Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO

Urban Systems Engineering

Envisioning the life and urban settings of tomorrow | Developing future-oriented urban infrastructures | Creating space and shaping society in a sustainable manner

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Urban systems in interaction with people, technology and the space they occupy

Some current projects entail the creation of innovative participation methods and co-creative processes to involve people in development projects that will jointly shape the livable cities of tomorrow. Our scientists tap into the opportunities provided by digitalization, IT and communication technologies in built-up areas. We also create organizational and information technology concepts for our customers, in compliance with the latest data protection regulations, to further develop urban processes in the best possible way. In addition, our interdisciplinary teams carry out in-depth research on the societal consequences of urban developments and put current scientific knowledge to use.

Our Urban Systems Engineering researchers focus on:

  • System solutions for customer-friendly logistics and services that are geared to demand
  • Identification and assessment of service potential in the sphere of urban logistics
  • Integrated management of urban parking facilities and setup of microhubs in city centers
  • Scientific assistance on experiments and reality labs in urban spaces
  • Development of intelligent district concepts
  • “Morgenstadt – city of the future” as a new paradigm of urban development
  • Internationalization of potential solutions for sustainable construction and urban planning
  • Use of creative formats for the transdisciplinary networking of stakeholders
  • Shaping of innovation processes at the interface between municipal authorities, private enterprise and the general public
  • Optimization of crisis and disaster management in cooperation with various stakeholders 

The Urban Systems Engineering Research Unit is organized in the following teams:

Cognitive Service Systems

At the Research and Innovation Center "Cognitive Service Systems" in Heilbronn we create the conceptual, organizational and technical prerequisites for the development of digital service offerings. Our service spectrum ranges from sensor-based data generation to AI-based methods of data analysis and the implementation of cloud-based service products.

Smart Urban Environments

The Smart Urban Environments team develops viable solutions for urban, residential and living spaces of the future. Team members accomplish this by considering flexible technologies and the diverse factors impacting people, available space and organization. Our vision of the future consists of livable and pioneering urban districts, creating a link between solutions that are both sustainable and digital.

Urban Governance Innovation

This team helps cities methodically shape innovation processes at the interface between municipal authorities, private enterprise and the general public. Team members also support local communities in developing and implementing integrated strategies. Our vision of the future consists of bringing together sustainable urban development, data-based solutions, and the market for clean and connected technologies. 

Urban Data and Resilience

The Urban Data and Resilience team strives to make cities livable, safe and resilient. To this end, we focus on IT-based collaboration with the general public and the third sector; we also utilize existing urban data for resilient strategic and administrative processes. Our vision of the future aims at administrative and decision-making processes that are IT-based and resilient for the cities, towns and regions of tomorrow.

Urban Economy Innovation

The team "Urban Economy Innovation" develops new evaluation methods and tools for the integration of economic aspects into infrastructural and urban or regional transformation processes. 

Building Culture Innovation

The team "Building Culture Innovation" deals with the application of digital planning and building processes in industrial and municipal practice. The focus is on projects with the building industry and the use of modern VR/AR technologies for digital product life cycles. 

Transport Systems Innovation

In the interdisciplinary team "Transport Systems Innovation", we develop the conceptual and data-technical foundations for efficient and sustainable delivery processes. We know that transport systems only work if both the special conditions in the city system are taken into account and the processes of the companies can be mapped economically. At this interface between city and economy, we develop innovative and sustainable transport solutions together with local authorities, logistics service providers and vehicle and component manufacturers.

Public Service Innovation

In the team "Public Service Innovation" we develop - data-based and co-creatively - new services to improve public services. We collect data, evaluate and visualize them. This enables us, for example, to optimize a city's parking management, to design smart supply and disposal, to make sensible, multiple and optimal use of public space or to improve work processes in the municipal economy.