The AIT presented groundbreaking innovative research and development projects in the field of mobility at Europe’s largest transport research conference.
With the TRA (Transport Research Arena), Europe’s largest transport research conference took place last week in Vienna, making it the European centre for mobility of the future. As co-organiser of the conference, the AIT brought the world’s best experts to the German capital on various topics. “As a member of the Programme Committee, AIT was responsible for the contents of TRA 2018, more than 90 sessions were organised in the areas of transport and mobility,” says Christian Chimani, Head of Center for Low-Emission Transport of AIT and Chair of the Programme Committee of Transport Research Arena 2018.
From 16 April, a total of more than 3,000 scientists and experts discussed and discussed the main topics of digitisation and decarbonisation of the transport system for four days. This year’s TRA 2018 has the motto: “A digital era for transport – solutions for society, economy and environment”. As Austria’s largest research and technology organisation, the AIT presented a large number of current projects – from the battery of the future, innovative rapid loading systems, new materials for vehicle construction, methods and technologies for improving road safety, to solutions for making mobility systems and freight transport even more efficient.
Decarbonisation of mobility
Decarbonization is one of the grand challenges of mobility. With its research work, the AIT makes an important contribution to curbing climate change in the future and to keeping the planet liveable for future generations. Projects in the field of e-mobility and energy are to make engine drives environmentally friendly, low-emission and at the same time efficient in the future. AIT’s research also optimises means of transport in a climate-friendly way. These include projects such as location planning for bike sharing systems or more efficient route planning in transport and fleet management. Another goal of the AIT researchers is the production of new materials. A breakthrough was achieved in this area with KryoAlu, for example, which can be processed at temperatures down to minus 150°C for the first time. This makes complex heating processes superfluous and represents a pioneering project worldwide.
The challenge of digitization
In the age of digitization, it is becoming increasingly important to adequately protect critical infrastructures. Global networking and technological progress are also opening up new possibilities for making transport systems even more efficient. In order to make full use of technical resources in the present and the future, the AIT is constantly researching forward-looking projects in these areas. AIT’s developments range from 5G wireless communication, which enables self-propelled cars to communicate with each other, digital monitoring of building dynamics or noise protection, to research and improvement of autonomous transport systems. With these innovations, AIT scientists are making an important contribution to the mobility of the future.
The mobility landscape of the future
Rapidly growing cities pose major challenges. The AIT also conducts research in the field of smart cities on urban development and urban mobility. The human dimension of urban design is also in the interest of the AIT’s research work, which is implemented, for example, with instruments of virtual reality. Furthermore, the Center for Innovation Systems & Policy in Austria as well as in European politics takes on an advisory function and is dedicated to current and future challenges in the field of mobility and transport.