The transport and logistics industry is a proven growth market, its projected growth rates exceed the average of all industries. Using mathematical models and algorithms,  the – often global – supply chains can be improved.

The new field of research “CLL – Computational Logistics Lab” develops advanced planning and optimization techniques for complex logistical challenges. These tools support planning decisions and help to minimize costs while increasing quality.

Since 2007, Salzburg Research conducts research on problems of transport logistics. Numerous research projects for route planning in different industries and with different requirements – such as transport of patients, waste disposal, ready-mix delivery and field service – and to route network optimization in public transport are currently being developed or have already been successfully implemented. Due to the tremendous increase in demand, this new field of research was now created. This also allows the portfolio to be extended to other areas of logistics, such as manufacturing and warehousing.

Services offered by the new Computational Logistics Lab:

• Analysis and modelling of logistical tasks
• Joint validation of the modelling, ideally with historical data by the customer
• Development of tailored heuristics, metaheuristics, or hybrid solution methods
• Analysis of the practicability of the procedures and determination of the expected savings potential
• Implementing the chosen solution method in software modules and their integration into the existing IT infrastructure
• Maintenance and enhancement of existing components

With the increasing number of drugs, possible interactions become an increasing challenge. iMedication supports early identification of adverse drug reactions by an ICT-based process.

Drug treatment is one of the most important pillars of our health care system. Currently, about 13,000 medicines are approved in Austria – and counting. The growing number of different drugs also increases the risk for side effects and interactions. Studies show that a significant proportion of hospital admissions are  caused by such adverse drug reactions. A majority of these drug reactions is considered preventable.

iMedication supports the medication process in hospitals and thus improve patient safety. Through integration of distributed drug information, know-how of experts and so-called “triggers”, adverse drug reactions should be detected as early as possible. In addition, the mandatory reporting is facilitated.

iMedication is supported with in the FIT-IT “Semantic Systems” programme, financed by the Austrian Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology.

The pilot application will be tested at the end of 2012 at the Salzburg State Hospital.

The innovation and the optimization potential of new technologies mean much more for some people. They are often the only opportunity to get in touch with others and to communicate.

Again Salzburg Research took Christmas as an opportunity to support the students of the Anna Bertha Königsegg special school in Salzburg in their communication. The staff of the Salzburg Research collected money internally, and the amount was topped by the company instead of Christmas presents and cards. Innovation and optimization means for these severely disabled children: voice output devices, special computer keyboards and learning programs. The technology assists in building the communication skills (www.sosch-schwerst.schulen-salzburg.at).

Picture (left to right): Director Harald Probst, speech therapy teacher Herta Natiesta, Julia Eder and Salzburg Research CEO Siegfried Reich

Thank you for cooperation in the past year 2011. We wish you a happy holiday and a prosperous 2012!

From 15th to 16th November 2011 the re-certification was scheduled for the Salzburg Research quality management. For two days, all processes and procedures in all areas were put under the microscope. The current quality management system is well established in the daily work and therefore Salzburg Research was certified for another three years.

Image: CEO Siegfried Reich, Quality Manager Birgit Strohmeier, Peter Fürnweger (TÜV auditor), general manager Christiane Pedit (c) Salzburg Research.

MINER allows existing or emerging software developments to be reliably verified. The platform enables the specification of complex scenarios in which different activities must be executed on distributed nodes. Like a conductor MINER takes care of coordinating the “orchestra”: distribution of the required nodes, initialization, collection of results, detection of execution errors, etc., and displays the results along with consistent documentation. With the modular structure MINER leaves nothing to be desired: measurement of the transmission quality in IP networks, distributed applications testing, reliability testing, performance evaluation etc. The programming interface (API) allows to integrate existing  MINER applications or to develop own applications. Depending on requirements, MINER can be extended with custom modules.

The regular implementation of complex testing/measuring scenarios in different configurations – one far more complex and often error-prone process – can be done at the push of a button. Process monitoring and complete documentation are included.

The platform is already successfully used in the field of security technology.

MINER emerged as a prototype in an EU project, has been extended by Salzburg Research and brought to production readiness. Thus, international research innovation is now exploitable for companies.

Your interest is aroused? We are looking forward to hearing from you!
More at: miner.salzburgresearch.at

New technology for  rescue forces in Salzburg

The spatial data platform “BlaulichtGIS” improves emergency management and the cooperation of the Red Cross in Salzburg, and Salzburg mountain and water rescue. The technology is in action in all control centers of the Red Cross.

In daily use, rescue and emergency services often face inaccurate addresses or descriptions and therefore problems finding the emergency locations. BlaulichtGIS is a web-based platform for spatial data, where Salzburg emergency services can both create and retrieve local information. After several months of testing this new interactive platform for spatial data is now in use since March 2011.

Advantages of the new spatial platform are: the employees of all organizations can use new and current information – for example relocation of hospital wards, starting points for boats on the river Salzach, etc. In addition, GPS coordinates can be converted into a variety of common coordinate systems, which is especially important when rescue helicopters are deployed, as they use a different coordinate system than other vehicles.
In addition, location and operational status of all vehicles will be displayed in real time. Upon failure of the navigation device in a vehicle, dispatchers are able to pilot the vehicle by radio.

International disaster assistance

In large disasters/emergency situations, personnel from different nations are called for – a challenge for efficient coordination of relief efforts across organizational, national and cultural boundaries. Salzburg Research is working on crisis-grade communications technologies that support information exchange, resource planning and workflow.

After large earthquakes, avalanches, pandemics, chemical spills or radioactive clouds different forces have to work together smoothly. Aid agencies use different technical systems, do not have the same background knowledge, and arrive at different times on the site. In international cooperation also language and cultural barriers apply. the European Union is currently missing processes, systems and tools in disaster management, taking into account the specific characteristics and requirements of international cooperation in emergency situations. To date, international aid agencies will be contacted individually – that takes time and resources.

The EU project IDIRA will support multinational disaster relief resources for planning and operations. Flexible interoperable services for data integration, exchange of information, resources planning, and decision processes are developed: the sharing of information, for example, is facilitated by text blocks in different languages ​​and made crisis-proof through the integration of commercially available smart phones.

See more: www.salzburgresearch.at/projekt/idira

The two top ranked winners receive 40,000 Euro a piece to realise their winning proposal, and three runners-up receive 10,000 Euro to get their submissions to demo stage.

More information, rules and submission: www.iks-project.eu/contest

We are living in the age of cities: estimations suggest that by the year 2050 over 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities. There are many open issues and research questions related to this development, from urban development, transportation and economic development to social services, healthcare, energy, public safety, education and more.

Focusing on “smarter cities”, Forschung Austria organized the workshop “the digital city of tomorrow”. Tomorrows cities are seen as innovative places with efficient, effective and sustainable services where people can enjoy a high quality of life, cities that are characterized by their digital heartbeat, connectivity and intelligent services that benefit their population.

In general the participants agreed that overall the objectives towards smart cities are driven by factors such as sustainability, energy efficiency, high quality of life, safety & security, etc. and that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will (only) serve as enabling technology. Amongst the services that ICT could offer several aspects were mentioned:

• visualization as a communication tool between different parties
• geographic information systems for handling spatio-temporal data
• semantic interoperability of the various data sources to allow a standardized processing
• open data policies enabling communities to create low-cost services
• real-time systems for managing and monitoring huge data volumes in a near real-time manner
• simulation and prediction to enable decisions by stakeholders in a timely manner
• as well as the possibility for new business models enabled by digitized processes.

At the same time the participants pointed out the need to address the vulnerability of connected services e.g. smart meters and to consider the privacy of customers and to take into account the threats post by decentralized autonomous systems.

As a conclusion there was a consensus that technology-only approaches towards smarter cities will not be sufficient to realize these cities. As a basis a holistic approach is needed, considering the different cultures, the willingness to experiment – especially at the level of decision makers -, the constraints in public funding and most prominently the interaction with the citizens (e.g. crowd intelligence, inclusion of local knowledge, open innovation, modern lifestyles of digital natives).

Further details at www.forschungaustria.ac.at

Organizers: Siegfried Reich, Michael Mürling
Speakers:  Sanja Vraneš, Helmut Ludwar, Gerald Schatz, Gernot Leitner, Esteve Almirall, Christian Kern, Helmut Miksits, Gerhard Greiner

With the new mobile app “Peak.NPHT” by Salzburg Research there is no need for questions like “Is this the Tauernkogel or Tauernkögele?” Details about  approx. 3,000 mountain peaks in the National Park and the surrounding area (to reach Innsbruck, Salzburg and Klagenfurt) are available on the mobile phone. Just one look through the built-in phone camera and everyone knows about the name, height, distance and longitude and latitude of the summit.

With augmented Reality the app Peak.NPHT links the digital world with the real mountains. For some peaks there is a more detailed description available for climbing. In addition, the application provides names and heights of all cabins / snack stations in the National Park. An offline digital map supports walkers at any time in the planning of routes.

Peak.NPHT is available for free in German and English in the iPhone App Store  as well as in the Android Market.

Peak.NPHT:

•      iPhone App Store (on IOS 4.2)
•      Android Market (from 1.6)
•      via http://www.hohetauern.mobi
•      and apply online for free
•      Available languages​​: German and English
•      Download size: 20 MB
•      Additional function: Digital Map of National Parks

Salzburg Research regularly host a bunch of interns – during summer mainly “Talente Entdecken” interns. “Talente entdecken” is an initiative by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (Talente entdecken) for students at the age of 15 and up. They have the possibility to expand their horizons in a 4-week paid internship in the various areas of computer science.

The motivations to apply for this internship are numerous: Whether it was the hint of a brother, a school’s exclamation or the will for meaningful occupation during the holidays. The Internet was very important in all directions, because most of them found their internship direction online – in one of Salzburg Research’s research areas or in the Communications department.

The five interns in the research area KMT (Knowledge and Media Technologies) Maria Posch, Georg Maringer, Elias Rabl, Daniel Mayer and Joachim Akhgar are working diligently on a search engine, that helps users to find people or products. They already finished the final design for the user- interface. Consequently, they are well on shedule and try to start programming. After that they’ll test their search engine on different Browsers.

The research department MOWI (Mobile and Web-based information system) hosts interns, too:  Lorenz Braumann, Alexander Akhgar and Bernhard Radlinger are already involved in the business.

But not only “Talente entdecken” interns are at Salzburg Research. Saskia Schild, a student at the University of Salzburg, is working on a SKOS editor to ease the sorting and retrieval of information. In her self-made project plan, she has already completed the theory and is now studying the JavaScript. Her advantage to the “Talente entdecken” interns is that she is able to work longer on her project – until September.

In August 2011 the final presentation of the interns’ projects in the various research areas will be held. The “Talente entdecken” interns show what they have done during their internship.(Report by “Talente entdecken” interns Julia Willinger and Kerstin Glachs)

Video by Kerstin Glachs and Julia Willinger