The Austrian security research funding programme - KIRAS - supports national research projects to increase security for all members of society. Organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism (BMLRT) and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) the 10th KIRAS Symposium took place on September 21st. Three representative centres of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology contributed with exciting projects and practical demonstrations.
Promotion of civil courage through playful experiences
Julia Himmelsbach from the Center for Technology Experience presented the kURAGE research project to a renowned audience, including Federal Minister Elisabeth Köstinger and SC Mag. Andreas Reichhardt. kURAGE is a research project about civil courage and its promotion through playful experiences. In everyday life, situations often arise that require moral courage or solidarity. Witnesses usually have to decide within seconds whether and how they should intervene in a dangerous situation without endangering their own safety.The project developed a game based training concept that integrates important factors in order to act courageously.
Cyber security and transport
The Center for Digital Safety & Security, whose R&D activities at national level are a special focus of the KIRAS security research programme, was also present with a selection of current projects. The cyber security experts Florian Skopik and Martin Latzenhofer displayed results from the projects. CISA- Cyber Incident Situational Awareness, ACCSA – Austrian Cyber Crises Support Activities, CySiVuS – Cyber Security for Transport Infrastructure and Road Operators and WALL-E – Effective Practical Approaches from the Authorities' Point of View to the Efficient Use of Electric Mobility. As for the latter, the project investigates the operational and practical suitability of e-mobility and other alternatives for police operations.
Unmanned aerial vehicles for disaster management
Christoph Sulzbachner and his team from the Airborne Vision research group at the Center for Vision, Automation & Control explained how unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are becoming a reliable helper for rescue teams: In case of a crisis or disaster scenario, the UAV transmits continuously updated, large-scale situation pictures to the emergency team from the air. A a result, both the disaster management as well as the rescue operation become more efficient. The technology behind this is a powerful sensor-based system in combination with deep-learning-supported processing and analysis approaches.
In the NRT-COP research project “UAS-based recording of multi-modal image data for the near-real-time provision of large-area image information”, which was presented jointly with the Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, the technology is being evaluated and further developed considering and including the feedback of first responders. Further partners of the project are the LEADER Photonics GmbH, the Johanniter Österreich Ausbildung und Forschung gemeinnützige GmbH, the voluntary fire brigade of Gumpoldskirchen and Ing. Richard Feischl. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) supervises the project (PN: 873548, Programme: Security Research, Call for Proposals: KIRAS Cooperative R&D Projects 2018). The project has been funded by the Austrian security research programme KIRAS of the Federel Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism.
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