New Research Focus “Mobility 4.0”
Reorientation for St. Pölten UAS’ Carl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research
The Carl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research of the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences has restructured its research agendas and added the focus area “Mobility 4.0”.
The new specialisation is dedicated to aspects of digitalisation in the mobility sector. The focus area, whose establishment was supported by the province of Lower Austria, is coordinated by Alexandra Anderluh.
Automation, Big Data, Sustainable Mobility
The new research focus Mobility 4.0 addresses topics such as digitalisation and automation, Physical Internet and Big Data, sustainable mobility and the transformation of transport. With funds from the Lower Austrian provincial government, the St. Pölten UAS was able to set up the focus area over the last three years.
"Mobility and digitalisation are among the most significant future topics and are therefore also of central importance for Lower Austria. The science sector in particular has the ability to provide much-needed solutions to these questions. Our province is lucky to have the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences – an institution that conducts leading research and teaching in these fields. It goes without saying that it makes me happy to see the research focus Mobility 4.0 established at the UAS now. Once more, we can expect important impulses for the business world and for our people”, says Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Governor of Lower Austria.
“We have already launched the first projects within the framework of our specialisation and are currently in the process of developing new ones. In addition, we have expanded our company network considerably. From today’s perspective, the new research focus is more than likely to experience long-term growth”, explains Senior Researcher Alexandra Anderluh who coordinates the focus area.
Connecting Mobility, Digitalisation, and Sustainability
Approximately three years ago, the St. Pölten UAS was awarded the contract for the expansion of its activities at the Carl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research within the framework of project funding offered by the province of Lower Austria. The idea was to expand research for the digitalisation of the railway and mobility sector in particular.
“We have been conducting research on the topics of sustainable mobility and the use of digital solutions in the transport sector for several years now. This funding opportunity for the promotion of new activities has enabled us to deepen our research and launch new initiatives that have been expanded to create our new research focus. Thanks to the initial funding, our institute has received a sustainable and long-term boost. We have two highly qualified scientists in Alexandra Anderluh and Andrew Nash who will further expand this focus area and represent it to the outside world”, emphasises Head of Institute Frank Michelberger.
“The new research focus and instruments such as this start-up funding are important tools for our university of applied sciences in order to further deepen our excellent and intensive research activities and to position ourselves internationally in collaboration with our European University E3UDRES2”, explains Hannes Raffaseder, Chief Research and Innovation Officer of the St. Pölten UAS.
CO2 Reduction, Health, and Information Technology
New projects within the framework of the specialisation are dedicated, for example, to the reduction of CO2 with the help of improved carriage logistics, secure supply chain management, the use of information and communication technology in rail freight transport, emission-free and automated operation on branch lines, the effects of bicycle and on-foot transport for people’s health and the economy, and teaching and training in the railway sector.
Partners in the research focus include Niederösterreich Bahnen, the Railway Industry Association, Frauscher Sensor Technology GmbH, and Siemens Mobility Austria GmbH.
Carl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research
The institute conducts application-oriented research and development on the topics of Rail Technology and Mobility. Comprehensive knowledge of the railway system is the institute’s core focus and key competence. The three research focus areas are “Railway Systems”, “Lifecycles of Technical Systems”, and “Mobility 4.0”.
Links to the above-mentioned projects:
FH-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Frank Michelberger , EURAIL-Ing.
Head of Department Academic Director Rail Technology and Mobility (BA) Head of Research InstituteCarl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research Deputy Academic Director Rail Technology and Management of Railway Systems (MA) Department of Rail Technology and Mobility
