This year, AustriaTech, in cooperation with the
University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, has twice made it
possible for around 80 children to visit impressive hot spots of
transport technology. The first time, around 200 excited children
took part in lectures on the theme of transport management, held
within the children's university. As in the previous year, the
children travelled in a specially marked Wiener Linien bus to the
Vienna Police direction centre in the Rossauer Barracks, to Wiener
Linien's direction centre for the underground systems in Erdberg,
to Austro Control's air traffic control centre and to Asfinag's
traffic management centre in Inzersdorf.
Who controls the traffic?
The summer holidays are peak time for
travelling, and the question arises, "Who controls all the
transport, and how does it work exactly?". So AustriaTech organised
these excursions and offered these lectures, together with the
University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien. Experts in transport
technology presented their ideas and possible solutions for
aeroplanes, cars, trams, buses and trains.
Martin Boehm from AustriaTech held a lecture,
"When cars learn to talk…", and explained how transport will be
changed by technology in the future. Examples were used to develop
the children's understanding of future applications of telematics
in the transport system. The children experienced what cars can
already do: that they can communicate with each other and with the
infrastructure; what they will be able to do in the future; and
whether in the future we will still have to control our cars
ourselves.
Emil Simeonov from the University of Applied Sciences Technikum
Wien illustrated how high-tech solutions can be used in transport,
in his session with the title "How are the transport systems in
Vienna and Coruscant controlled?" We all use modes of transport,
some even daily, such as cars, trains, boats, and planes without
ever stopping to think about how it is controlled. This lecture
offered insights into the often unknown processes and technical
systems which keep our transport running - inside and outside of
Austria.
The children were enthusiastic and interested,
and both lecturers barely recovered from answering countless
questions. For all the children who couldn't take part in the
excursions and lectures, the Children's University prepared a quiz,
just like in the previous year. The quiz asked how transport would
become intelligent and safe. The children enjoyed several eventful
and interesting days, as did the accompanying team and the
lecturers. One thing we know for sure: AustriaTech will definitely
be there at the Children's University again next year.
Some pictures of the Children's University can
be found in the photo gallery.
<< Back to news home
