Research Projects
There are 47 results.
Fit4Heat_Rust - Future-proof heating network in Rust
Development of an innovative, sector-coupled heating network concept for the city of Rust that flexibly integrates renewable heat sources and cooling provision and enables third-party access in accordance with RED II.
CoSpatial Heat - Joint spatial coordination of heat supply in Gleisdorf
CoSpatial Heat is developing an integrated, geodata-based heating and gas supply planning concept for the Gleisdorf region. By jointly considering space heating, process heat, and gas infrastructure, future supply, expansion, and decommissioning areas are identified. The systemic integration of GIS analyses, consumption data, energy audits, and stakeholder knowledge generates robust decision-making foundations for municipalities, industry, and network operators.
NeoEAI4Control - Neuro-Symbolic Edge AI for Efficient and Robust Control in Energy Management
Increasing energy efficiency in buildings is a key goal of the energy transition, which, together with increasing digitalization, is leading to new requirements for intelligent control and regulation. Traditional control methods are reaching their limits. As part of the project, we propose the use of edge AI with specialized neuromorphic chips to enable scalable, decentralized, efficient, and real-time control in buildings.
DUO-TES - Double utilization of aboveground and underground sprinkler water tanks as thermal energy storages
Exploratory project on the dual use of sprinkler and fire-fighting water tanks as thermal energy storages and their integration into building-internal heating and cooling processes as well as into district heating and cooling networks. The dual use of this infrastructure promises significant decarbonization and cost-reduction potential through energy savings and an increased share of renewable energy, while simultaneously enhancing system resilience.
NEXUS - AI for Next Generation Smart Buildings
he NEXUS project develops a novel AI-based framework for scalable fault detection and predictive maintenance of HVAC systems in buildings. NEXUS enables early fault detection without the need for large labeled datasets. The project aims to significantly reduce energy consumption, extend system lifetimes, and contribute to the decarbonization of the building sector.
FW-Netz Traiskirchen - Feasibility study on decarbonizing the district heating network in Traiskirchen by using the sewage treatment plant as a heat source
The exploratory project is examining the technical, economic, and ecological feasibility of community-wide decarbonization of the district heating network in Traiskirchen. The focus is on merging the existing sub-networks and utilizing wastewater heat from the sewage treatment plant using a large heat pump. The results will form a basis for strategic decision-making and serve as a model for other small and medium-sized towns.
RIGOR - Towards reproducible, transparent, and valid AI methods for buildings and cities
The RIGOR project investigates the actual added value and scientific reliability of AI-based methods in the context of buildings, districts, and cities. It focuses on reproducibility, transparency, and the objective comparison of modern AI approaches with simple, robust baseline models. The goal is to establish an evidence-based foundation for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in energy- and safety-critical applications in the built environment.
Transform:Leoben2040 - Preparation of a demonstration project for the climate-neutral development of the Fichtlplatz–Kärntnerstraße district
The exploratory project Transform:LEoben2040 develops a transferable transformation concept for the municipal residential district Fichtlplatz–Kärntnerstraße in Leoben. By developing an integrated district energy system as well as new financing and operational models, the project aims to identify climate-neutral and economically viable solutions for transforming existing urban neighborhoods. The results will provide the basis for a subsequent demonstration phase and serve as a transferable model for other pioneer small cities.
Mind the gap - Development of a Directional Drilling Method for Shallow Geothermal Energy
The project develops a miniaturised directional drilling method enabling geothermal boreholes to be installed beneath existing buildings, addressing a major gap in densely built urban areas. By drilling from accessible edge zones and keeping all probes on private land, permitting procedures are simplified and public-space interventions minimized. The study assesses technical, regulatory and economic feasibility and forms the basis for subsequent prototype development.
U-Bahn goes circular - Increasing the Circular Economy in the Civil Engineering Works of Vienna’s Subway Lines
The objective is to develop and pilot strategies for the reuse and material recovery of excavated materials in order to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions, landfill volumes, and the use of primary raw materials. To this end, innovative analytical methods, digital tools, new business models, and the legal frameworks at the interface between construction and waste legislation are addressed. The results are intended to serve as the basis for a subsequent real-world laboratory and to enable scalable processes for future infrastructure projects. In doing so, the project makes a tangible contribution to climate neutrality, resource conservation, and sustainable procurement in public construction.
Re-Use: Holzhaus (Re-Use – Timberhouse) - Scenarios of conduction for Repair, Refurbish & Repurpose of prefabricated timber houses
The Re-Use: Holzhaus project deals with the recyclability of prefabricated wooden components, which are generally used for single-family homes and small apartment buildings and have both a long tradition and a diverse manufacturing structure in Austria. The project aims to take significant steps along the entire value chain to make components from the past more attractive as secondary raw materials and to prepare future prefabricated houses for this purpose in the best possible way.
REHSA - Regenerative House for Health
REHSA focuses on the topic of "Demonstration of innovative building technologies and prototypes." The project will develop a groundbreaking, regenerative clinic model that goes far beyond conventional sustainability and combines innovative architecture, circular resource use, intelligent IT and medical technologies, and healing, people-centered environments.
ReCapture - Rapid Capture and Precise Analysis of the Building Envelope as a Basis for Circular Economy in the Existing Building Stock
The goal of the study is to evaluate a novel sensor- and AI-based technology for automated detection, semantic segmentation, and 3D modeling of building envelopes.
Wärmezukunft Steyr - Innovative Models for Climate-Neutral Heat Supply in Steyr
The project aims to establish the foundation for a climate-neutral, socially inclusive, and economically viable heating and cooling system in a pioneer city. It combines technical planning with governance approaches and the development of business and operator models. A special focus is placed on anergy networks, which - despite high upfront investments - offer strong potential for low-temperature, dual-purpose heating and cooling supply.
MARGRET Bioshade - Building Physics-Based Quantification of the Shading and Cooling Performance of Building Greening
The MARGRET Bioshade project investigates the impact of building greening on energy efficiency, climate adaptation, and building assessment. Its focus is on quantifying the shading performance of vertical greening systems, analyzing the water balance and evaporative cooling effects of different greening solutions, and developing standardized parameters for planning, simulation, and technical guidelines.
reSOILution - Utilization of excavated soil for the production of earthen building materials
Excavated materials generate large amounts of waste and represent a key lever for resource conservation and waste reduction in the construction sector. The reSOILution project explores how excavated soil can be circularly processed into earthen building materials to reduce CO₂ emissions and promote a sustainable construction industry.
BROWNFIELD-PV Leoben - Sondierung einer PV-Anlage auf der in Nachsorge befindlichen städtischen Deponie Seegraben (Leoben)
The project develops an innovative multi-benefit approach for urban landfill photovoltaics by integrating methane oxidation, biodiversity-enhancing vegetation, and inclusive citizen participation.
KPQ goes NEB – Transformation of a Climate Pioneer Existing Neighborhood Using NEB Quality Criteria (Based on KPQ Graz)
With the "Climate Pioneer City Graz" (KPS Graz) project, the City of Graz is pursuing the strategic implementation of its climate protection plan by developing climate-neutral neighbourhoods, among other things. Based on the ongoing exploratory project "KPQ Graz", "KPQ goes NEB" focuses on the climate-neutral transformation of the Roseggersiedlung - a residential neighbourhood owned by Wohnen Graz dating back to the 1940s with 395 residential units. The aim is to transfer tried-and-tested development processes from new-build and conversion projects to the more complex environment of an existing neighbourhood.
MidSKliN – Minimally invasive dynamic rehabilitation taking into account climate change adaptation, CO₂ emissions and grid compatibility
The project aims to develop and demonstrate minimal renovation measures at the building envelope level using modular, technically easy-to-implement building technology solutions for decisive CO2 reduction and climate adaptation in urban building stock.
QS-winmount - Quality-Assured, Practice-Tested, Sustainable and Prefabricated Window Installation for Renovation and New Construction
The QS-winmount project is developing a sustainable, innovative, prefabricated window pre-wall mounting frame that integrates thermal bridge-free design, airtightness, solar shading, ventilation with heat recovery, fall protection, and fire protection.