Main areas of research

Sustainable Mobility and Spatial Development

The focus area ‘Sustainable Mobility and Spatial Development’ deals with the reciprocal relationship between spatial structures, transportation and mobility. The Transport and Spatial Planning Institute adopts two approaches: On the one hand, we develop solutions that enable planners to develop sustainable mobility, create a basis for assessing transport systems and forecast traffic trends. From a social science perspective, on the other hand, we look at mobility in terms of its significance in people's everyday lives and for society, examine processes of change and assess their consequences.

At European level, the Institute primarily focuses on analysing and assessing transport infrastructures, developing environmentally friendly, inclusive and intelligent transport concepts and improving regional accessibility and participation for all people. This involves both large-scale transnational and small-scale cross-border projects.

At regional and local level, we are committed to specifically shaping sustainable mobility. We address issues relating to the financing and organization of traditional public transport as well as the development and introduction of alternative mobility services. These range from concepts for public services in rural areas to the restructuring and intelligent networking of public transport services and the promotion of cargo bikes in cities.

Regarding the relationship between spatial structures, transport and mobility, the Transport and Spatial Planning Institute provides consulting services and conducts research in various fields:

• spatial structural developments and spatial disparities,
• infrastructure assessments and impact assessments,
• model-based accessibility analyses and traffic/transportation potential,
• sustainable, intelligent and inclusive transportation concepts,
• factors influencing mobility behaviour.

Intelligent Transport Systems

This focus area aims to use technical systems to optimize safety and traffic flow at junctions, on the road and in exceptional situations such as roadworks. To this end, we derive and implement targeted measures based on previously collected and processed data. The focus of the work in this area is on providing infrastructural support for automated travel in both private and public transport and improving the overall conditions for vulnerable road users. This includes the collection, merging and (AI-based) interpretation of data, the development of appropriate measures and the communication of messages between the infrastructure and vehicles using V2X. Sustainability also plays an important role in the development of these solutions.

The institute works on a wide variety of subject areas, ranging from needs analyses based on stakeholder dialogue to the development of technical systems and the systematic evaluation of potential solutions. Enabling public transport administrations to implement innovative technical systems is always a key factor in this process.

An international and interdisciplinary team of employees from various engineering disciplines (traffic and spatial planning, transport engineering, IT, automotive engineering and industrial engineering) ensures that we have the necessary technical and commercial expertise.

The Transport and Spatial Planning Institute is conducting research into the intelligent transport systems of the future in the following specific areas:

• collecting traffic data using various sensors and data fusion,
• AI-based object detection,
• protecting vulnerable road users,
• microscopic traffic simulation,
• forecasting availability of truck parking spaces,
• user-oriented development of V2X applications,
• providing technical support for accessibility,
• evaluating C-ITS applications and
• implementation and operational concepts (role models and processes) for new technologies.

Transforming and Designing Transport Systems

The recently established research focus 'Transforming and Designing Transport Systems' is dedicated to analysing and monitoring the transformation and further development processes of efficient, motorized transport systems on rail and road. At the heart of this research is the application of systems engineering and transport engineering methodology to the new and ongoing development of transport systems, resulting in particular from the technological macro-trends of electrification and digitalization. Our work covers a wide range of topics, from analysing changes to modes of transport and infrastructure, for example through the electrification of propulsion systems, to identifying and evaluating growth opportunities and obstacles in rail transport and identifying potential synergies, such as through the digitalization of business processes. This involves regularly comparing our findings in the field of systems technology with the requirements and expectations of the key protagonists, stakeholders and users who support and shape these transformation processes. In addition, we actively seek interdisciplinary cooperation and interfaces with other key fields of research and external research partners from industry, academia and society.

The main methods and areas covered by this research focus:

• systems engineering in motorized passenger and freight transport by road and rail
• analysing processes, systems and interactions
• use and continued development of transport models
• interface management (on a technical and communicative level)
• effectiveness, efficiency and economic feasibility studies
• conceptualization and implementation of stakeholder and protagonist dialogue
• applying principles of innovation management
• developing roadmaps to identify standardization requirements, and supporting and actively participating in their implementation
• qualification and skills management for new technologies