09/2022 - 09/2026

The research project trans|formator:in deals with the acceleration and process optimisation of the redesign of public spaces - with the aim of strengthening active forms of mobility and improving the quality of stay. The aim is to create future-oriented spaces with a high level of acceptance and, at the same time, to lay the foundation for behavioural change towards sustainable mobility. New methods will be developed and tested in seven pilot municipalities by August 2026. 

In the Graz pilot project, the focus is on the introduction of the new tram line and in particular on the adjoining side streets of the Neutorviertel. Temporary and permanent measures support the transformation of the public urban space. The involvement of all those affected (politicians, administration, residents, visitors, traders, etc.) to formulate design options and raise awareness for the necessary change in transport plays an important role.

Within the framework of the research project "Transformator:in", information events and participation workshops will be held and a new vision for the city centre will be developed. In a further phase, an experimental laboratory will demonstrate possible spaces. This will be done through temporary interventions in the street space during the construction of the new tram line and with a view to its future permanent implementation.

Project lead:

• Eva Schwab

Project partner:

• tbw research GesmbH
• TU Wien MOVE & FVV
• netwiss OG, stadtland
• Stadt Wien MA 18, iSpace
• Stadtatelier Judenburg
• VOR GmbH/ITS Vienna Region
• con.sens verkehrsplanung zt gmbh
• Raumposition, Weatherpark GmbH
• Katapult, 3:0 Landschaftsarchitektur
• TU Wien Soziologie
• Prisma
• Stadt Graz, Stadt Bremen
• MZB, Stadt Salzburg
• Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland

Sponsor:

• Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH (FFG)
• Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie

Pedestrian Strategie Styria

06/2022 - 06/2023

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. In particular, the (re)design of traffic areas is in focus.

With a series of proposals for concretely realisable measures, the strategy is intended to support the attractiveness of pedestrian traffic and to inspire and motivate the responsible decision-makers to make these improvements a reality. In this way, the importance of pedestrian mobility for a sustainable development of our mobility, for the revitalisation and liveliness of public and semi-public spaces, for community development, climate protection and, last but not least, for the health of each and every individual is taken into account.

As an integrative component of these implementations, the draft of a funding guideline for pedestrian-friendly measures in municipalities will be created. For this purpose, the project team will examine existing good practice examples, carry out spatial analyses and use methods of qualitative social research to ascertain and integrate the current needs, possibilities and opportunities in the best possible way.

Project partner:

• Science, Technology und Society (STS)-Unit, TU Graz

Sponsor:

• Land Steiermark, A16

Tactical Mobilism - Intervention for a New Mobility Culture

10/2019 - 11/2021

The urban public spaces of our cities are still largely distributed in favour of motorised individual transport. The negative consequences of the resulting mobility culture are not limited to traffic and ecological issues, but also include the opportunities for social participation and the loss of function of public spaces. However, inflexible decision-making and planning processes often make urgently needed redistribution projects more difficult.
This is where the Tactical Mobilism project comes in, which aims to test and establish temporary, simple and cost-effective interventions in the transport sector.
The participatory development and testing of interventions (such as parklets, temporary closures and conversions, greening) in public space should open up new perspectives, lead to a rethink among the actors and trigger a long-term change in the mobility culture.
For the city of Villach, corresponding interventions will therefore be designed in a participatory way and tested on site. As a project partner, Villach is the ideal pilot city and has the potential to act as a multiplier for numerous cities of similar size and structure, which build on the findings of the project, integrate similar interventions themselves and use them for their transformation processes.

Project Lead: 

•  Institut for Spacial Planning, TU Vienna

Project Partner:

• queraum. kultur- und sozialforschung
• PLANUM Fallast, Tischler & Partner GmbH
• Artgineering
• City Villach

Sponsor:

• The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)

UML Graz - Urban Mobility Lab - grenzenlos

04/2017 –12/2021

The urban mobility laboratory Graz brenzenlos pursues the overriding goal of reducing the daily traffic flows of motorised traffic. The creation of novel, experimental environments in which innovative mobility and transport solutions can be researched, tested and implemented by science and companies together with citizens, politics, administration and other groups of actors is part of the project objective. The MOBILITY LAB supports technical, social and institutional innovations in the field of mobility in order to bring products and services to market faster. A broad range of services is offered for this purpose: Living lab, mobile laboratory infrastructure, method pool, innovation rooms as test environments as well as prepared data bases serve the comprehensive integration of users in the development and test process. The benefit lies in the bundling of existing potential and the positioning and strengthening of the urban region as an innovation area and business location.

Project Lead: 

• Holding Graz

Project Partner:

• City of Graz
• Land Steiermark und Laborpartner: Prisma Solutions
• StadtLABOR Graz
• Planum Fallast Tischler&Partner GmbH
• Grazer Energieagentur
• TU Vienna
• Institute Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, TU Graz
• Institute of Urbanism, TU Graz
   

Fördergeber:

• BMK, Land Steiermark, Stadt Graz

Private law contracts (eg mobility contracts, funds, urban development contracts) as an innovative city and mobility planning planning and control instruments

10/2018 – 01/2021

Habitation as a major field of action with regard to climate protection measures is getting more and more crucial, whereby mobility around domestic areas receives less attention, contrary to the facts of a remarkable CO2- and energy-saving-potential. Moreover, several ambitious, transport political aims are not utilized. In order to achieve a climate- and energy-efficient design of domestic areas, it is necessary to consider issues as well as innovative solutions which are pertinent to mobility in the stage of development due to the fact that about 80% of all mobility-needs start and quit at home. Furthermore, people decide about their means of carriage. Past experience which are not evaluated yet raise assumptions, namely that private-law provisions such as mobility contracts, -funds or urban development contracts concluded between communes and project partners f.e. investors, builders or proprietors constitute an effective tool to control the origination of mobility in domestic areas. Currently the development, application and evaluation of these methods break new ground.

The research project Urban MoVe attempts to solve the given problem based on analysing and evaluating existing practical examples out of Graz and Vienna. Thereby it should be verified how efficient tools f.e. mobility contracts or -funds are referring to an interlocked and future-orientated city- and mobility planning. Furthermore, it should be examined how these methods could be further improved in the light of new mobility innovations e.g. sharing- or electric mobility, automated driving, etc. As part of the project the effects and successes of already implemented mobility contracts are analysed and form the basis in terms of legal as well as procedural redevelopment and advancement of the contractual tools. International best practice examples will perfect the research project and ensure the portability of the outcomes.

Project Lead: 

• yverkehrsplanung GmbH

Project Partner:

• Institute of Urbanism, Graz University of Technology
• Research Area Land Policy and Land Management, Vienna University of Technology
• Grazer Energy Agency GesmbH
• UIV Urban Innovation Vienna GmbH

Sponsor:

• The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)

Webinar

Publication

Innovation Axis Graz-Gleisdorf

06/2016 – 05/2017

© Institute of Urbanism

The predicted dynamic population and economic development for the urban agglomeration area around Graz (490,000 inhabitants by 2050) represents a major social challenge in terms of resource consumption, supply and disposal infrastructure, mobility or affordable housing. In addition to urban densification, development areas in the future must also be developed in the future Close to the city of Graz as well as supraregional centers. The S-Bahn network of Styria, which connects the provincial capital of Graz with surrounding municipalities and cities, is home to an immense potential for the future that needs to be targeted. The aim of the project is the development of test and demonstration areas in the framework of selected city (sub) development projects along the innovation axis Graz-Gleisdorf. For the future development of urban living quarters, an innovation and technology portfolio with a focus on smart urban space, compact settlement structure, mix of uses, city of short distances, generation housing, intermodal mobility, energy, integrated building and information and communication technologies (ICT) will be developed. It should be implemented in 2019/2020 demonstration areas.

Project Lead: 

• StadtLABOR Graz

Project Partner:

• AEE INTEC Gleisdorf
• PLANUM Fallast, Tischler & Partner GmbH
• Institute of Urbanism, TU Graz

Sponsor:

• Klima- und Energiefonds