Research Projects
There are 104 results.
SUDICA - Sustainable Digitalization as a Challenge for City Administrations
The project investigates the tension between digitization and sustainability in city administrations, particularly focusing on the largely unaddressed, negative global feedback effects of digital technologies. It aims to systematize these interactions, develop an integrative understanding, and lay the groundwork for a more sustainable use of digitization in municipal decisions.
LenA circular houses - Demonstration of the circular architecture design process for circular andreuse building based on the lighthouse project LenA
The LENA project demonstrates in practice how resource-efficient use of materials can be achieved in architecture. LENA documents circular design methods and shows why planning begins at the end-of-life phase. By using digital methods and technologies to recover existing building elements and manufacture new ones with a focus on reuse, it determines what savings in gray energy and CO₂ can be achieved in the manufacture of re:use products and detachable/demountable/replaceable connections for our built structures, urban and residential areas.
StatiPLANT - Exploration of a standardized model for the static assessment of climbing plants
The StatiPLANT project aims to systematically record and analyze static loads on vertically greened facades caused by climbing plants under the influence of wind, tensile forces, and dead loads of the plants. The goal is to develop a conceptual, parameterizable assessment model as the basis for a standardized design procedure in structural engineering.
DEKARBOdezentral - Cost-effective Implementation of Decentralised Decarbonisation in Residential Buildings
The project explores cost-effective, decentralised heat pump solutions as an alternative to gas-fired floor combi boilers in existing flats. By utilising existing infrastructures such as chimney shafts, minimally invasive decarbonisation is enabled without comprehensive building refurbishment.
StirliQ+ Component development of the expansion Stirling generator with supercritical fluid as working & lubrication medium
Technical research and further development of details or components of the novel StirliQ engine, which has the potential to overcome the technical hurdles of conventional Stirling engines. On the basis of simulations as well as a laboratory plant, a narrowing down of the process parameters with regard to a resilient pre-dimension of apparatus components is carried out.
ReNew Lindenplatz - Resolving key transformation conflicts for a climate-resilient redevelopment of the Lindenplatz district in Kapfenberg
The exploratory project ReNew Lindenplatz develops a transferable planning approach for climate-neutral and climate-resilient small and medium-sized cities, using the historic old-town district around Lindenplatz and Hauptplatz in Kapfenberg as a case study. Through interdisciplinary analyses, participatory processes and scenario-based development of alternatives, an integrated transformation concept for the district will be developed. The results will form the basis for a subsequent demonstration project and provide transferable solution approaches for other small Austrian pioneer cities.
NEB-Tischlerei-Melk - Development of a former joinery site into a multipliable European lighthouse NEB neighbourhood
The former production site of the Fürst Möbel GmbH shall be transformed into a climate-neutral, multifunctional, scalable mixed-use NEB city quarter. This quarter called “Tischlerei Melk” is intended to achieve the highest ambition levels of the NEB compass and to position and represent Austria strongly in this context. As the area is located next to the world-famous Abbey of Melk, the project has the potential to become an internationally known best-practice solution.
Earthen building 2.0: Earthen building of the future - The art of craftsmanship based on engineering approaches
The exploratory project investigated the suitability of fiber optic sensors for the long-term monitoring of the deformation behavior of rammed earth wall elements under moisture and temperature fluctuations (shrinkage) as well as loads (creep). The experimental findings will be integrated into a finite element model to simulate failure behavior under load.
NEBKrit - Quality criteria for buildings and neighbourhoods on the basis of the New European Bauhaus
Develop criteria of aesthetics and social inclusion based on the values of the New European Bauhaus to complement existing sustainability criteria in order to evaluate buildings and neighbourhoods more broadly. Since todayʼs necessary transformation of the economy always includes cultural and social aspects, such a broader assessment makes more sense than todayʼs usual methods.
NEBKritQ - New European Bauhaus Quality Criteria for Sustainable Urban Development
The aim of the NEBKritQ project is to develop quality criteria and process recommendations for sustainable neighborhood development based on the dimensions of the New European Bauhaus (ecological sustainability, aesthetics, social inclusion), which can be used for both the evaluation and the project development and application process of neighborhood development projects.
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.
10., Rothneusiedl - climate model district Rothneusiedl: Preparation for the planned EU mission "New European Bauhaus"
Rothneusiedl will become a pioneering district for climate protection, climate adaptation and the circular economy. The existing RothNEUsiedl Charter outlines nine principles for making the district climate-friendly and inclusive. The dialogical and integrated process involves various target groups, including the planning and construction industry, future residents and businesses, in order to establish a local building culture at an early stage. NEB working principles are applied in order to support the parallel mission statement process.
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.
Circular Bio Floor- Floor construction made from biomaterials
In this project biogenic building materials from wood industry waste and geopolymer binders are developed that can be used as tamped fill or 3D-printed dry-screed elements in timber construction. These materials offer functional benefits and an excellent eco-balance, contribute to the conservation of forests and enable the production of separable and reusable floor segment panels using digital manufacturing technologies. That significantly reduces the consumption of primary raw materials.
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.