Evaluation

This research approach refers to monitoring and process evaluation as well as impact evaluation. Our evaluations benefit from the interdisciplinarity of the IFZ team. They are often conducted both quantitatively and qualitatively, if possible accompanying the process of implementation, and always ensuring highest scientific quality (e.g. triangulating methods, data and researchers’ perspectives).

For more information, please contact Jürgen Suschek-Berger.

Approach

Our projects on this research approach

This project examined the question of whether passenger transport and logistics can be combined in structurally weak rural areas, and if so, under what conditions.

Due to the lack of good public (local) transport in rural regions, there are already numerous systems of demand-oriented transport (so-called micro-public transport systems) which are well accepted by the population. They cover the majority of basic mobility needs in smaller communities and provide a connection to the surrounding infrastructure for people without a driving license or their own car.

As these mobility services are already established and have proven themselves in practice, it is obvious to look at whether free capacity in these systems can be used for logistics needs. When evaluating the requirements for a system for the simultaneous and combined transport of people and goods, legal, technical and organizational questions arise which are examined as part of the project.

The strategic project, which is funded by COMET and carried out jointly by Pro²Future and IFZ, is intended to sensitize Pro²Future researchers to how gender and diversity can be taken into account and integrated in application-oriented research projects, especially those that use artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

The project develops a basis for a regional, autonomous and robust energy cell that ensures a sufficient auxiliary (power) supply in case of failures in the transmission grid, caused by a blackout or a regional extreme weather condition.

In the Kids4Wearables project, fashion is a general area of ​​interest for children and adolescents and is the starting point for the innovation theme Wearables. Wearables are technologies that are usually worn around the body (such as heart rate monitors, smartwatches, but also technologies that help people with a disability in their own autonomy).

IFZ war part of a one-year exploratory project "Smart City Frohnleiten", funded by the "Smart City Initiative" of the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund. In this one-year exploratory phase, the aim was to explore possibilities for sustainable urban development in the city of Frohnleiten.

"useITsmartly" develops innovative solutions to facilitate young people's capacity building of "smart IT use", and ideas on how to reach them with the topic environmental impact through IT use.

The project „Code Studio“ by the Vienna Business Agency will enable children between 10 and 12 years to get to know IT jobs and game programming beyond gender stereotypes in an environment outside school. Thus children should get the possibility to interest themselves for gender-a-typical hobbies and jobs even before they enter the job orientation phase in school.

The core of the project was the active involvement of citizens in Hartberg. Several surveys with the population, qualitative interviews with stakeholders and participation events with citizens of Hartberg were carried out.

Aim of the project was to support standardization processes for the sustainable development of cities and municipalities and to involve stakeholders in these processes.

The „Vienna Science Festival“ (an initiative by the vice-major of Vienna, Renate Brauner) is hosted by the Vienna Business Agency since 2008. Under the collaboration of universities, universities of applied sciences, extra university research institutions and companies from Vienna the event is taking place in 2015 for the forth time. The goal is to bring „science to touch and play“ to a broader audience and show to the general public what and how science is done in Vienna.

Within the framework of the pilot project "Model home 2020", the “Sunlighthouse” in Pressbaum (Lower Austria) was built by VELUX Austria – the first carbon-neutral singl family house in Austria. From March 2012, the “Sunlighthouse” was occupied by a family that also tested its practicability. The "Sunlighthouse" was evaluated with measuring techniques (energy, heat, light, etc.) and in a socioscientific way (satisfaction of the residents, use comfort, living comfort etc.).

The objective of GISAlab is to support girls in discovering and developing their fascination and skills in regard to science and technology by offering them a creative and artistic approach to these fields of interest.

 In this study, affirmative action programmes for women in industrial research are examined.

In the project a general survey of centralised and semi-centralised mechanical ventilation systems in residential buildings was conducted and the technical solutions, the practical suitability und the acceptance of the occupants were evaluated. Criteria of quality and a planning guideline were developed.

The project examined the contribution of Smart Meters to the energy reduction of private homes.

Aim of the research project was the optimization of the technology „ventilation system“ as basis for future planning and adjustment. 

Based on established methods (SWOT-Analysis, Konstellations-analyse, Social Network Analysis) this project delivers decision making tools for units which are responsible for the coordination and/or funding of Energy Regions in order to support them in selecting appropriate activities and measures.