014 we will again use the opportunity to discuss the burning issues of the day. Save the date. We invite you to attend!
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Michael H. Hlava Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications
INNOVATION CALENDAR
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SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
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PS.: You are welcome to contact us about any of the published articles: our communications team is here to answer your questions.
IMPROVING INLAND WATER TRANSPORT AIT is developing logistics systems designed to enable a more efficient use of waterways for cargo transport.
IMPRINT. The magazine Tomorrow Today is a media collaboration with the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. Editorial responsibility rests with Austria Innovativ. Media owner and publisher_Bohmann Druck und Verlag GesmbH & Co. KG., 1110 Vienna, Leberstrasse 122, phone: +43 1 740 95-0. DVR: 0408689. Management_Gabriele Ambros, Gerhard Milletich. Publisher_AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Tech Gate Vienna, Donau-City-Strasse 1, 1220 Vienna, phone: +43 (0) 50550-0. Publishing manager_Patrick Lehnhart. Editors-in-chief_Michael Hlava, e-mail: michael.hlava@ait.ac.at, Norbert Regitnig-Tillian, E-Mail: nrt@bohmann.at. Editors_Margit Noll, Daniel Pepl. Authors of this edition_Alfred Bankhamer, Doris Griesser, Eva Pfisterer, Angelika Prohammer. Project management_Daniel Pepl. Graphic design_Anita Frühwirth. Layout_Markus Frühwirth (REPROMEDIA). Print_ Druckerei Odysseus, Haideäckerstrasse 1, A-2325 Himberg. Cover shot_AIT. Publication_4 times a year. All copyrights reserved, including Section 44 paras. 1 and 2 of the Austrian Copyright Act. ISSN 1994-5159 (print), ISSN 1994-5167 (online). Free subscription via e-mail_cmc@ait.ac.at.
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➜ SILICON VALLEY
THE SECRET TO SILICON VALLEY /// Silicon Valley stands for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship. But what is the secret to this enormous ‘innovation incubator’ on the US west coast? A high-ranking delegation from Austria explored this issue as part of the Science Talks. /// JUST A GARAGE. Anyone who asks about the ‘birthplace of Silicon Valley’ in Palo Alto, the town at the heart of California’s technology region to the south of San Francisco, is directed to a simple and inconspicuous building in the centre of a peaceful residential area. It is the garage where two Stanford students, William Hewlett and David Packard, developed their first product, an oscillator used by sound engineers as a testing instrument, and acquired Walt Disney Entertainments as a customer shortly after. That was in 1938. Today, despite a few ups and downs, Hewlett-Packard still is one of the biggest manufacturers of personal computers and ‘the garage’ is symbolic of generations of entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Anyone who can bring sufficient entrepreneurial spirit and avoid becoming disheartened in the face of failure can create a breath-taking success story from the most modest of beginnings here.
●● GIVE AND TAKE Stanford is one of the richest universities in the world. A substantial proportion of the budget comes from alumni donations. Stanford University has an endowment capital of 19 billion dollars and an annual budget of around 3.5 billion euros. By contrast, all Austrian universities together have a total of 2.5 billion euros available to them each year. Stanford also employs 300 people in fundraising activities alone. Another billion dollars comes from donations each year – mostly from Stanford alumni. Give and take is a mutual process: many Stanford alumni see it as a moral obligation to donate some of their income to the university, but Stanford is also generous when it comes to granting researchers IP rights for their inventions. This makes it easier to set up and finance companies. If the business turns out successful, many millions are often channelled back to the university in the form of donations.
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An Austrian delegation visiting the Bay Area south of San Francisco during the Science Talks was able to identify the mysteries underlying the success of this American stronghold of technology. The aim was to explore how “excellent achievements are created and organised” in the science and business centre of Silicon Valley, according to Hannes Androsch, President of the AIT Supervisory Board. CRAZY COMPANIES, CRAZY INVESTORS
It is clear that we can learn from this region. Despite competition from China, South Korea and India, Silicon Valley remains one of the most important IT and high-tech centres in the world. 40% of the US venture capital is invested in companies based in the Bay Area around San Francisco. And many of the big (IT) companies were formed in this incubator of innovation: Intel, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Dell, Apple and Facebook. “Silicon Valley is a hybrid of crazy companies and crazy investors,” says Steven Blank, lecturer at Stanford University, who has spent many years exploring the history of the region. Silicon Valley attracts entrepreneurs from all over the world and there are many reasons for this. Over the last 50 years, the Bay Area has established itself as a region which offers both excellence in fundamental research and has one of the liveliest business start-up scenes in the world. The Bay Area is therefore an exciting place for Austria. It is the perfect demonstration of how research, innovation and entrepreneurship can be combined to create a vibrant whole.
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SILICON VALLEY
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Silicon Valley: The biggest ‘innovation incubator’ in the USA
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SILICON VALLEY
Business start-up entrepreneurs, including many Austrians, often discover that competing for funding is not as easy as it first appears. Each year, thousands of business plans are exchanged across the desks of venture capitalists or ‘business angels’. Without a good performance record and recommendation from a reliable source, entrepreneurs are likely to come away empty-handed. Business accelerators such as the globally active ‘Plug and Play’ company aim to make young entrepreneurs ready for the first rounds of financing. They hire out great value office space, arrange appointments with business angels or teach how to design project presentations to be both concise and appealing. But failure could happen to anyone. The total success rate for Silicon Valley start-ups does not exceed 10%. FAILURE IS PART OF THE PROCESS
Failure is not classed as a particular defect in this lively innovation industry. On the contrary: one of the much-discussed fundamental atti-
●● THE FATHER OF SILICON VALLEY The founding of Silicon Valley is closely associated with Stanford Professor Frederick Terman. Stanford University was founded by the former governor of California, Leland Stanford and his wife Jane in 1891 and played a key role in developing this technology stronghold after the Second World War. Frederick Terman, former Dean of the Engineering Faculty at Stanford, is commonly dubbed the ‘father of Silicon Valley’. Having been summoned to Harvard during the Second World War to undertake research into the German radar system, Terman returned to Stanford after the war and set up state funded research labs here specialising in military electronics. Terman motivated his students to set up their own businesses within the area around the university rather than jumping to established companies and as such triggered the first wave of start-ups. Since there was little private venture capital at that time, the US government stepped in to provide start-up funding and many companies benefited from government contracts. “Terman was able to attract funding from the state,” says Steve Blank. “Without him, Silicon Valley as we know it today would not exist”. Silicon Valley went on to become one of the most important sites for military research. In the mid-1950s, the Lockheed Martin research department relocated to the Stanford area. The Cold War triggered an increase in research funding. When the Soviet Union sent its first satellite, ‘Sputnik’, into orbit in 1957, the US Congress reacted by making significant investment in research and the founding of new technology companies. The invention of semi-conductor technology triggered the next boom. At the same time, the space agency NASA and ARPA (now DARPA, a Pentagon research institute) were founded. Protests against the Vietnam War subsequently forced military research out of the universities. Today Silicon Valley is synonymous with high-tech industry, innovation and venture capital. Although the government has been pushed into the background as a financial driving force of the region, the USA still invests 150 billion dollars into research every year and remains committed to research in many ways.
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tudes behind the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ is that failure is all part of the process. “A misfired start can provide valuable experience for the next attempt,” says AIT Managing Director Wolfgang Knoll. And many business start-up entrepreneurs have a wealth of experience under their belts when it comes to failed starts. One of the main reasons why failure has not become a social stigma is that venture capital providers know that things can go wrong. Furthermore, entrepreneurs do not need to pay back the lost capital if the business fails. But this availability of venture capital does not really exist in Central Europe. The motto in Silicon Valley is: anyone who doesn’t try again has not yet understood the rules of the game. A substantial part of this dynamic atmosphere is generated by Stanford University. Located around 60 kilometers south-east of San Francisco and within walking distance of Palo Alto, the university is one of the most important sources of new ideas and start-ups. The research university has a clear focus on excellence. Only 1700 of the 40,000 applicants are successful each year. “Those who pass the strict selection process will benefit from the very best support,” says Knoll. “2000 full and assistant professors are on hand to teach around 16,000 students”. The stimulating atmosphere of joint research has motivated many to come to Stanford. Research groups in Stanford do not teach in the usual sense. The Austrian physicist Fritz Prinz heads a working group of 30 at the Stanford Department for Engineering and lectures three hours a week. The rest of the time is dedicated to joint research in accordance with Humboldt’s
The birthplace of Silicon Valley: the garage of HP founders William Hewlett and David Packard in Palo Alto is now a museum.
Photos: gettyimages/David Paul Morris, AIT, SiliconValleyMap.com
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SILICON VALLEY
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Science Talk: Hannes Androsch, President of the AIT Supervisory Board, talks with Nobel Prize winner Walter Kohn (left) and Austrian oceanologist Walter Munk (right).
ideal of combining teaching and research. The result: more than 20 faculty members have been awarded the Nobel Prize to date, and another two awards were made this year, in medicine and chemistry.
Photos: gettyimages/David Paul Morris, AIT, SiliconValleyMap.com
FOUNDING A START-UP AS A SUBJECT OF LEARNING
Stanford is no ivory tower. Applied research is frequently carried out for companies and businesses and the university also promotes an ‘entrepreneurial spirit’. The curriculum contains a programme for students which offers practical teaching on how to set-up a business. This short route from scientific excellence to the market is a key point in the success of Silicon Valley. At the university, students are given the ‘mind-set’ they need to ‘change the world’ with their research. The vibrant environment does the rest. One difficulty with this: a significant number of students abandon their studies in order to set up a business. If the company fails, however, they cannot return to university. Despite these strict rules, the temptation to go it alone and make it big is significant: unlike in Austria, investors actively approach students and researchers here to secure the best results. In Palo Alto, on Sand Hill Road, there are endless venture capital companies which are regularly visited by students in order to run through options for setting up businesses. Silicon Valley need not worry about the up-and-coming talent overall. The magnetic effect of this enormous innovation incubator continues to secure a fresh supply of human resources. One reason for this is that the Stanford and Berkeley universities in the Bay Area race to secure top places in the international rankings each year. This makes their excellent reputation visible across the world. Austria certainly has some catching up to do in this regard. ///
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●● NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCHERS WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE The 10th Austrian Science Talk took place in North America on 12 October, this time in Los Angeles. More than 100 Austrian scientists working in the USA and Canada attended the meeting to learn more about the situation in Austria and potential career opportunities. The event was also attended by a prominent delegation from Austria. “We are proud that you have achieved success here in the USA and hope that you return back one day,” said Hannes Androsch, Chairman of the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development. “But first, we need to create the opportunities”. Many representatives of the Austrian ‘Science Diaspora’ (as Austrian science attaché to the USA Philip Marxgut referred to the Austrian research community in the USA) would consider returning one day. The President of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Pascale Ehrenfreund, emphasised the need to consider how this return can be supported. The facts provided by the Austrian delegation indicate a mixed picture. Androsch referred to deficiencies in the education system and the “hopelessly underfinanced universities”. Ehrenfreund mentioned that Austria is not making full use of its scientific potential and the FWF has had to turn down some excellent projects. Edeltraud Stiftinger, Managing Director of Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS), mentioned Austria’s need to catch up where entrepreneurial spirit is concerned and the lack of a culture of failure. There was positive news from Barbara Weitgruber, Head of Department at the Science Ministry. She stressed that over the next few years, 400 to 500 professorships would be advertised at Austrian universities – a big opportunity for researchers with international experience. The AIT is also growing, according to AIT Director Wolfgang Knoll. “Over the next few years, we will need some 150 new experts”. The Austrian Science Talk also saw the coming together of two legendary top researchers from Austria: the Chemistry Nobel Prize winner Walter Kohn (90) was driven out of Austria as a child and met renowned Austrian oceanologist Walter Munk (96), who has spent a long time working at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla (US State of California) and is known as the father of oceanography. Kohn also gave a talk on the future opportunities presented by wind and solar energy at the Austrian Science Talk.
Further details: Michael H. Hlava, Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications, Phone: +43 505 50-4014, e-mail: michael.hlava@ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at
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➜ EVENT PREVIEW
2014 AT THE CROSSROADS /// The next European Alpbach Forum reflects the commemorative year of 2014. The Alpbach Technology Talks will be held from 21 to 23 August 2014. ///
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outline the decisions and opportunities we face, analyse the associated chances and risks, and discuss methods of implementation. ALPBACH TECHNOLOGY TALKS 2014
The Alpach Technology Talks, organised by AIT and Austrian radio station Ö1, will be held from 21 to 23 August 2014 and will focus on the general subject of the event in a stronger and more varied form than previously. The goal will again be to enter into dialogue, to reflect on current situations and discuss sustainable solutions to today‘s burning questions. Due to the high level of demand, this year‘s event will see an innovation: the majority of working groups will be held in English. Thirteen working groups are planned, giving participants the chance to examine topics including Urban Science, Complexity in Supply Chain Management, or the Culture of Failure. /// You‘ll find more information at: www.alpbach-technologyforum.com
Further details: Michael H. Hlava, Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications, Phone: +43 505 50-4014, e-mail: michael.hlava@ ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at
Photo: 123rf
THE LAST EUROPEAN ALPBACH FORUM came to a successful conclusion at the end of August 2013. Around 4,500 participants from 75 countries took part, making the Forum a successful event once again. This year’s Alpbach Forum will be held from 13 to 29 August 2014, and will run under the theme „At the Crossroads“. The selection of this topic reflects the fact that 2014 is a commemorative year in many respects: it’s the 200th anniversary of the Congress of Vienna, 100th anniversary of the First World War, and 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Set against the background of these historical events, Alpbach will be used for turning again to discussions of future developments. Now as then, Europe is at a crossroads, challenged with making a series of fundamental decisions. Questions which will be addressed at the coming Alpbach Forum: In what direction do we wish to develop as a society? How do we envision an ecologically, politically and socially stable future, and how much are we prepared to pay for it? What practical steps are needed to foster an optimal form of development that transcends all political and ideological barriers? According to the Alpbach Forum, discussions will include everything from pragmatic political options to visions and apparently impossible dreams – keeping in mind that a final judgement can only be made in the process of critical analysis. In all events, the European Forum Alpbach 2014 will
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➜ INTERVIEW
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SHOOTING STAR /// Klemens Wassermann, PhD student at AIT, won the Young Innovator of the Year 2013 award at the international science conference Falling Walls in Berlin, for his revolutionary method of diagnosing infection. ///
Mr Wassermann, many congratulations on winning this prize. If you were to explain your research, can that be done in a sentence? Wassermann: I am working on how bacterial infections can be detected fully automatically, in minutes rather than in days as at present, so that the doctor knows which antibiotic to prescribe.
Photo: AIT
Is that how you explained it in Berlin? Wassermann: I made a comparison to illustrate the basic problem: the blood cells – the good guys – are red M&Ms (popular sugar-coated chocolate drops, Ed.), and the bacteria – the baddies – are blue M&Ms. Now, in a millilitre of blood we have six billion blood cells; like six billion red M&Ms, enough to fill an entire Olympic-sized swimming pool. And now we have to find just a few blue M&Ms in this pool full of red M&Ms. And that’s been impossible so far. That’s also the reason why the standard methods, currently still in use, take between three and five days. However, we can now pull the plug on this pool so that only the red M&Ms drain away, leaving the blue ones remaining on the bottom of the pool, and making it much easier to detect them. Were you taught to present your research so descriptively during your training? Wassermann: No. I must say this was my first conference in front of more than a hundred scientists. But I’ve given several rehearsal presentations during lab meetings and have also invited other people to listen who have nothing to do with my research. The feedback has shown me where I
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need to make adjustments. And that was clearly in setting out the basic problem. Of course, it helped that I could already show ‘proof of principle’, i.e., that my method worked.
When did you have your Eureka moment? Wassermann: About a year ago. I can’t be more specific. My best ideas always occur to me in my spare time, or when I’m travelling on the underground. Did you already know the direction you wanted to take when you began your studies? Wassermann: At the beginning I wanted to do marine research. That had been my dream since I was a child. The biochemistry and genetics lessons at school were very uninspiring. However, these subjects have become increasingly interesting since I’ve been studying biology.
Klemens Wassermann, 29, first studied biology at the University of Vienna before specialising in microbiology and genetics. He wrote his diploma thesis at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School in Boston. After several positions at various research institutions, he has been working at AIT on his PhD thesis entitled “Lab-on-a-chip for pathogen detection from blood” since summer 2012.
Now you’re studying for your PhD at AIT. What impact does this environment have in your research? Wassermann: A major one. The advantage of AIT is simply the interdisciplinary approach. That’s an enormous asset. Also the support for students is excellent. That helps to keep the impetus going. How will your research proceed? Wassermann: I will submit my PhD thesis at the Vienna University of Technology, and link electrical engineering with molecular biology. That’s the niche I’ve been looking for. I think it’s a field with great potential for the future.
(More information about “Lab-on-aChip” research on page 22)
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➜ COMPETITION
PRIZE-WINNING SOLAR HOUSE /// Each year students from all over the world compete in the Solar Decathlon to design and build the best solar powered house. A student team, led by the Vienna University of Technology and with technological support from AIT, was the first Austrian team to take part in the most important university competition for solar architecture in the USA – and promptly won the competition, which is sponsored by the US Department of Energy. ///
The winning LISI team at the Solar Decathlon.
* LISI stands for Living inspired by sustainable innovation.
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THE BENEFITS OF BRINGING TOGETHER MANY BRIGHT MINDS were clearly demonstrated by the success of the 45 undergraduate and graduate students who, led by architect Karin Stieldorf and project managers Gregor Pils and Claus Schnetzer from the Vienna University of Technology, designed and built the most attractive and energy-efficient “plus-energy” house in just 2 years. They won out against 60 university teams, including those from renowned universities such as
Stanford and CalTech. Both the jury and the US press were impressed: „This house belongs in Hollywood Hills,“ cheered the Los Angeles Times, rejoicing in Austria‘s ‘plus-energy’ house, which produces more energy than it consumes. In addition to the Vienna University of Technology, the universities of applied sciences in St. Pölten and Salzburg, as well as several Austrian companies, the team also included three students currently writing master and doctoral theses at the AIT En-
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COMPETITION
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LISI is equipped with a 8.6 kWp photovoltaic installation. Clever automation makes it possible to produce more energy than is consumed.
ergy Department. They were responsible for the technical design of the house, in particular for the 8.6 kWp photovoltaic installation on the roof, and the design of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. „We were supported by colleagues at AIT who provided us with their knowhow and access to AIT infrastructure,“ explains Sabrina Novalin, who was involved in developing the technical concept right from the start. She is a graduate of the Vienna University of Technology,
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and is currently writing her PhD thesis at AIT. What‘s new about the LISI* house? For PhD student Novalin it‘s certainly the ventilation system in the floor; it is used for both heating and cooling and simultaneously supplies fresh air into the room. „Water circulates under the double floor, as with underfloor heating. The air streaming past the pipe network escapes through vents in the floor, thereby helping to distribute the heat.“ Blown out in front of the large sliding doors, the
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COMPETITION
air creates a gentle curtain of air in front of the glass, generating a particularly pleasant room climate. In summer the air discharged from the warm water heat pump is also used to cool the house; in addition to hot water, it also produces cold, dry air, which can be directed into the house when needed. Sabrina Novalin is delighted with another innovation: a shower tray, hidden under the ash-wood floor, which recovers up to 32 percent of the thermal energy. The warm water, which usually just drains away after showering, is cooled by a heat exchanger in the shower tray, using the extracted heat to warm up fresh, incoming cold water. As a result, the incoming water is pre-heated prior to entering the warm water tank, therefore requiring less energy to heat to the desired temperature.
The ventilation system hidden in the floor can be used to heat or cool the house.
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When it‘s cold, the warm air in the house is used to pre-heat the fresh air streaming in from outside, which consequently requires less energy to warm up. „Not only that,“ explains Novalin, „but the heat recovery system also regulates air humidity.“ This is achieved by means of a sorption rotor, where specially tested materials absorb the humidity and then release it again, generating an ideal room climate. The LISI house was designed in Vienna and built in Carinthia. At the end of July it was taken apart again, loaded into six containers, and shipped to California via the Panama canal. „We only had nine days to build the house again - from opening the container doors to placing a vase of flowers on the table,“ explains Novalin. The LISI house is based on a ‘courtyard home’ concept which combines the indoor and outdoor space. The main area is separated from patios to the north and south by full glazing. The ‚basic house‘, with only 60 m² of living space, expands to 200 m² when the sliding glass doors to the terraces and patios are opened. A large dining table with integrated oven stands in the centre of the living room. An eco-fridge for storing fruit and vegetables is cooled exclusively with steam, and requires no electricity. The walls are panelled in oiled bark. Almost the entire house is made from renewable materials - wood of 9 different types: the insulation is made from wood fibres, the ceiling is silver fir, the floors oak even the chair seats are made from pressed bark.
Photos: Solar Decathlon Team Austria, Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR WATER AND AIR
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COMPETITION
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Photos: Solar Decathlon Team Austria, Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
And the winner is...the moment of triumph.
The research competition was run across 10 categories. The Austrian team scored particularly well in the fields of architectural quality, optimal energy production, engineering, market appeal and communication. „Winning is the greatest reward possible after two years of hard work,“ says Novalin, adding proudly: „Especially considering that universities such as Stanford and Caltech were competing.“ Karin Stieldorf, head of the project team, is convinced that „this affordable house, based on renewable, clean energy, is certainly a model for future building and living.“ There is already considerable demand for the house. The solar house, sponsored by Austria’s Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology to the tune of almost a million euros under the ‘House of the Future’ research programme, should be available from a building company in Carinthia from mid-2014 onwards. ///
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Shower innovation: A heat exchanger under the ash wood floor recovers up to 32 percent of thermal energy.
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➜ ENERGY
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN THE SERVICE OF SUSTAINABILITY /// The IEEE IECON 2013 conference provided a forum of discussion about the energy systems of the future and relevant advancements in electrical engineering. ///
TRADITIONALLY VIENNA IS A CITY FOR CONVENTIONS and so is not easily impressed by major scientific events of this type. However, even for routine event hosts, IECON 2013, the most important international conference for industrial electronics, really was a superlative experience. More than 1,600 scientists and representatives from important industrial and business organisations, from all corners of the world, met to exchange ideas for the energy systems of the future. This year’s IECON, the biggest in its almost 40-year existence, was held from 11 to 14 November at the Austria Center. “This year there were almost twice as many participants as at last year’s IECON in Montreal,” Organiser Peter Palensky says. For many years the Principal Scientist and head of the Complex Energy Systems research group at the AIT Energy Department had cam-
●● IN A NUTSHELL The 39th annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society - IEEE IECON 2013 – was held from 11 to 14 November. Thanks to the commitment of the two organisers, AIT and the Vienna University of Technology, the most important international meeting of experts in industrial electronics was held for the first time in Austria. The 1,400 presentations and lectures examined the use of electrical engineering in general and (power) electronics in particular, in building more efficient and sustainable energy systems. Over 1,600 scientists from different fields of study and from all over the world, as well as representatives from industry and business, used this unique opportunity to exchange know-how and establish networks.
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paigned to bring this year’s IECON of the IEEE, the world’s largest association of engineers (with 500,000 members from 160 countries), to Vienna. Success in securing Austria as a venue brought not only important specialist input and contacts in this field for Austrian research and business, but also offered an internationally prominent stage for demonstrating national achievements. COMPLEX ELECTRONICS FOR SMART GRIDS AND CITIES
In this top-class setting the two organisers, AIT and the Vienna University of Technology, were able to position themselves internationally as driving forces and innovators behind sustainable energy systems. Their developments in the fields of smart grids and smart homes, thermal energy systems, security, automation or power electronics provide a scientific basis for new and responsible energy management. In all these areas of research, energy conversion electronics is playing an increasingly important role. For example, smart grids can only deal efficiently with the fluctuating supply of wind or solar energy when supported by intelligent power electronics. Therefore
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electronics holds the key to a greater use of sustainable energy sources. “The more solar, wind or hydro power installations a country has, the more complex the distribution of power and the greater the need for smart grids,” says Brigitte Bach, Head of the AIT Energy Department. WIDE RANGE OF EXPERTISE
Due to their complexity, the “intelligence” of our future power grids, buildings and cities cannot be further increased through individual technical PETER PALENSKY /// Principal Scientist, Head of Complex Energy Systems, IECON 2013 Technical Programme Chair, AIT Energy Department “We had almost twice as many participants as last year’s IECON in Montreal.”
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improvements, but only through integrated approaches and intensive interdisciplinary cooperation. For this reason, IECON 2013 was characterised by a wide range of topics and subject areas. Participants therefore included not only power electronic engineers but also automatic control and communications engineers and specialists in artificial intelligence. Scientists, who had travelled from all over the world, gave 1,400 lectures on their latest findings, ideas and projects, and renowned professors passed on their knowledge to interested participants in tutorials. Organiser Peter Palensky: “This conference brought together all the experts necessary for the development of a smart power grid under one roof – a brilliant opportunity for networking which was embraced by all participants.” The new and renewed contacts and research networks formed in Vienna spread across the globe. Japan, a major global player in the field of electronics, was the most strongly represented na-
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➜ ENERGY
Reception at Vienna’s City Hall with around 1,000 participants on Sunday evening before the conference.
Press conference with (from left) Martin Eder, Vice Scientists from around the world gave President Innovation, Kapsch; Sabine Seidler, Rector presentations at IECON 2013 in Vienna. of Vienna University of Technology; Brigitte Bach, Head of AIT Energy Department; Sabine Herlitschka, Infineon Technologies Austria; and Peter Palensky, Head of AIT Complex Energy Systems research group.
tion amongst the 80 countries present, with around 250 participants. The second most numerous group was from Spain, followed by China, the USA and almost all the other industrialised nations. Even such exotic countries as Cameroon, Paraguay, Malaysia and the Arab Emirates sent specialists to Vienna. SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION BETWEEN RESEARCH & INDUSTRY
Close cooperation between top research institutions and industrial enterprises is needed in order to derive practical and economic benefits from the electronics industry’s considerable potential. For this reason, a special Industry Forum was held during the conference, at which scientists, students and business representatives could meet and discuss current challenges and opportunities. Discussions covered new develop-
●● FACTS • • • • • • • • • • •
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IECON 2013, 39th annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society Venue: Austria Center Vienna (first time in Austria) Hosting Organisation: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), world’s largest professional association of engineers (500,000 members) Organisers: AIT and Vienna University of Technology Topics: Innovative electronics for the sustainable and efficient energy systems of the future (smart cities, smart grids, building to grid, security, energy in industry etc.) 1,600 participants from 80 countries Experts from different fields and disciplines 1,400 presentations in 300 sessions 12 tutorials by renowned professors from international research institutions Industry Forum for the networking of researchers, industry representatives and students Presentation of practical experiences gained in model regions (e.g. Smart Grid Region Salzburg)
ments in the field of smart grids, LED lighting, electric mobility and cyber security, as well as the next generation of embedded (“cyber-physical”) systems for industrial automation. Austria’s positive cooperation between science and industry was demonstrated to the conference participants by presenting various model regions, where research projects are already being implemented in practice on a small scale. THE LATEST RESEARCH RESULTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
1,400 presentations were delivered in more than 300 sessions. Important topics included the integration of demand response in smart grids, the creation of unified industry standards for electric vehicles, and power electronics for wind power and smart buildings. “Building to Grid” is one of the many research topics dealt with jointly by AIT and Vienna University of Technology. It focuses on the development of smart buildings which will coordinate their future electrical and heating demand with the “smart” energy network. The Smart Grids Model Region in Salzburg demonstrates how this energy grid of the future can work in practice. The international guests at IECON 2013 showed great interest in the experiences which several Austrian research institutes and businesses have gained in this “living lab”. BUILDINGS COMMUNICATING WITH THE POWER GRID
The terms “Building to Grid” and “Consumer to Grid” are becoming a living reality in this model region. “In the energy systems of the future,
Photos: 123rf, AIT
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ENERGY
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E-MOBILITY AS A FUTURE CHALLENGE FOR ENERGY NETWORKS
(from left) Peter Palensky, Dr. Bimal K. Bose, Professor of Power Electronics, University of Tennessee and Dr. Gerald Deboy, Infineon Technologies Austria.
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BRIGITTE BACH /// Head of AIT Energy Department “The more solar, wind or hydro power installations a country has, the more complex the distribution of power and the greater the need for smart grids.”
buildings will become important components in optimising the system as a whole,” explains Peter Palensky. “In a joint research project with the Vienna University of Technology, we are investigating more intelligent ways of controlling heavy power consumers installed in buildings in order to balance peaks in demand”. The electricity consumption of heat pumps, boilers, heating or cooling units can be better coordinated to reduce peak loads on the network. “Every building has equipment that doesn’t need to be on permanently, and can be switched off at times of high energy demand,” says Palensky. Electronic control units will not only relieve pressure on the network, but also help residents to save energy costs, as energy prices are particularly high at peak times.
Photos: 123rf, AIT
Further details: Energy Department, Michaela Jungbauer, Phone: +43 505 50-6688, e-mail:michaela.jungbauer@ait.ac.at, Web: http://www.ait.ac.at/ energy
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Intelligent energy management also plays a key role in electric mobility, which will dominate future road traffic. We must assume that, in future, large numbers of electric vehicles will charge their batteries simultaneously. In order to avoid contingencies, sophisticated yet robust controls are needed. AIT and the Vienna University of Technology are developing systems for the necessary interaction between energy networks and electric vehicles. However, it will be a while until such new technologies can be introduced outside the model regions. The relevant products must first be made ready for mass production in cooperation with partners in industry, and international standards need to be established. Without doubt, IECON 2013 has accelerated these processes. ///
SABINE SEIDLER, RECTOR OF THE VIENNA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, ON THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS AND AUSTRIA’S ROLE AS A LEADING RESEARCH LOCATION. What made the Vienna University of Technology bid to host IECON 2013 in Vienna, together with AIT? Thinking about future energy systems must be interdisciplinary and undertaken by two effective cooperation partners if it is to be successful in the long term. An international conference like this raises the existing potential and is in itself a smart move. What can industrial electronics contribute towards sustainable development, here at home and throughout the world? Austrian expertise in this field needs to be in demand – on a national, European and global basis. If we succeed in further expanding our leadership position in the fields of smart grids and smart cities as the key elements of future energy systems, then sound workable concepts will emerge. What role does Austria play as a research location in this field? The achievements of the scientists in this country play a key role in strengthening Austria as a prime location for science and business. Thanks to strategic cooperation between the Vienna University of Technology and AIT, we have been successful in establishing the critical mass necessary to shape and drive the development process, even in a small country like Austria. ///
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➜ SAFETY & SECURITY
SMART TRAMS – SAFE ON TRACK /// While autopilot systems have been directing pilots high up in the air for decades, driver assistance systems for rail vehicles are still in the early stages. The AIT has now teamed up with Bombardier to develop an innovative driver assistance system with intelligent 3D cameras for trams to make urban traffic safer. ///
3D technology teaches rail vehicles to ‘see’.
●● IN A NUTSHELL In order to increase safety in the often confusing world of urban traffic, the AIT has teamed up with Bombardier, a world leader in rail transport technology, to develop an innovative driver assistance system for trams. The system makes use of pioneering 3D camera technology developed by AIT. It uses specially developed algorithms to identify objects lying ahead in real time and to calculate the exact distance and direction of movement and warns the driver of an impending collision. Following initial successful tests on trams operated by the Frankfurt public transport provider VGF, the system is now being made market-ready. The AIT 3D vision technology is already in use in a range of fields, from the development of autonomous motor vehicles to dental scanners in medical technology.
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URBAN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS ARE OFTEN VERY CHAOTIC. People often cross tram tracks unexpectedly, especially in the area around tram stops and often fail to look whether a tram is approaching. There is a particular danger at transfer points, complex crossings with mixed traffic and roads with intersecting turn-offs. The more unclear the situation, the more frequently accidents occur involving pedestrians, bikes and cars.
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SAFETY & SECURITY
In order to increase the safety of urban traffic Bombardier, a world leader in rail transport technology, has teamed up with the AIT Safety & Security Department to create a new tram driver assistance system for risk detection. Unlike most stretches of rail track, tram tracks in cities cannot be simply closed off or protected by boom barriers. The track therefore needs to be monitored precisely in advance. High resolution 3D cameras and software developed by AIT can now be used for this purpose. The intelligent system identifies any objects in sight in real time and calculates the exact distance and direction of movement. Initial tests on trams operated by the Frankfurt public transport provider (VGF) have already proved to be very satisfactory. The system can monitor the track ahead within a 60 meter range, which is sufficient for inner city traffic. It identifies and pinpoints objects and issues relevant warnings. “We have again taken a big step forward in developing this system. It promises increased safety for the more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists,” said Bruno Kittner, Site Manager of the Bombardier Competence Centre for Light Rail Vehicles in Vienna, at the first presentation of the system in mid-October. SOFTWARE DETECTS OBJECTS
In order to analyse potential obstacles, the 3D vision specialists at the AIT have developed special algorithms to reduce the complexity of the environment and emulate the unique recognition capabilities of the human eye. “The tram can identify various objects such as vehicles, people, pushchairs and even smaller objects,” says Christian Zinner, Thematic Coordinator of the research group for 3D Vision and Modelling
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at the AIT Safety & Security Department. The system then independently assesses the risk potential and reacts accordingly. The new AIT technology should soon revolutionise tram safety. “Our big aim is to largely prevent any future accidents,” says AIT expert Hans-Jörg Otto, responsible for business development. In future, trams could run completely automatically – like some of the underground trains and the first test cars. “The big challenge with trams are the open tracks,” says Zinner. Paired with the complex traffic situation in inner city areas, monitoring the track is a very difficult task. Compared with cars, the fixed rails limit the possibilities: swerving is not an option when faced with a potential collision. LEGAL ISSUES
While the autopilot has been part of everyday life in the aviation industry for decades without passengers giving it a second thought, the first car models fitted with driver assistance systems are already causing a furore in the press. “In this case, it is clear that the driver has the ultimate responsibility and is liable in the event of an accident,” says Hans-Jörg Otto, explaining the legal situation. When it comes to rail transport, the operator or manufacturer could be sued for any accident caused by the failure of a fully automated system. The legal basis for the use of autonomous rail vehicles is still unclear and requires rapid clarification. Bombardier is therefore initially focusing on a pure assistance system which warns the driver in good time, allowing him or her to react accordingly. A further phase of development will see the introduction of independent braking and other protective measures to offer even better protection for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. The aviation sector offers a good comparison when it comes to developing automatic systems: here too, the functionality of autopilot systems was introduced gradually, just like with cars today or maybe trams in the future.
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SAFETY & SECURITY
FROM AUTONOMOUS CONVOYS TO DENTAL SCANNERS
Over the last few years, the AIT has successfully established itself as an international centre of expertise in 3D vision and modelling. Around 80 experts currently work in the field of intelligent vision systems. At the heart of the assistance systems is an optical system based on special algorithms for processing stereoscopic images which has been developed over several years of research. These 3D sensors offer a high level of spatial resolution while keeping hardware costs to a minimum. They enable rail vehicles and cars to monitor the route ahead over distances of up to 100 meters. In 2005, the AIT experts teamed up with the Auburn University to develop an autonomous vehicle which was put to the test in the legendary 100 mile desert race for unmanned vehicles run by the US Defence Agency DARPA. In 2007, the AIT began working with ETH Zürich and Vienna University of Technology to develop a robot which can serve coffee, among other things. In the vehicle sector, the AIT has undertaken research into a system for operating an autonomous local railway and semi-autonomous truck convoys in addition to its tram project with Bombardier. In the KIRAS project ‘SafeCon – safe semi-autonomous convoying’ (financed by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology BMVIT, as part of the KIRAS Funding Programme for Safety & Security Research) trucks can navigate completely independently even on rough terrain in order to provide help and supplies to danger zones. In future, the system could also be used on unsecured routes as part of the Austrian Army’s peacekeeping missions and in the event of natural disasters such as avalanches and landslides. CHRISTIAN ZINNER /// Thematic Coordinator 3D Vision and Modeling, Safety & Security Department “The tram can identify various objects such as vehicles, people, pushchairs and even smaller objects.”
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HANS-JÖRG OTTO /// Business Development, AIT Safety & Security Department “Our big aim is to largely prevent any future accidents.”
AIT has also worked with Carinthian dental specialist Prof. Horst Koinig to develop the smallest optical 3D scanner in the world for a completely different field – for intra-oral use. Instead of taking time-consuming dental impressions and making plaster models, the intelligent system is much more comfortable for the patient and generates an accurate digital model of the full set of teeth much more quickly. The AIT technology used in the dental scanner was presented with the VISION Award 2011 at the international trade fair for industrial image processing in Stuttgart. PERFECT COOPERATION
Vast quantities of data need to be efficiently processed in order to achieve high refresh rates and short response times. The important thing is to have a suitable system architecture in place to guarantee perfect interplay between high performance processors and image sensors. Only perfect collaboration between all components results in a stable and high-performance 3D stereo vision system. The AIT projects completed to date have demonstrated that this technology is robust, resilient and accurate as well as being cost-effective and in high demand. Following the first test phase in Frankfurt, additional tests will be undertaken in Germany and perhaps also in Austria in order to equip the first trams and suburban trains with these new functions at the end of 2014. The new safety technology has already achieved substantial success in Austria. The AIT sensor system was nominated for the Austrian State Prize for Mobility in 2013 in the category of ‘Research. Development. Breaking new grounds’ and achieved a top 3 place. ///
Photos: Bomnadier, Tschank, AIT
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SAFETY & SECURITY
GERALD NEWESELY, MANAGER FOR PRODUCT PLANNING & INNOVATION AT BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION AUSTRIA DISCUSSES DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS FOR RAIL VEHICLES, 3D TECHNOLOGY AND COLLABORATION WITH AIT.
Further details: Safety & Security Department, Michael Mürling, Phone: +43 505 50-4126, e-mail:michael. muerling@ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at/3d
Photos: Bomnadier, Tschank, AIT
RESEARCH SERVICES AIT’s 3D vision and modelling experts investigate and develop spatial capture technologies using image processing methods. Innovative 3D sensor systems open up a wealth of new applications in the areas of transport (assistance systems, autonomous systems), industrial automation, inspection and monitoring. In this connection there is a need to solve fundamental problems such as • 3D reconstruction of the environment • obstacle detection and object recognition • precise measurement of objects • self-localisation of the sensor system • path and movement planning reliably, fast and efficiently, using comparatively inexpensive image processing technology. To this end, algorithms for stereoscopic image processing are developed and optimised for efficient performance in real-time environments. Another core competence is the platform-optimised implementation of such computer vision methods on energy-efficient embedded systems. 3D vision and modelling comprises a broad portfolio of research projects focusing on specific topics. We focus on the following innovations and research topics: • Autonomous Land Vehicles • Airborne Vision • Measuring the World ///
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Bombardier Transportation, the market leader for rail vehicles, has teamed up with AIT to develop a new driver assistance system. This system, equipped with an optical 3D sensor system, has already been installed in the first test vehicles at the Vienna Competence Centre for Light Rail Vehicles. So what will the new generation of trams be able to achieve? Our trains can ‘learn to see’: the driver assistance system will increase the safety of trains and trams. It aims to reduce the risk of accidents for pedestrians by highlighting the tram driver any potential collision obstacles to ensure he/she can brake in good time. In addition to obstacle detection and driver warning, the assistance system in a later development stage will be able to take independent action such as sounding an alarm or triggering a warning light. We are currently testing the first stage of development in a tram operated by one of our customers in a major Germany city in order to verify the lab results and obtain ‘genuine field data’. What advantages does the 3D technology developed by AIT offer? The analysis algorithms for the optical sensor system identify obstacles lying ahead of the train based on 3D image information and calculate their distance from the vehicle based on their position in several cycles per second. This ensures reliable recognition and classification of the potential dangers presented by obstacles and their tracking ahead of the vehicle. What advantages are emerging from the partnership with AIT? The development of a driver assistance system implies strict safety requirements – and AIT is the perfect partner to help with that. The expertise and professionalism provided by colleagues at AIT guarantee excellent results. What special features/opportunities does a driver assistance system offer for rail vehicles and how do they differ from the automotive field? Another stage of development of the driver assistance system will be to implement it in the vehicle control system in order to be able to activate other relevant vehicle functions. The special thing about this driver assistance system lies in the far-sighted nature of the development – quite literally: we will not only be able to see over 80 meters ahead of the vehicle to identify and track any potential obstacles, but we will almost ‘see around the bend’. This means that we will be able to identify the course of the next bend on the track in order to correctly classify any potential hazards in the bend on a collision course with the vehicle. This is a key difference from similar systems in the automotive sector. A glimpse into the future: what is the strategic significance of the driver assistance system as part of the BOMBARDIER Austria product range? We transport people – and therefore safety is a top priority. The driver assistance programme helps us to increase the safety of everyone involved in the public transport process, especially pedestrians and passengers (e.g. proactive avoidance of any harsh braking manoeuvres). This is pure high-tech, made in Austria. The strategic significance of this is enormous – we are planning to offer the technology for all of our trains at various stages of expansion and to upgrade our existing stock. ///
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➜ HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
HIGHTECH TOOLBOX FOR RAPID INFECTION DIAGNOSIS /// As blood tests are time consuming, infections are often diagnosed intuitively in daily medical routine. With the aid of molecular blood and saliva tests developed at AIT, doctors will be able to identify infections more quickly and reliably than ever before. ///
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HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
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JOHANNES PEHAM /// Scientist at the AIT Health & Environment Department „Protein analytics involves quantifying the concentration of infection markers using light measurements.“
MARTIN WEBER /// Head of Business Unit Molecular Diagnostics, Health & Environment Department
DOCTORS OFTEN PRESCRIBE ANTIBIOTICS without first identifying which pathogen is present. However, it is extremely important to know whether an infection is bacterial in origin or not. If an infection is caused by viruses such as influenza and other coughs and sneezes, then antibiotics will be of no use. Quite the opposite: After years of overgenerous and relatively careless prescribing, antibiotics are now no longer effective against many types of bacteria because these have become resistant. However, one reason that doctors often refrain from carrying out a blood test is the time involved. Using current methods, results indicating the type of pathogen involved and the best antibiotic to prescribe can only be expected after five days. But bacterial infections rapidly spread in the bloodstream and so doctors need to react quickly. This is particularly true in the case of sepsis, when the pathogen causing the blood poisoning also needs to be identified.
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“Nucleic acid detection helps us to identify bacteria through their genetic makeup.”
●● IN A NUTSHELL Suitable therapies can only be selected once an infection has been identified as viral or bacterial in origin and once the type of bacteria and resistance patterns are known. Blood tests currently provide this information, but take several days to complete. Therefore AIT is developing faster, highly sensitive analytical systems based on molecular biology. These systems involve AIT expertise in biosensor technology, biomarkers, electronics and microfluidics. By integrating all these components in miniaturised, automated systems, future blood and saliva tests can be carried out in less than 30 minutes. They will provide reliable infection data and can be equally used in the intensive ward as well as at home.
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NEW ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
The current gold standard for identifying bacteria in blood is based on the long-winded process of cultivating bacteria in the laboratory. Therefore AIT has attempted to find significantly faster methods of analysis. „One innovative approach to diagnosing infection includes the detection of nucleic acid, i.e. identifying bacteria through their genetic makeup,“ explains Martin Weber, head of the Molecular Diagnostics Business Unit at AIT. „This makes it possible to determine the type of bacteria and which resistances they have developed.“ Another method of diagnosing infection in the future will be protein analysis. The goal of AIT scientists is to develop a complete system the size of a desktop in order to measure the most important sepsis parameters quickly and reliably, right at the patient‘s bedside. This equipment will separate out the blood plasma in which the infection-relevant markers, especially interleukins, can be identified using an immunoassay. The assay is equipped with antibodies to filter out the desired analytes. Their presence can be demonstrated using luminescence. „The system quantifies the concentration of these analytes by light measurements,“ says Johannes Peham, Scientist at the AIT Health & Environment Department. The light recorded by sensors sends a signal which indicates the concentration of the analytes. EXTREME MINIATURISATION USING MICROFLUIDICS
Another method of detecting bacteria is microfluidic PCR (polymerase chain reaction), a process for the in-vitro reproduction of DNA. „This is an extremely sensitive method of proving the presence of even the smallest quantities of DNA, and can speed up the test process significantly,“ says Johannes Peham. In principle, the recent research area of microfluidics examines the behaviour of fluids and gases in limited spaces. „We’re talking here about the micrometer and nanometer range,“ explains Peham. The microfluidic PCR system would make it possible to carry out all the analytical steps, from sample preparation to final reading, on a chip only a few millimeters in size. Although there are already several very fast and easy to use detection procedures on the market, these have a significant drawback: they are not sufficiently sensitive, giving many false positive and false negative results. This is caused by the innumerable human cells in the blood which prevent the reliable detection of bacteria.
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YOUNG SCIENTIST REVOLUTIONISES INFECTION DIAGNOSTICS
During his thesis, Klemens Wassermann, a PhD student in the Molecular Diagnostics business unit, has worked on a process to solve this problem. With the aid of microfluidics and electric fields, all bacteria are filtered out of the blood so that the „human content“ in the sample can no longer impede their detection. This is a ground-breaking development which won the young scientist the Jury and Audience Award at the Falling Walls Lab 2013 in Berlin. How does this „bacterial filter method“ actually work? „The blood sample is passed through a type of cylinder, where the sample is subjected to an electric field,“ explains Klemens Wassermann. These electric fields make the human cells burst, while the bacteria remain unharmed. They are collected at the bottom of the cylinder and washed. This method results in high purity bacteria whose presence can be reliably proven by means of new biosensor methods. „We can burst 98 percent of the human cells within ten seconds, so that only the bacteria survive,“ Wassermann reports proudly. „We are now developing a fully automatic prototype which can handle even larger samples of up to 10 millilitres of blood. Our aim is to detect fewer than 100 bacteria per millilitre of blood.“ The prototype should be ready by the end of next year, making it possible to build a complete labon-a-chip for both blood filtration and subsequent detection. A patent has already been filed for the new method of isolating bacteria from blood, and is currently being examined by the European Patent Office. BIOSENSORS WITH VARIOUS CHARACTERISTICS
AIT is working on several methods in parallel for developing sensors for pathogen detection. The aim is to produce the best system for each particular requirement. „We are currently following three approaches for constructing a toolbox with various systems,“ says Johannes Peham. „Intensive medicine, for example, requires a highly sensitive system; in other application areas, in contrast, the key factor is price.“ Using integrated optical biosensors, the presence of several analytes can be proven directly and in parallel. Magnetic biosensors, in contrast, are designed to bind the specific analytes onto magnetic nanoparticles, thus offering advantages in sample preparation. AIT has also recently begun work on
Photos: AIT
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HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
KLEMENS WASSERMANN /// PhD student at the AIT Health & Environment Department “We are currently developing a lab-on-a-chip prototype for the new bacteria detection method.”
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electrochemical biosensors which can be printed onto polymer substrates or paper and are therefore particularly inexpensive. All these molecular biological methods of developing compact, automated and miniaturised systems have only arisen in recent years, and should produce analytical results in less than 30 minutes. Therefore it will be possible to use this new equipment directly at the patient‘s bedside, in the doctor‘s practice, at the pharmacy or at home. SALIVA AS A DIAGNOSTIC MEDIUM
RESEARCH SERVICES Sensor development The Health & Environment Department develops highly sensitive optical, magnetic and electrochemical biosensors for the analysis of liquids such as blood or saliva for different applications. Biomarker development The biosensors developed by the Department are designed to allow early diagnosis and targeted therapy of complex diseases. The focus is on nucleic acid and protein-based biomarkers. Additional services: • biomarker screenings • validation of biomarkers and development of diagnostic assays • application-specific software solutions for automated and reliable high-throughput analysis
A totally new research area for the AIT scientists is saliva diagnostics. „As molecular methods have become increasingly sensitive, much information can be gained from saliva analysis,“ explains Martin Weber. Saliva contains traces of nucleic acids and proteins, which can be used not only to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections but also to identify the presence of cancer, Alzheimer‘s, Parkinson‘s and cardiovascular disease at an early stage. A major advantage is the non-invasive nature of this method: blood samples are no longer required, reducing the risk of infection to zero. ///
Bioinformatics Bioinformatics is an integral part of modern molecular biological analysis. The new methods of DNA sequencing (NGS) would be impossible without highly specialised bioinformatics. The Department supports internal and external NGS projects and optimises methods of classification/pattern recognition in terms of diagnostic application to molecular biological data.
Photos: AIT
Microfluidics Microfluidic methods make it possible to miniaturise liquid analysis systems by integrating multiple functions on a single chip. AIT develops liquidbased systems for these lab-on-a-chip devices. A special focus is placed on the integration of sensors and biochemical tests in cooperation with external partners. System integration AIT has extensive expertise in the integration of biomarkers, sensors, microfluidics, molecular detection reactions, readout electronics and process management. System integration aims to achieve optimal interaction between the individual components, while also providing a simple and userfriendly overall system. ///
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Further details: Health & Environment Department, Zlata Kovacevic, Phone: +43 505 50-4406, e-mail: zlata.kovacevic@ ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait.ac.at/ health_environment
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➜ INNOVATION SYSTEMS
THE PATHWAY TO A PERSONALISED HEALTH SYSTEM /// Europe’s health system faces numerous challenges such as spiralling costs and an ageing population. Personal Health Systems (PHS) offer more individual, effective and efficient health care provision: technical systems are used, for example in home care, to record health-related data and transmit this vital information to experts for therapeutic decisions and further action. The question is what framework conditions are required to increase the use of PHS in health care? The EU project ‘Personal Health Systems Foresight’ was launched to investigate the potential roles of public authorities. ///
●● IN A NUTSHELL The two-year EU project ‘Personal Health Systems Foresight’ will investigate the framework conditions required for the Europe-wide introduction of systems to ensure more individual, effective and efficient health care provision. Personal Health Systems (PHS) are technical aids which gather, monitor and communicate physiological and other health-related data via stationary, portable, wearable or implantable sensor devices. Individual treatments or nutritional advice can then be provided virtually anywhere. There are already various technically advanced solutions available in the fields of e-health and ambient assisted living. However, there are still numerous obstacles standing in the way of PHS penetration in Europe (differences in health systems, lack of business models etc.). AIT is investigating the key role played by the public authorities and EU policy in particular as part of the research project.
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WHAT WILL HEALTH CARE PROVISION LOOK LIKE IN 2030? Experts at the AIT departments for Innovation Systems and Safety & Security are addressing this issue as part of the EU project ‘Personal Health Systems Foresight’. The question of how better, more effective and more personalised health care and support can be achieved in Europe is a key issue. A PHS internet platform (www.phsforesight.eu) was launched in March 2013 to provide a place for openly discussing this important issue. It serves to generate visions and ideas and to enhance networking between the stakeholder groups affected by the issue. What new technological and social trends can be expected? Numerous ideas for the use of PHS have been developed through the new platform and the project workshops, in the areas of chronic illness, lifestyle management and new emergency services.
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PERSONALISED HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT WITH OBSTACLES
It is widely agreed that Personal Health Systems (PHS) may offer significant opportunities for the health care system. Still, markets - although offering a high level of potential and continuing growth - fall short of expectations. There are various reasons for this. For once, the development of technical systems will not suffice to integrate PHS in health care more widely. It will also be necessary to design new services, invent business models and establish new exchange relations between actors in the health care system. This is no easy task as the ones that have to invest are often not the same that gain a financial benefit from their investment. Instead, financial gains accrue in a different budget, which significantly reduces the incentives of making an investment in the first place. Apart from these gen-
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INNOVATION SYSTEMS
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eral problems, health care systems are organised very differently in the different EU countries. Initiatives have been launched across Europe to increase integration of new technologies from the fields of e-health, mobile health and ambient assisted living into the health care system. Although it is clear that these systems can often lead to a significant improvement in health care as well as increasing efficiency and cost-effectiveness, most of the projects are limited to small-scale applications. MORE INDIVIDUAL, EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE
PHS-Foresight aims at observing many of these individual initiatives from a more holistic perspective. “Personal Health Systems help devise more individual therapies and can therefore achieve greater efficiency both for the patients
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INNOVATION SYSTEMS
DORIS SCHARTINGER /// Scientist, AIT Innovation Systems Department “Personal Health Systems help devise more individual therapies and can therefore achieve greater efficiency both for the patients and the health system as a whole.”
Home monitoring: technologies in use for the benefit of health
and the health system as a whole. They are applied both in health care provision and therapy,” says Doris Schartinger, Scientist at the AIT Innovation Systems Department. They encompass technical systems which gather, monitor and communicate physiological and other health-related data via stationary, portable, wearable or implantable sensor devices. This allows, for example, chronically ill patients to individually adapt their treatments to the specific health data recorded. The key aspect is the intelligent processing of the data and direct communication with experts, which enables health counselling from practically anywhere. But also healthy people can be the target audience of new PHS-based services, where they may play a role in the prevention of disease or disability. This new and very broad issue offers economic opportunities for the health industry and service providers in Europe and globally.
Many ambitious projects are already underway in many fields seeking to improve home care or to offer elderly people a higher quality of life in their homes. “The research community is very fragmented and there are problems with defining the sales markets,” Schartinger explains. Additional obstacles include non-uniform technical standards and legal and ethical issues in the processing of sensitive patient data. “Functional technology per se, although vital for acceptance by all sorts of users, is not enough to automatically establish a market and achieve success,” says the AIT expert. “Diffusion of these technologies can only be achieved through developing new services and integrating them into the health system”. BIG OPPORTUNITIES, BIG POLITICAL TASKS
The EU project ‘Personal Health Systems Foresight’ was launched as part of the 7th EU Framework Programme to explore the possibilities for integrating PHS into the health care system. The project runs from September 2012 to 2014, participants include AIT (coordination and identification of the public role of the EU), the University of Manchester (responsible for scenario development in particular) and Impetu Solutions, a Spanish research and consulting company which implements the online platform. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the incongruity between the substantial potential offered by PHS and the current situation with the political and innovation-related framework conditions. At the same time, the project aims to mobilise the innovation landscape and increase networking to promote PHS, compile potential analyses and devise joint strategies for a potential new European Innovation Partnership (EIP). The first step of the classic foresight process involved scanning existing analyses of PHS in Europe and publishing a state-of-the-art report in February 2013. The PHS online platform was then launched in March 2013. This was followed in June by the first scenario development workshop in Manchester, attended by system developers, doctors, researchers and representatives from e-heath and other specific organisations.
“The second workshop at the start of 2014 will focus much more on policy and will highlight the system perspective of PHS issues,” Schartinger explains. It will give experts from the social secu-
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Photos: AIT
DIFFERENTIATED ROLE OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
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INNOVATION SYSTEMS
rity and public health fields the opportunity to exchange their ideas. The workshop aims in particular at advancing our understanding of framework conditions and highlighting any common denominators and barriers to ensure the best possible use of future PHS services. “One big theme covered by the workshop will be the public role in the introduction of personal health systems and the EU’s specific technology policy tasks in this context,” says Schartinger. The first PHS suppliers have tended to restrict themselves to the national or regional domain due to differences in framework conditions. “This is an important indication that the public authorities can play an important role in expanding PHS across Europe,” says Schartinger, summarising these initial results. Additional aspects which need to be resolved at an EU level to prevent the markets being restricted to a national level are the issues of interoperability, data security and the associated legal and ethical issues. ///
Photos: AIT
Further details: Innovation Systems Department, Beatrice Rath, Phone: +43 505 50-4508, e-mail:beatrice.rath@ ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait. ac.at/is
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LAURA POMBO-JUÁREZ, PRESIDENT & CEO OF IMPETU SOLUTIONS, ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PERSONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS FORESIGHT AND WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS. What are the opportunities that personal health systems hold for Europe? The development of Personal Health Systems (PHS) within the eHealth area looks particularly significant for delivering home care and related services (remote monitoring, emergency responses) to patients, for enhancing public and private health service delivery, and for providing new business opportunities in Europe and globally. PHS are expected to improve quality of care, support quality of life more generally, and increase the cost efficiency of health care processes. What role does the AIT Innovation Systems Department play in the lighthouse project PHS Foresight and what expertise does it contribute? AIT has the overall project coordination and leads Work Packages on the state-of-the-art, key challenges and policy responses (WP1); strategic plan for the coordination of future developments (WP4); and management (WP6) and is a contributor to other WPs. The Innovation Systems Department builds on expertise in policy oriented analysis and research in different policy areas, innovation policy, security policy, infrastructure policy. The eHealth business unit of the Safety & Security Department has comprehensive experience in the healthcare and the biomedical/ translational research domain as well as in infrastructure, tools and skills for the design, development and operation of ICT for health infrastructures. From your point of view and experience: who will benefit from the research advancements in the field of Personal Health Systems in the future and how? PHS can enhance public and private health service delivery and provide new business opportunities around the world. Research and innovation are key issues in the further development of a PHS area although plenty of PHS technology has already been developed and is potentially available to technically provide virtually everyone with an access to actively participate in personalised health care. Still, challenges like user interfaces and interoperability remain key issues despite enormous technological progress. Furthermore, PHS needs to be positioned within the wider health and social care systems they have to form a part of. Hence, in our project we have considered a wider systems approach in the analysis of PHS, which takes into account the need to design complex architectures relating together first, people who are recipients of care, care-givers, and others, second, organisational structures and processes that determine divisions of labour and responsibilities, flow of resources, etc., and third, technologies, especially the information technologies, but also other health and social care-related devices and software. I believe that research and new advances in PHS will bring different pieces together offering ever more personalised and cost efficient services empowering patients, informing professionals and providing new business opportunities for technology, service and insurance providers, among others. ///
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➜ MOBILITY
IMPROVING INLAND WATER TRANSPORT /// For the sake of the environment, our waterways should be used as efficiently as possible for cargo transport. AIT is developing the logistics systems required to achieve this goal. ///
A new logistics system reduces dwell time at locks for Danube cargo ships.
●● IN A NUTSHELL The Danube is an important transport route, which is easily forgotten in Austria. More than 10 million tons of cargo and over a million passengers reach their destination in this environmentally friendly manner. If it weren‘t for the dwell times at locks and terminals, this figure would rise. Scientists at the AIT Mobility Department have analysed the reason behind these delays, using this knowledge to develop a self-learning system, which combines improved arrival predictions with optimised container and lock management. In addition, an innovative communication concept was designed to improve networking between the various stakeholders in the intermodal transport process, and to direct important information to the right place in good time.
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WATERBORNE TRANSPORT is much more sustainable than heavy traffic on our roads. For this reason, the European Commission‘s Transport White Paper calls for 30 percent of road freight over distances of more than 300 kilometres to be shifted to other modes of transport, such as railways or ships. The transport of goods by water is actually enjoying impressive growth rates in Austria. Almost 11 million tons of goods were transported on the Austrian stretch of the Dan-
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ube in 2012, an increase of almost 8 % over the previous year. Almost 100,000 barges were guided through Austrian locks. This waterway needs to be used extremely efficiently, in order to meet EU objectives of shifting large quantities of transport cargo off the roads and onto inland waterways. Currently ships at Austria‘s nine Danube locks are simply cleared on a first come, first served basis. „This can lead to unnecessary long waiting times, as well as encouraging high-speed travel between the locks with its concomitant high levels of emissions,“ explains Matthias Prandtstetter, Scientist at the AIT Mobility Department.
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transport in general. How can this be achieved? „This project deals primarily with improving the prediction of arrival and dwell times, and optimising ship sequencing by coordinating all nine locks,“ explains Matthias Prandtstetter. „For example, our optimisation methods allow us to calculate the speed at which each ship must travel to avoid waiting times at the locks, and to coordinate the progress of each ship, especially when they are arriving from opposite directions.“ For the first time researchers are also including meteorological data in their models, such as side winds or poor visibility caused by intense fog, etc., in order to enhance the precision of arrival time predictions. BETTER TO PLAN THAN HURRY
EFFICIENT LOCK USE
This is the background to the AIT ‘imFluss’ research project being run in cooperation with via donau, Austria‘s waterways operator, and the ZAMG (Austrian Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics). The project aims to investigate ways of optimising traffic management on the Austrian stretch of the Danube, thereby creating the systematic preconditions for increasing the efficiency of inland water
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By automatically coordinating the individual locks, the ships‘ waiting time prior to handling can be reduced, avoiding expensive dwell times. „As a result, there is no incentive for captains to travel at full speed between the locks and waste fuel,“ explains Ulrike Ritzinger, Junior Scientist at the AIT Mobility Department, who has contributed to creating the necessary mathematical optimisation models. The new system should not only enable harbours and shippers to plan further in advance, it will also bring environmental and economic advantages. In addition, where necessary, ships can spend longer at anchor in a harbour, making it much easier for captains to adhere to prescribed rest periods. Work on the project is still underway; the first test results are expected in a year at the latest. In the TRIUMPH (trimodal transshipment centre port) project, AIT scientists are developing a self-learning system, which integrates arrival time predictions for ships, lorries and trains into resource planning, as well as efficient container storage in harbours. AIT has developed procedures for arrival prediction based on statistical methods. In order to increase their reliability, the current, manual selection of virtual barriers will be automated, allowing it to be adapted and improved on an ongoing basis. Reliable arrival predictions can already be made for trucks. „In terms of shipping traffic, travel times can be easily estimated, but the periods spent in the locks less so,“ says Johannes Asamer, Junior Scientist at the AIT Mobility Department, explaining the motivation behind the current developments.
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MOBILITY
FIGHTING CONTAINER CHAOS
THE RIGHT INFORMATION AT THE RIGHT PLACE
Container management is a particular challenge when it comes to improved logistics systems for Austria‘s inland water transport. Many containers in the intermodal transport chain come from businesses in the surrounding area to loading terminals and control and repair stations on the Danube. Here, they are loaded onto
However, at the moment employees at Austria‘s Danube terminals are usually unaware of when a particular container will be delivered and where it is currently located. The logistics expert believes that the reason for this serious – and expensive – lack of information is due to the absence of an appropriate data interface. Although systems are already available which would support coordination between the individual transport modes by presenting arrival and travel time predictions, there is as yet no universally recognised and applied method of linking these systems, or an automatic evaluation of available data. This problem finally motivated the scientists to establish the TRIUMPH II project. The project focuses on putting the right information in the right place (and only there). For example, the logistics centre at the terminal needs to know when a particular container will
MATTHIAS PRANDTSTETTER /// Scientist, AIT Mobility Department „We aim to improve the prediction of arrival and dwell times, and to optimise ship sequencing by coordinating all nine locks.“
trains and transported to the various sea ports. One such intermodal hub is located at the Enns port in Upper Austria. Hundreds of containers arrive here daily, some of them long before their scheduled onward transport. These waiting containers frequently block the overhead crane, which needs free access to the containers it is currently loading. This situation wastes valuable time and manpower that could be saved through more organised container storage. How would that work? „By linking estimated arrival times with container management,“ explains Matthias Prandtstetter. ULRIKE RITZINGER /// Junior Scientist, AIT Mobility Department „As a result of automatic lock management, there is no incentive for captains to travel at full speed between the locks and waste fuel.”
Therefore, the goal of the AIT experts is to use arrival predictions to develop a system which allows the containers to be stacked as efficiently as possible. „We are using complex solution processes based on dynamic programming and metaheuristics,“ says Prandtstetter. „This allows us to ensure that container loading is highly efficient, involving the smallest number of movements possible.“
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JOHANNES ASAMER /// Junior Scientist, AIT Mobility Department „In terms of shipping traffic, travel times can be easily estimated, but the periods spent in the locks less so.“
arrive. At present, they usually only know when the container is scheduled to leave the terminal again. It is also beneficial for the customer and the consignor to know the current location of the goods. „An independent data interface and a clearing house is needed to close this information loophole. It should have access to all the relevant data and automatically provide them to the persons involved in accordance with specified access rights,“ explains Matthias Prandtstetter. With their comprehensive expertise in dynamic transportation systems, the AIT scientists were not only able to improve (arrival) prediction methods, but also demonstrate the potential time and manpower savings that an optimised information and logistics system offers. ///
Photos: viadonau, AIT
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STEFAN SIMON, OF VIA DONAU, ON THE FUTURE OF SHIPS AS A METHOD OF TRANSPORT, AND SHIFTING CARGO TRANSPORT ONTO WATERWAYS.
Further details: Mobility Department, Nancy Brandt, Phone: +43 505 50-6322, e-mail:nancy.brandt@ ait.ac.at, Web: www.ait. ac.at/mobility
RESEARCH SERVICES
Photos: viadonau, AIT
The Dynamic Transportation Systems experts at AIT develop the interdisciplinary expertise required for efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transport logistics.
Do you feel that ships, a comparatively environmentally friendly method of transport, are used sufficiently in Austria? Strengthening the role of waterborne transport is a key traffic policy goal, both in Austria and the European Union. Together with Austria‘s Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, via donau is following this goal through the National Action Plan for Danube Navigation (NAP). The NAP is also the national implementation of the European Commission‘s NAIADES Action Programme. The PLATINA platform for implementing this European action programme has been coordinated by via donau since 2008. In doing so, Austria is actively contributing to shaping European inland waterway policy. At national level the focus naturally lies in improving infrastructure, making the Danube a stronger and „greener“ partner for the shipping industry throughout the year. Therefore, via donau has fundamentally analysed and improved the procedures and structures for maintaining the waterways over the past years. This includes investments into modern measurement equipment, optimised waterway management, and providing comprehensive, electronically accessible user information.
Performance analysis and cost evaluation The two biggest problems in the transport industry are excessive freight charges and unreliable estimated times of arrival. AIT offers comprehensive support in the evaluation of current route planning and in the identification and implementation of cost-cutting measures. • Analysis of current transport plans (routes) including GPS tracking • Evaluation of transport plans based on different performance indicators (e.g. time, cost or emissions) in relation to the traffic situation • Determination and calculation of potential savings • Support in the selection of optimisation techniques geared towards more efficient transport logistics
What needs to be done to encourage more cargo transport to be transferred to the Danube? via donau has been working on developing a „customer-oriented waterway management system“ since 2009. This includes the professional handling of all activities associated with waterway management: starting with permanent monitoring of the condition of the fairway by means of riverbed measurements, as well as the prompt planning and implementation of maintenance measures such as dredging. A key factor here is to provide customers with tailored information about the condition of the Danube waterway on an ongoing basis. In a continuous improvement process, many detailed measures have been undertaken, including a more intense measurement cycle for riverbeds, graphic displays of the worst points on the Danube on the via donau website, and the introduction of a 3-day river level forecast at low water. Other tools for modernising Danube shipping include advice on Danube logistics, modernising fleets through applied research projects and funding, as well as new information technologies (River Information Services).
Optimisation of vehicle fleet operation Mastering complex route planning tasks requires the use of various mathematical techniques. AIT applies the latest scientific findings from different areas of research and develops innovative optimisation algorithms to ensure efficient and reliable transport planning taking into account the current and future traffic situation. • Solving of integrated problems through deviation management • Inter-modal route planning • Stochastic and dynamic optimisation for cost-effective problem solving ///
What benefit does cooperation with AIT bring your company, which AIT competencies have you used, and what are you intending to change with their help? Thanks to their many years of experience, the Austrian Institute of Technology has the necessary capacities and infrastructure to competently and efficiently use the comprehensive collections of data and analyses arising from joint research projects (TRIUMPH, TRIUMPH II, imFluss), in order to translate research expertise into practical implementation. This is naturally of great interest for the area of inland navigation. With its expertise in logistics and transport optimisation, the AIT Mobility Department is an important and valuable partner in this interdisciplinary project consortium. It provides scientific competencies which supplement those of via donau and are essential for the success of this project. ///
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➜ EVENTS
INNOVATION CALENDAR 14 – 17 JANUARY: SOFTWARE QUALITY DAYS 2014 Focus: Model driven approaches for advanced software engineering. This independent congress on system and software quality provides a platform for discussing current trends, best practice methods in quality management and ideas for improving methods and processes. Venue: Vienna Information: www.2014.software-quality-days.com 21 – 22 January: AAL Congress The 7th German AAL Congress 2014, “Living – Care – Participation“, is held under the auspices of the German Ministry of Education and Research. It provides an excellent platform for the innovative field of AAL and enables a qualified exchange of information and knowledge between researchers and developers, manufacturers and users, service providers, end users and representatives from politics, business and professional associations. The focus is on modern technical solutions and concept studies for tomorrow and beyond. The congress will feature plenary sessions, presentations and workshops. Venue: Berlin Information: www.conference.vde.com/aal 22 – 24 January: Symposium on Neurointensive Care Medicine (ANIM) The Symposium on Neurointensive Medicine (ANIM) is the annual conference of the German Society for Neurointensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DGNI) in cooperation with the German Stroke Society (DSG). The comprehensive programme addresses ‘classic’ and controversial topics of neurointensive care medicine for doctors, nursing professionals and therapists interested in the field. A major focus is placed on the latest developments. The seminar series “Lead symptoms in the emergency ward”, first launched in 2011 in cooperation with the German Society of Neurology, deals with the special requirements involved in the differential diagnosis of acute neurological symptoms. Venue: Hanover Information: www.dgni.de/ 23 – 24 January: Solar Heat Integration in Industrial Processes, 5th Experts Meeting The use of solar energy in commercial and industrial applications is currently insignificant compared to the use in swimming pools and the household sector. Most solar applications for industrial processes have been on a relatively small scale and are mostly experimental in nature. Only a few large systems are in use world-wide. At the 5th Experts Meeting specialists discuss potentials and improvements of solar heat integration. Venue: South Africa, Stellenbosch University Contact: Christian Köfinger 25 – 27 January: Geography of Innovation Conference The Geography of Innovation Conference provides a forum for discussion to scholars and practitioners interested in scientific, policy and strategic issues concerning the spatial dimension of innovation activities. Venue: Utrecht Information: http://elio6.eurolio.eu/indico/conferenceDisplay.py?confId=3
28 – 29 January: CAR-Symposium 2014 The international CAR-Symposium has established itself as a major meeting place for the automotive industry. Each year, more than 1000 senior managers and decision makers from car manufacturers, suppliers and service providers discuss the chances and challenges of future mobility. Close contacts to the University of Duisburg-Essen with 80 engineering chairs and one of the largest engineering faculties in Germany make the CAR-Symposium the perfect opportunity for knowledge transfer between science and industry. Venue: Essen Information: www.car-symposium.de 29 January – 1 February: Optical Document Security Conference Optical Document Security – the follow-up to the biannual Conference on Optical Security and Counterfeit Deterrence Techniques – focuses on technical and scientific developments in optical security for documents and products of value. The conference offers a platform to researchers, developers, manufacturers and users of security to present their findings, new work and new techniques on a technical and scientific level. Venue: San Francisco Information: www.opticaldocumentsecurity.com/ 2 – 6 February: IS&T / SPIE Electronic Imaging 2014 The conference presents the latest research in digital imaging systems, 3D display, image quality, optimisation, and more. Venue: San Francisco Information: http://spie.org/x16218.xml 4 – 9 February: American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS) The American Clinical Neurophysiology Society is a professional association dedicated to fostering excellence in clinical neurophysiology and furthering the understanding of central and peripheral nervous system function in health and disease through education, research, and the provision of a forum for discussion and interaction. Venue: Atlanta Information: http://www.acns.org/ 11 February: Future of Research and Innovation The Innovation Systems Department organises a national workshop, where the results of the two EU projects ‘RIF Research and Innovation Futures’ and ‘INFU Innovation Futures’ will be presented to Austrian stakeholders. Venue: Vienna Information: www.innovation-futures.org, www.rif2030.eu 11 – 16 February: Singapore Airshow Singapore Airshow is Asia's largest and one of the most important aerospace and defence exhibitions in the world. A truly global exhibition where the latest state-of-the-art systems and equipment, together with their related technologies and developments, are displayed by top aerospace companies around the world. Venue: Singapore Information: http://www.singaporeairshow.com/ 12 – 14 February: 13th Symposium on Energy Innovation Science, business, politics and administration are required to contribute to the sustainable development of the European energy industry and society. These contributions will be presented and discussed at the 13th symposium on Energy Innovation. Venue: Graz University of Technology
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➜ SCIENTIFIC PAPER
AIT TOP JOURNAL PAPERS /// Current research results of AIT scientists recently published in high-impact international journals. /// J. Weichselbaum, C. Zinner, O. Gebauer (University of Salzburg), W. Pree (University of Salzburg): “ACCURATE 3D-VISION-BASED OBSTACLE DETECTION FOR AN AUTONOMOUS TRAIN” Computers in Industry, Volume 64, Issue 9, Pages 1209 - 1220, Elsevier Autonomously operating trains are a way to enhance the economic attractiveness of local railway lines in the future. In our paper, which was published in the journal “Computers in Industry”, we present a 3D-vision based obstacle detection system for an autonomously operating train. The S3E stereo engine developed by AIT is used to calculate whether an object within the visual range is located within the structure gauge along the tracks, that is, whether it is an obstacle or not. We were able to show that our system reliably detects obstacles with a size of down to around 30 cm from a distance of more than 80 m.
Hu, Y., Scherngell, T., Man, S.-N. and Wang, Y.: „IS THE UNITED STATES STILL DOMINANT IN THE GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL INNOVATION NETWORK?“ PLOS One 8(11) (2013), e77247 The dramatic growth of research and development activities in the pharmaceutical sector in emerging economies raises the question of whether the United States still keeps its dominant role in the global pharmaceutical innovation landscape. This paper focuses on investigating the role of the United States in global pharmaceutical innovation, and differs from previous studies by shifting attention to a network analytic perspective to track the global distribution of pharmaceutical inventions. Our sample is composed of key patents covering all new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 1996 and 2010. The results show that the United States still dominates in the global pharmaceutical innovation network, especially when it comes to essential core inventions. However, the United States shows a slightly decreasing prominence in the networks of either total new drugs or New Molecular Entity (NME) drugs in the time period 2006-2010 as compared to previous time periods, revealed by subtle traces of network centralities.
B. Hametner, S. Wassertheurer, A. Hughes, K. Parker, T. Weber, B. Eber: „RESERVOIR AND EXCESS PRESSURES PREDICT CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTS“ International Journal of Cardiology (published online, 23. November 2013) Analysis of the arterial pressure curve plays an increasing role in cardiovascular risk stratification. Measures of wave reflection and aortic stiffness have been identified as independent predictors of risk. Their determination is usually based on wave
propagation models of the circulation. Another modeling approach relies on modified Windkessel models, where pressure curves can be divided into reservoir and excess pressure. Little is known of their prognostic value. The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of parameters gained from reservoir theory applied to aortic pressure curves in a cohort of high-risk patients. Furthermore the relation of these parameters to those from wave separation analysis is investigated. Based on very different models, parameters from reservoir theory and wave separation analysis are closely related and can predict cardiovascular events to a similar extent. Although Windkessel models cannot describe all of the physiological properties of the arterial system, they can be useful to analyze its behavior and to predict cardiovascular events. ///
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THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO SHAPE IT. If your company is looking for cutting edge innovations, then AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is your partner of choice. Because in our institute the most acute minds in Europe are working today on tomorrow’s tools and technologies, laying the ground for the solutions the future demands. Learn more about the future by visiting www.ait.ac.at
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