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Aktuelle Projekte

The project COOL-KIT develops demonstrates and structures system solutions for the cooling of buildings, with a focus on the founders' period (Gründerzeit). Buildings from this period (approx. built 1850 to 1910) characterise the centres of many European cities and contain high-quality public and private functions. Climate change, densification and sealing are increasingly causing extreme summer situations in these central urban locations and are rapidly enhancing the need for overheating protection and active building cooling. Due to the lack of overarching approaches to cool this important group of buildings, the increasing use of inefficient individual cooling systems (mostly single split units) becomes an energy-related, acoustic and architectural burden. The cooling systems developed in the project are based on different cooling sources (ground, air, microgrids) and various active cooling techniques and components (activated intermediate ceilings, fan coils, radiators). Passive approaches such as shading or night ventilation are investigated as complementary measures. Predictive control technology ensures optimal control and the use of PV electricity a sustainable operation. Cooling system and operation designs are developed, taking into account the accessible synergies with the heating operation. Cooling ceilings are used to reduce heating system temperatures to increase the year-round efficiency and reduce district heating requirements. Selected system configurations are implemented in several buildings of the participating universities. Testing of different predictive control approaches will be performed on the test buildings using a digital twin, based on an IoT platform, followed by comprehensive energy and comfort related, economic, ecological and operational evaluations. The experience gained simulation studies, as well as market and stakeholder analyses lead to a modularly structured bundle of interdisciplinarily evaluated system solutions, the COOL-KIT. BIM models of the system concepts also enable subsequent projects to be configured in a technically and economically targeted manner with little processing effort.
Mitarbeiter
Konsortialführer/in bzw. Koordinator/in bei Kooperationen mit externen Organisationen
Christoph Hochenauer
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Konsortialführer/in bzw. Koordinator/in von mehreren TU Graz Instituten
Thomas Mach
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Projektleiter/in an der OE
Günter Getzinger
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.phil.
Michael Monsberger
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Siegfried Pabst
Dipl.-Ing.
Teilnehmer / Mitarbeiter
Richard Heimrath
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Andreas Heinz
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Dr.techn.
Fördergeber
  • IDM Energiesysteme GmbH
  • Uponor Vertriebs GmbH
  • BIG Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft m.b.H.
  • EAM Systems GmbH
  • Klima- und Energiefonds
  • Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH (FFG) , FFG
Externe Partner
  • Universität Graz, Direktion für Ressourcen und Planung
Forschungsgebiete
Beginn: 28.02.2023
Ende: 27.02.2026
The Grand Challenge ahead is to shift fossil-dominated centralized energy systems towards regenerative integrated multi-vector grids. This requires also sustainable electrical energy storage, including the related raw material supply, processes and systems. A real impact on economy, society and ecology is only created if materials, processes and products can be potentially transferred to large scale. This represents a particular challenge for mid to long term, systems-integrated energy storage, also because the EU strongly depends on critical raw materials from politically instable regions. In VanillaFlow, we develop radically new approaches for integrated energy storage which combine artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) with flow battery technology to replace currently employed, non-sustainable, and critical raw materials (i.e. redox-active molecules, membranes) in flow batteries by readily-available renewable materials based on starch and lignocellulosics. VanillaFlow will use AI and ML techniques such as physics-informed modeling, causal discovery, and representation learning, and makes use of deep learning and symbolic regression. These approaches are used in designing redox active quinones, and to optimize their interplay with the other components of a battery on single and multi-cell level. The whole research will be guided by toxicology investigations to ensure that sustainable and inherently safe materials will be obtained in the project. Today, the innovation capacity of European scientists and industry in the area of renewable materials makes them already the leading global players in the field. VanillaFlow will further support the European technological leadership in the area by cross-fertilization of different fields (artificial intelligence, battery technology, pulp and paper, biotechnology, polymer technology, toxicity) while addressing needs of sustainable materials in mid to long term energy storage.
Mitarbeiter
Projektleiter/in an der OE
Günter Getzinger
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.phil.
Ulrich Hirn
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Robert Peharz
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Harald Pichler
Assoc.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Fördergeber
  • European Commission - Europäische Kommission, EU
Externe Partner
  • Montanuniversität Leoben, MU Leoben
  • Technische Universität Darmstadt
Forschungsgebiete
Beginn: 31.08.2023
Ende: 30.08.2026
The project Pedestrian Strategy Styria aims to develop a strategy and a funding guideline for the design of pedestrian-friendly public spaces and to increase the share of walking in the municipalities of Styria. Increase the share of walking in the municipalities of the province of Styria. In particular, the (re)design of traffic areas is in focus.
Mitarbeiter
Konsortialführer/in bzw. Koordinator/in von mehreren TU Graz Instituten
Günter Getzinger
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.phil.
Projektleiter/in an der OE
Aglaee Degros
Arch. Univ.-Prof.
Teilnehmer / Mitarbeiter
Anna Maria Bagaric
Dipl.-Ing. BSc
Markus Monsberger
Dipl.-Ing. BSc
Fördergeber
  • Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung, Abteilung Verkehr und Landeshochbau, Referat Straßeninfrastruktur - Neubau, A 16
Forschungsgebiete
Beginn: 31.05.2022
Ende: 30.12.2023
Bei diesem Projekt geht es darum, die landesinterne Projektgruppe (auf der Basis unserer Erfahrungen mit dem Projekt "Klimaneutrale TU Graz 2030") zu unterstützen und zu beraten, um das Ziel "Klimaneutrale Landesverwaltung Steiermark 2030" effizient zu erreichen.
Mitarbeiter
Projektleiter/in an der OE
Günter Getzinger
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.phil.
Fördergeber
  • Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung, Abteilung Energie, Wohnbau, Technik, A15
Forschungsgebiete
Beginn: 31.12.2022
Ende: 30.07.2024
The development of innovative products from lignin, which comes as black liquor in a million-ton scale from pulp and paper production, has a huge potential to open new business areas. Despite significant efforts on national and international level, the vast majority of lignin is still subjected to incineration. Another societal challenge is a safe and sustainable supply with energy. While sustainable energy production has been addressed in the past years, sustainable energy storage still is an issue. Nowadays, most of the chemical storage technologies rely on depletable sources (e.g. metals), which need to be mined and transported to Europe, thereby causing a wide range of problems (e.g., disposal, sustainability, flammability etc.) In this project, a new value chain based on lignin (more precisely black liquor) is explored to generate sustainable, non‒inflammable redox flow battery electrolytes including aspects on recycling after end-of-life. For this purpose, processes will be designed to efficiently separate and pretreat the black liquor.
Mitarbeiter
Projektleiter/in an der OE
Günter Getzinger
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.phil.
Marlene Kienberger
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Stefan Spirk
Assoc.Prof. Mag.rer.nat. Dr.rer.nat.
Fördergeber
  • Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH (FFG) , FFG
Forschungsgebiete
Beginn: 31.03.2021
Ende: 30.03.2024
The project UserGRIDs develops two user-centred energy services at city district level, be¬ne¬fit-ting from active user participation and large amounts of real-time data. An ICT platform acts as a mid¬dleware providing seamless interoperability and standardized protocols. The first service is an energy management system (EMS) for districts with strongly fluctuating con¬sump¬tion and generation characteristics. The aim is to minimize emissions through optimal mana¬ge¬ment of en-ergy storage and supply from volatile sources. Various building controllers are ex¬ten¬ded to form a comprehensive, self-learning control system for the entire district. Its de¬vel¬opment is based on detailed thermo-electrical models also used by the second service, energy structure planning. It supports decisions on the transition of the district energy system towards zero greenhouse gas emissions. EMS, ICT-platform and energy structure planning will be im¬ple¬men¬ted, tested and further developed at the INNOVATION DISTRICT INFFELD of TU Graz.
Mitarbeiter
Konsortialführer/in bzw. Koordinator/in von mehreren TU Graz Instituten
Thomas Mach
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Projektleiter/in an der OE
Günter Getzinger
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.phil.
Christoph Hochenauer
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Martin Horn
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Gerhard Kelz
Dipl.-Ing.
Michael Monsberger
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Gerald Schweiger
Mag.phil. Dr.techn. MA MA
Fördergeber
  • EQUA Solutions AG
  • Energie Steiermark AG
  • EAM Systems GmbH
  • BIG Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft m.b.H.
  • Fronius International GmbH
  • Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH (FFG) , FFG
Externe Partner
  • BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH
Forschungsgebiete
Beginn: 28.02.2021
Ende: 28.02.2024
The project result is a Virtual Reality Digital Twin environment of the test sites "My Smart City Graz" and "TU Graz - Innovation District Inffeld". The user can interactively operate and visualise energy-technical building simulations and Internet of Things monioring data of the districts. This will support all stakeholders in making our cities more climate-neutral, resilient, efficient and liveable.
Mitarbeiter
Konsortialführer/in bzw. Koordinator/in bei Kooperationen mit externen Organisationen
Thomas Mach
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Projektleiter/in an der OE
Hermann Edtmayer
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Christoph Hochenauer
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Johanna Pirker
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. BSc
Teilnehmer / Mitarbeiter
Georg Arbesser-Rastburg
Dipl.-Ing. BSc
Günter Getzinger
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.phil.
Saeed Safikhani
Fogh-lis. Lis.
Anna Schreuer
Mag. M.Sc.
Jürgen Suschek-Berger
Mag.phil.
Fördergeber
  • Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH (FFG) , FFG
Forschungsgebiete
Beginn: 31.12.2022
Ende: 29.12.2025

DEWISS – Delphi-Verfahren in den Gesundheits- und Sozialwissenschaften. Konzept, methodologische Fundierung und Güte

This research network addresses epistemological and methodological issues of the Delphi procedure and develops guidelines for the procedure’s use and reporting. The network comprises more than twenty scholarly members from various disciplines and pursues four objectives:

  1. To establish a network among scientists and researchers from different disciplines who share an interest in the Delphi method;
  2. To allow for an erudite exchange on theoretical, methodological, philosophical, and technical considerations related to Delphi;
  3. To carry out methodological tests and surveys to improve the methodological foundations of Delphi procedures; and
  4. To develop guidelines that establish a consensual standard on how to carry out and report on Delphi studies in an international context.

This research network is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Duration: November 2020 to October 2022

Contact at the STS Unit: Mag. Dr. phil. Christian Dayé

For more information, see https://delphi.ph-sg.de/

The sociology of sociological knowledge

How can sociological knowledge be analyzed using sociological tools and models and what social processes and practices constitute sociological knowledge production? These questions have been addressed repeatedly by diverse sociological approaches. However, such debates were often discontinued, they remained insulated or were unrelated to more common issues in academic sociology. To integrate and to further develop sociological approaches to sociological knowledge, this research network focuses on five interrelated topics:

  1. Prospects and problems of transferring models of science and technology studies (STS) into the study of sociological knowledge;
  2. structures and processes of paradigm shifts in sociology;
  3. sociological analysis of sociological methods and methods for analyzing sociological knowledge;
  4. structure and transformation of academic and non-academic publics of sociological knowledge; and
  5. changes and continuities in the disciplinary identity of sociology.

This research network is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Duration: May 2017 to April 2022

Contact at the STS Unit: Mag. Dr. phil. Christian Dayé

For more information, see http://sociologyofsociology.com/

 

ON-MERRIT – Observing and Negating Matthew Effects in Responsible Research and Innovation Transition

Equity is a key aim of Open Science, but Open Science for the few is just the extension of privilege. Open Science needs resources (funding, time, knowledge, skills), and institutions/individuals traditionally advantaged usually have more of them. This dynamic of cumulative advantage, known as the Matthew effect, has first been described in the 1960s by the sociologist Robert K. Merton. Responsible Research and Innovation, and in particular Open Science, promise a more equitable scientific system whose outputs are more accessible and understandable to the public at large. One concern associated with RRI is that instead of contributing towards equity, responsible research practices might actually worsen existing inequalities.

The project ON-MERRIT investigates the impact of open science practices in academia, industry, and policy with a particular focus on institutions and individuals working in the areas of agriculture, climate and health (key pillars of the UN Sustainable Development Goals). A multidisciplinary team of sociologists, computer scientists, information scientists, cognitive scientists, etc. uses a combination of qualitative and computational methods, complemented by stakeholder engagement and co-creation in order to examine the advantages and disadvantages in responsible and open research practices. ON-MERRIT aims at eventually suggesting a set of evidence-based recommendations for science policies, indicators and incentives, which could address and mitigate Matthew effects.

The use of publicly available scientific outputs by policymakers has been claimed to be one of the benefits of Open Science. However, there is yet little empirical evidence as to the impact of OS practices on research uptake by policymakers. In fact, the relationship between evidence and policy is frequently described as a “gap”, highlighting the difficulties that prohibit the use of scientific evidence in policy making. How can OS impact on policies, then, if policy makers do not make sufficient use of scientific outputs as it is? Based on a comprehensive review of existing literature, Work Package 5 of ON-MERRIT, led by the STS Unit, uses surveys, focus groups and workshops to study possible Matthew effects in policy advice, e.g. whose voices are heard respectively excluded, and for what reasons. The Work Package 5 addresses this question by systematically summarizing the evidence to date on how policy makers use scholarly resources with a special focus on open research practices.

Duration: October 2019-March 2022

Contact at the STS Unit: Assoz. Prof. Dr. Bernhard Wieser

For more information, please visit https://on-merrit.eu/

Technology assessment for GMOs (GVO-TA)

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are routinely assessed by national and EU Competent Authorities (CAs) for their environmental and health risks before market authorisation. The aim of this project is to develop an assessment approach with a broader perspective that could - on a case-by-case basis - complement the statutory health and environmental risk assessment and be employed in CA contexts. To this end, technology assessment and socioeconomic impact assessment approaches of GMOs will be examined for potentially useful assessment approaches as well as for criteria.

Project Manager at the Organizational Unit: Dr. phil. Armin Spök
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Funding sources

  • Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn

External Partners

  • University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
  • GenØk – Centre for Biosafety, Tromsö

Start: 16.12.2019
End: 31.10.2021

Record not found: ResearchProject
Kontakt zu den Projektleiter*innen
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Christian Dayé
DEWISS
The sociology of sociological knowledge

Günter Getzinger
Fußgänger
Carbon Diet
Klim2030
LignoFracStore
ParisBuildings

Michael Kriechbaum
HydroFrame

Armin Spök
EU-CHIC
GVO-TA

Bernhard Wieser
ON-MERRIT
The “hasty” digitalization: Reflecting on the boost on digital transformation during the COVID-restrictions at TU Graz

Kontakt
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TU Graz – Technische Universtität Graz
Science, Technology and Society Unit
Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science
Schlögelgasse 2/II
8010 Graz
T +43 (316) 873 - 30651
F +43 (316) 813909-11
office.sts@tugraz.at
www.sts.tugraz.at