03 2015
TOMORROWTODAY Developing the technologies, methods and tools of tomorrow
Editorial
Alpbach Technology Symposium 2015 27 – 29 August This year the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and Ö1/ORF are once again organising Austria’s largest forum for the research and development community. Those attending, expected to number more than 1200, will be offered an exciting and varied programme.
Wolfgang Knoll Managing Director of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
TEC 15 – Save the date
Photos: Peter Rigaud; Philipp Naderer
Every year Alpbach hosts the research and innovation community and provides new impetus for developing research-specific issues. New trends are highlighted, debated and conveyed to a wide audience in a nutshell. The Alpbach Technology Symposium 2015 will once again set new trends. This year’s general theme of “InEquality” will encourage participants to take a closer look at our future relationship with machines, to address diverse aspects of the bio-economy in cooperation with the Helmholtz Association and to discuss new issues raised by complexity science. In addition, as in the past, breakout sessions will provide an opportunity for detailed, in depth analysis of specific questions. As organisers of the Technology Symposium, the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF/Ö1 look forward to welcoming you back again to Alpbach this year. Take a look at the exciting programme and make a note in your diary: Alpbach Technology Symposium: 27–29 August 2015. We look forward to welcoming you. Yours Wolfgang Knoll
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TOMORROWTODAY
TEC15
Technology & InEquality This year’s Alpbach Technology Symposium will be held from 27 - 29 August. Participants can expect an exciting programme.
Programme
Thu, 27/8 10.00–12.30 10.00–12.30 Technology Brunch Hotel Alphof Hosted by: Standortagentur Tirol
13.00 Opening of the Alpbach Technology Symposium 2015 Franz Fischler
RTI Policy Talk Hannes Androsch, Georg Kapsch, Harald Mahrer, Alois Stöger
14.00–15.30 Panel: Living with Machines in the Future Peter Post, Matthias Scheutz, Roland Yves Siegwart, Rainer Esser (Chair)
16.15–18.00 Panel: Cyber-Physical Systems Werner Damm, Radu Grosu, George J. Pappas, Detlef Zühlke, Robert Clark (Chair)
Programme
Fri, 28/8 9.00–10.30 Panel: Bio-economy (in cooperation with the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres) Teresa Berninger, Gunter Pauli, Ulrich Schurr, Joachim von Braun, Jürgen Mlynek (Chair)
10.50–12.15 Complexity Science Jean-Pierre Bourguignon (Chair)
13.00–18.00 Breakout Sessions, Venue: Hauptschule 01 2015: The End of the Energy Revolution Chair: Harald Raupenstrauch, Montanuniversität Leoben
02 National Bio-economy: Strategies in Comparison Chair: Hubert Dürrstein, OeAD - Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research
19:45–21.15 Panel: Regional Debate Central Eastern Europe
03 Human Enhancement Technologies: Amplifying or Reducing Inequality?
Hannes Androsch, József Pálinkás, Christoph Neumayer, Rainer Nowak (Chair)
04 Research Promotion at the Interfaces of Risk, Creativity and Mainstream
21.30–23.30 Evening Reception, Hotel Böglerhof Hosted by: Forschung Austria
21.30–23.30 Career Lounge Hotel Alpbacherhof Hosted by: Organisers of the TEC Symposium
Manfred Tscheligi, AIT & University of Salzburg
Chair: Klaus Pseiner, FFG - Austrian Research Promotion Agency & Ingolf Schädler, BMVIT Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology
05 Market Upheavals: Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation? Chair: Peter Koren, Federation of Austrian Industries
06 Entrepreneurship: What Can Science Contribute? Chair: Helga Nowotny, former President of the ERC European Research Council, Chair ERA Council Forum Austria
07 Games of (In)Equality Chair: Brigitte Ratzer, Vienna University of Technology
08 Physical Internet: A Seismic Shift for Logistics and Mobility Chair: Franz Staberhofer, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Steyr
09 Dynamics by Heterogeneity: How Economy and Research Profit from Diversity Chair: Ludovit Garzik, Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development
10 Energy Transition: Same Goal – Different Way Chair: Theresia Vogel, Austrian Climate and Energy Fund
11 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: A Market Breakthrough Ahead? Chair: Jürgen Streitner, BMWFW - Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Econom
Alpbach Technology Symposium
The Alpbach Technology Symposium ocoordinated by the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and Ö1/ORF is searching for the causes, future developments and consequences of InEquality. What positive or negative impact does InEquality bring about? How relevant is it? Will new technologies and ways of thinking have a positive impact or a negative one? Can state-of-the-art developments like complexity research or the bio-economy deliver appropriate answers? What role will InEquality play in future industrial and working environments? The general topic of InEquality will be at the centre of innovative discussions and encounters of science, research, technology, politics and industry. Numerous plenary sessions and fourteen breakout sessions will connect research, innovation and technology in an interdisciplinary dialogue with international experts. A range of exciting topics, from cyber-physical systems or the bio-economy through to complexity science, will provide the opportunity to reflect on and discuss the impact of technology in various contexts. The Technology Symposium is again expected to be attended by over 1,200 guests, who can look forward to an exciting programme and a diverse lineup of social events. „Junior Alpbach“ and „Ö1 Children‘s University“ will explore new models of science education for future generations. n More information and registration for the Alpbach Technology Symposium: alpbach.org
Programme
Sat, 29/8
12 A Bright Future? Challenges and Opportunities for LED Lighting Chair: Paul Hartmann, Joanneum Research
13 Truth and Reality – The Importance of Models in Economy, Science and Philosophy Chair: Gabriele Ambros, Präsidentin Forschung Austria
14 Virtual Learning – InEquality in Education?
9.00–18.00 Junior Alpbach – Science and Technology for Young People Number of participants is limited / Registration required: Karin@highent.org
9.00–15.00 Ö1 Children’s University Alpbach – Science and Technology for Kids For children between seven and twelve years. Number of participants is limited. Registration required: Claudia.klement@ait.ac.at Ö1 Children’s University online: oe1.orf.at
Supported by: BMVIT – Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency, AplusB Incubato Network Austria
Lita Nelsen, Michael Schrage, Shuguang Zhang
10.30–11.30 Panel: InEquality: The New Silk Road Bertil Andersson, Chang-Chieh Hang, Li Zhang, Sabine Herlitschka (Chair)
11.50–13.15 Art, Design and Architecture as Laboratory of Digital Modernity Harald Gründl, Josef Perner, Jana Revedin, Christoph Thun-Hohenstein (Chair)
Chair: Christian Dorninger, BMBF – Federal Ministry of Education and Women‘s Affairs
20.00–21.30 Urban Innovators Challenge – Start Up Your Company, Liechtenstein-Hayek Saal
9.00–10.30 MIT’s Media Lab, Special Guest at this Year’s Technology Symposium
For more information please contact: Michael Hlava Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology michael.h.hlava@ait.ac.at
13.15–13.30 Closing Statement of the Alpbach Technology Symposium Franz Fischler
13.30–14.00 Snack Reception, Otto-Molden Foyer Hosted by: Organisers of the TEC Symposium
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TOMORROWTODAY
Focus on Performance & Success
In this edition of Tomorrow Today, we will be reporting on R&D projects from the Departments of Mobility, Energy, Health & Environment, Innovation Systems and Digital Safety & Security – and the benefits they bring to your customers.
Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)
Age-friendly workplaces Age-friendly: combining paper and digital calendars. A PEARL module developed by AIT.
Lightweight Automotive Construction
3D manufacturing technique wins international innovation award
How can workplaces be made more suitable for older people? The AIT Innovation Systems Department is addressing this question in the PEARL – Platform for Ergonomic and motivating, ICT-based Age-friendly WoRkpLaces – project. A modular flexible IT platform is being developed to tackle the issue. In the morning the employee clocks in at the workplace with an RFID card triggering a series of adaptations. The lighting is dimmed to the optimum setting, the computer loads the correct programs and the screen displays scheduled appointments, a suggested personalised fitness regime or a “Do not disturb” sign for colleagues so the employee can write a report in peace. Since many older people still prefer to use the old paper desk calendar, a digital-analogue interface is being developed in which handwritten notes can also be stored digitally in the system. n The aim of PEARL is to develop a platform which adapts flexibly to the needs of older employees and so motivates them to remain active for longer. Jan Bobeth (Project lead) & Valentin Gattol, AIT Scientists in the Technology Experience BU
AIT project manager Marianne Hörlesberger with the JEC Innovation Award for the 3D-LightTrans project.
Manufacturing affordable lightweight parts for the automotive sector is the aim of the 3D-LightTrans* cooperative research project. The project involves AIT and 18 European partners and is redefining the innovative production of textile-reinforced thermoplastics. Components made of glass-plastic hybrid yarn, for example, are woven straight into a three-dimensional shape on a new weaving machine. Two demonstration objects produced by this method – a tailgate for a Fiat 500L and a spare wheel well for the Bentley Mulsanne – impressed an international panel at the JEC (the largest international trade fair for composites) in Paris: the 3D-LightTrans project won the innovation award in the “Reinforcement” category. The trophy is now being scanned and reproduced with 3D printing so that all 18 partners have a copy. * Large scale manufacturing technology for high-performance lightweight 3D multifunctional composites
Photos: AIT
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Perfomance & Success
Resistance
Breakthrough in diagnostic testing The situation is well-known and yet alarming. The over prescription and occasional misuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture has led to the development of resistance and super bacteria which conventional drugs are no longer able to combat. To gain control of this situation it is above all necessary to prevent new resistance developing through targeted treatment. In the Horizon 2020 project FAPIC (Fast Assay for Pathogen Identification and Characterization) the AIT Health Department is developing an affordable test system, based on a novel detection principle, capable of identifying all types of pathogen (bacteria, viruses, worms, parasites) as well as associated resistance. Two highly automated test systems are being designed and evaluated in the five year project which involves ten institutions from seven countries under the direction of Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University. After a three and a half year development period the diagnostic systems for accurate pathogen detection will be tested in university hospitals in Belgium and Croatia. n
We have developed novel DNA probes which allow all relevant antibiotic resistances to be identified quickly and cost effectively. This method provides the basis for developing diagnostic tests for accurate pathogen detection. Ivan Barisic, Scientist at the AIT Health & Environment Department Affordable diagnostic system for super bacteria
Schloss Dagstuhl Seminar
Photos: AIT; James PG Sterbenz
Research agenda for networked living For those in the know, Schloss Dagstuhl is the mecca for information scientists in Europe. Anyone who, in a highly competitive selection process, succeeds in getting an invitation to a seminar at the Leibniz Centre for Informatics housed there, is one of the most highly regarded experts in the field. In view of AIT’s acknowledged standing and internationally recognised AIT experts, the AIT Digital Safety & Security Department organised a top level Dagstuhl seminar on the theme of “networked living”* attended by the crème de la crème of the international research community. The aim of the experts from various disciplines and companies was to develop a comprehensive research agenda. New trends, such as the internet of things, smart grids, smart cities and the fourth industrial revolution were linked with security, legal and social science issues. The research agenda will be published and also subsequently incorporated into (inter)national research funding programmes. In the process, AIT has firmly established itself in the international research community for information science. n * “Assuring Resilience, Security and Privacy for Flexible Networked Systems and Organisations”; www.dagstuhl.de/15151
(from left) Helmut Leopold, Head of AIT Digital Safety & Security Department, was the keynote speaker at the Dagstuhl seminar. AIT Scientist Markus Tauber coordinated the top level forum for researchers on the theme “Research agenda for networked living”.
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TOMORROWTODAY
Focus on Performance & Success
Standardisation
Europe’s roads in the spotlight
German-Austrian Research Alliance
AIT and KIT cooperate in energy research How should intelligent energy systems operate in future? This complex question will now be addressed by the AIT’s Energy Department together with the renowned Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in a strategic research alliance. The AIT and KIT signed a memorandum of understanding to extend their collaboration in energy research. The planned topics include smart grids, the integration of battery storage systems, smart homes and joint use of laboratory infrastructure. The two partners also intend to work together in producing publications and supervising dissertations. n
Risk Assessment
AIT’s research vehicle RoadSTAR is used to measure the surface quality of Austrian roads.
The surface structure of road pavements determines essential performance characteristics such as skid resistance, noise emission and rolling resistance. Investigating these connections and the relevant measurement methods provides the basis for controlling and improving these characteristics in a targeted manner. Manfred Haider, Head of Business Unit Transportation Infrastructure Technologies
The AIT Mobility Department not only examines the quality of Austria’s road surfaces in detail, it also coordinates ROSANNE*, currently one of the most important European research projects in this area. This is turning the spotlight on specific national characteristics of road surfaces throughout Europe to develop common methods for assessing safety, accident and health risks resulting from different surface properties (skid resistance, rolling resistance, noise emission). Information which would be extremely useful not only for road users but also for infrastructure operators. Manfred Haider, Head of Business Unit Transportation Infrastructure Technologies and ROSANNE’s coordinator, recently presented the interim results from the project, which was launched in 2013, at FIRM15 in Brussels: the project is well on its way to creating the technical foundation for pan-European assessment standards. n
*R Olling resistance, Skid resistance, ANd Noise Emission measurement standards for road surfaces
Study reveals dangers of distraction while at the wheel
It’s not just making a mobile phone call while driving that’s risky.
Obviously telephoning and operating a satnav while driving can be dangerous. Yet even tasks perceived as easily manageable, such as drinking from a water bottle, represent a considerable safety risk. This is the finding from a current study by the ÖAMTC (Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club) working together with the ADAC (German Automobile Club) and the AIT Health & Environment Department. A total of 66 men and women were put to the test at the ÖAMTC’s test drive centre in Teesdorf. The subjects were given five tasks over the radio: operating the satnav, making a mobile phone call, removing a pair of glasses from their case, drinking from a water bottle and picking up a child’s toy from the floor of the vehicle. The result from analysing video footage plus cardiac and brain activity showed that operating the satnav and making a mobile phone call are the biggest distractions, followed by drinking from a water bottle, opening a glasses case and picking up a toy. The AIT team (Biomedical Systems) supplied equipment for registering bio-signals and was responsible for analysing the data. n
Photos: AIT; iStock.com
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Innovation Calendar
Innovation Calendar
23 – 25/8
Alpbach Health Symposium AIT experts will present the latest technologies for the healthcare sector in an exhibition. Venue: Alpbach, Congress Centre Contact and information: zlata.kovacevic@ait.ac.at
31/8 – 2/9 18 – 19/6 16 – 18/6
Automotive Testing Expo 2015 A total of 330 exhibiting companies presented their solutions for achieving the automotive industry’s aim of eliminating recalls. The conference focused on technologies and services designed to improve quality, reliability, durability and safety of vehicles. Venue: Stuttgart Information: testing-expo.com
17/6
The Future of Cloud 2015 The event took a closer look at the next three years of cloud development from various perspectives and presented information from the research labs. Venue: Tech Gate, Vienna Information: thefutureofcloud.org
3rd European Youth Day 2015 3rd European Youth Day 2015 The “EUROPA deine Wahl“ event aims to motivate pupils from all school types and their teachers to actively engage with Europe and the European Parliament. Venue: strian Economic Chamber, Vienna Information: europa-deine-wahl.at
Innovating for Patients A discussion platform for decision makers from the healthcare sector on the topic of “Personalised therapy through molecular medicine: What lies ahead?”. In cooperation with the Medical University of Vienna and Novartis. Venue: Vienna Contact: Zlata Kovacevic Information: Innovating.Event@ait.ac.at
eHealth Summit Austria Austria’s international scientific eHealth conference held under the motto: “Innovative Health Perspectives: Personalized Health”. Venue: Schönbrunn Conference Centre, Vienna Information: ehealthsummit.at
18– 20/6
Vienna Energy Forum (VEF) This year’s Vienna Energy Forum took place only a few months before the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York and the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris. The best practice examples presented at the VEF 2015 will provide input to both conferences.
6th International Conference on Biomarkers & Clinical Research The international conference on biomarkers and clinical research takes place annually. AIT expert Dr. Martin Weber will give a presentation on biomarker applications in minimally invasive diagnosis. Venue: Toronto Information: biomarkers.conferenceseries.com
11 – 14/9
Vienna Research Festival The Vienna Business Agency organises the Vienna Research Festival 2015, where AIT will showcase its latest developments. Venue: Am Naschmarkt, Vienna
16/9
22/6
Seminar Series Guest lecture on saliva diagnosis: Chamindie Punyadeera | Queensland University of Technology.
Women Leadership Forum 2015 AIT participates in the Women Leadership Forum, which was initiated by the European Brand Institute to promote women leadership in the fields of business, science & research, public institutions and society. Another aim is to establish networks between successful women and powerful men in order to increase Austria’s innovative and economic power.
Venue: 1220 Vienna Tech Gate, Donau City Strasse 1 Information: www.ait.ac.at
Venue: Vienna, Novomatic Forum Information: womenleadership.at
27 – 29/7
28/9
Venue: South Africa Information: www.lmt2015.co.za
Venue: Vienna Information: austrochip2015.ecs.tuwien.ac.at
Venue: Hofburg, Vienna Information: viennaenergyforum.org
Light Metal Technology Conference 2015 The Light Metals Competence Centre Ranshofen is a member of the Light Metals Alliance and partner of this biennial conference. The event focuses on presenting developments and advances in the fields of aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys.
Austrochip 2015 The annual Austrochip conference, which will this year be organised by the Vienna University of Technology, gives academic institutions and industrial companies the opportunity to present their projects and research. Austrochip provides a forum for discussions and contact between science and industry in the field of microelectronics.
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AIT Top Journal Papers
AIT Top Journal Papers Research results obtained by AIT scientists were recently published in high-impact international journals. Better streaming for mobile applications HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS) aims to ensure uninterrupted video experience in mobile contexts under varying network conditions. In order to achieve this aim, HAS systems adapt the video in terms of frame rate, video resolution or increased compression. From an end-user perspective it is important to know which combination of these dimensions provides the best Quality of Experience (QoE). The present study compares a large number of HAS-related experiments in terms of QoE influence factors and optimal adaptation strategies. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current results and developments in this emerging research field. n Seufert M., Egger S., Slanina M., Hossfeld T., Zinner T. and Tran-Gia P. (2015) A Survey on Quality of Experience of HTTP Adaptive Streaming. IEEE Communication Survey and Tutorials, 17, 1, 469-492 doi: 10.1109/COMST.2014.2360940
What are the benefits of groundwater remediation using iron particles? Contaminated groundwater can be remediated by injecting nanoscale zero-valent iron particles (nZVI). The particles react with target pollutants in the groundwater and convert them into toxicologically harmless products. The reactivity of nZVI has been intensively investigated over the
past few years. Field tests have shown that the success of groundwater remediation strongly depends on the environmental conditions on-site. This study therefore investigated the influence of different environmental conditions on the reactivity of nZVI. n P. Schöftnera, G. Waldnera, W. Lottermoserb, M. Stöger-Pollachc, P. Freitagd, T. G. Reichenauera Electron efficiency of nZVI does not change with variation of environmental parameters. Science of The Total Environment, Available online 23 May 2015. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.033 a AIT, 3430 Tulln, b Salzburg University, FB Materialforschung und Physik, c Technical University of Vienna, Universitäre Service-Einrichtung für Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie – USTEM, d Keller Grundbau Ges.mbH, Mariahilfer Straße 127a, 1150 Vienna, Austria
Mobile phones show urban activity patterns The widespread use of mobile phones produces large amounts of data allowing conclusions on the whereabouts and movements of large parts of the population. This data thus provides a promising source of information for modelling activities and mobility in a city environment. This paper presented by researchers from AIT and MIT describes a method for extracting recurring activity patterns from correlations between time, duration, sequence and infrastructure at the place of activity. The method was applied in Vienna and Boston (Massachusetts) and showed similar patterns for both cities, typically recurring at weekly intervals. The research
results enable mobile phone data to be used for activity-based modelling and travel behaviour studies and allow larger sample sizes than traditional mobility surveys. n P. Widhalm 1*, Y. Yang 2, M. Ulm 1, S. Athavale 3, and M. C. Gonzalez 2 Discovering urban activity patterns in cell phone data Transportation, March 2015. doi: 10.1007/s11116-015-9598-x 1 AIT, Giefinggasse 2, Vienna 2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA 3 Enterprise Technology Research & Innovation, Ford Motor Company, One Ame rican Road, Suite 1824 FMCC, Dearborn, MI 48176, USA
Focus on network stability This article investigates the stability of an electrical low-voltage distribution network with a high penetration of distributed (photovoltaic) generators, which actively support the grid by providing network services. One way to increase the capacity of the network is local reactive power control (Q(U) control, i.e. reactive power as a function of local voltage). Q(U) control is possible for generators connected to the grid via an inverter. Despite its advantages, Q(U) control has not found wide application to date, which is mainly due to its potential instability. This article for the first time defines a clear stability criterion which shows that the requirements for a stable system can be (easily) met. n Andren F.; Energy Dept., AIT Austrian Inst. of Technol., Vienna, Austria; Bletterie B.; Kadam S.; Kotsampopoulos P.; more authors On the Stability of Local Voltage Control in Distribution Networks With a High Penetration of Inverter-Based Generation Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on, vol. 62, no. 4, pp.2519,2529, April 2015; doi: 10.1109/TIE.2014.2345347