Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI

The current coronavirus pandemic poses enormous challenges to all of us. In this exceptional situation, it is our most important priority to protect the health of our staff, customers and partners as well as the society in general. Therefore, we have decided to close the institute building to visitors and to take far-reaching measures for avoidance of exposure. The majority of staff continue their project work from home and all departments are able to work, so that your usual contacts are available for you. With a skeleton staff present at the institute, basic services are secured. If you cannot reach your desired contact person, please call our office for help (+49 (0) 351/4640-800). Up-to-date information is available on our website and social media channels, as well as via e-mail (presse@ivi.fraunhofer.de).

We are convinced that we can overcome this complicated situation with mutual understanding and personal commitment. With this in mind, we hope you and your families will stay safe and healthy!

The »Digital Villages Saxony« project investigates the potentials of digitalization for everyday life in rural areas. Together with the local population, administration and researchers from the Fraunhofer institutes IESE and IVI, digital services are being developed and tested in the Lommatzscher Pflege model region in Saxony.

The project has now reached an important milestone: citizens living in the model region can now use the newly developed services DorfFunk (»village radio«) and DorfNews (»village news«). DorfFunk is a smartphone app offering a platform for posting offers, search requests and capacities for neighborhood support as well as a chat function. DorfNews is a website featuring news from the region. Both the local administrations as well as the citizens themselves can publish information via this channel. The project team is convinced that, especially under the current circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic, digital services for connecting people and spreading information on locally available help are more important than ever.

• Digital Villages Saxony project website
• Flyer on DorfFunk and DorfNews services (in German only)

As part of a series of events titled »Innovation and Tradition – Metzler meets Fraunhofer«, Fraunhofer IVI director Prof. Dr. Matthias Klingner visited the Metzler Bank in Frankfurt am Main on February 5th, 2020. With Jürgern Pieper, who is responsible for the German auto sector at Metzler Capital Markets, he discussed how the energy turnaround and mobility can be combined. Amongst other topics, they also spoke about the chances and risks of autonomous driving. The interview was opened by a presentation that Prof. Klingner held on mobility trends. 

The series of events started in 2014 and offers select Metzler business partners and clients exclusive insight into socially and economically significant technological processes in the form of a business lunch. This provides a platform for dialogue between researchers and practitioners and can spark new ideas for developing adequate business strategies for the future.

• Read the full interview

February 6, 2020

During a visit of the Lusatian Lake District, the Brandenburgian Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour, and Energy, Jörg Steinbach, also visited the autartec^® house at the Lake Bergheide. Fraunhofer IVI director Matthias Klingner used the technology demonstrator, which was completed in 2019, to point out how alternative energy concepts and a modern living culture can bring about new ways of life on both land and water. Working towards the redesign of this former mining region, the vision to develop the autartec^® house into a settlement with several lakeside and floating houses is just one of the many ideas that are open for discussion.

With its unconventional look and the semi-self-sustaining energy and water supply, the building is an enrichment to the Lusatian Lake District and made a great impression on Minister Steinbach. The solutions from the autartec^® project are also suitable for the use in other development areas that are still lacking the necessary infrastructure, for instance the connection to water and electricity supply. The floating house thus becomes a lighthouse in the regional development, striving towards a landscape that will become attractive for both residents and tourists.

• More information on autartec^®

January 27, 2020

The research project will create a cost-effective rental service offering cargo bikes and electric scooters for everyday use. Designated users are students of the TU Freiberg and the general public, who can move through the city and the university campus in a comfortable and eco-friendly way. The first tests are planned for 2020. In addition to the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the Fraunhofer IVI, apromace data systems GmbH from Freiberg and the TU Braunschweig have joined the consortium.

Until the year 2023, the project will receive a funding of 4.9 million euros for its research and testing by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the priority area »Individual and adaptive technologies for a connected mobility – 2nd phase«.

• Read press release (available in German only)

After the successful start of the partnership between ASAM e.V. and the Saxon Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport in the year 2017, the ASAM International Conference was once more held in Dresden this year.  

In a special lecture session, Dr. Torsten Gründel, head of the Intelligent Transport Systems department at the Fraunhofer IVI, introduced Saxony's  »Synchronized Mobility 2023« research initiative. Afterwards, the results of the individual projects were presented in detail by the scholars responsible.  

In the adjoining exhibition area, the many guests had the opportunity to view not only an automated fast charging system, but also the latest technological developments for cooperative driving currently being tested on the Dresden digital testbed.

Among others, these included the demonstration of networked driving scenarios realized by combining microscopic traffic simulations, road lights, roadside units, highly automated vehicles and test support, which are visualized on displays inside the vehicles.

• More information