Research projects are part of our work. Here you will find an overview of a selection of current research projects in which research assistants of our department are involved. For further details, please click on the individual images/buttons.

Possibilities of collecting capacity utilization data in rail transport and initial piloting

Precise knowledge of usage data in rail transport, both in freight and passenger transport, is crucial for the efficient management and improvement of rail transport in Germany. Efficiency and control should be improved. Particularly in rail freight transport, by gaining valuable insights into capacity utilisation and operational flexibility. This research focuses on the identification and analysis of freight wagon utilisation indicators and the techniques used to measure them.

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Logistics Networks in the Steel Industry – Optimized Industry-Specific Logistics Concepts

The steel sector in Germany is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The set climate goals and the associated need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must also be implemented in the steel industry, driving the transition of production towards green steel. In order to save greenhouse gases, the previously used coal is to be replaced by more climate-friendly hydrogen and the increased use of steel scrap in steel production. As steel is 100% recyclable without any loss of quality, nearly 44% of produced steel was obtained from steel scrap in 2019 (Fakten zur Stahlindustrie 2020, Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl).

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DataKV – Requirements and Potentials of Establishing a Data Space for Combined Road-Rail Freight Transport in Hessen

Combined road-rail freight transport (CT) plays a crucial role in achieving climate goals in transportation and is one of the fastest-growing segments in freight transport in Germany. By 2051, CT freight traffic is projected to increase by 73% compared to 2019. The rapid growth in CT freight traffic poses high demands on infrastructure and operational process efficiency. Currently, CT terminals, serving as the interface between pre-carriage and on-carriage by road and the main carriage by rail, face capacity constraints.

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ConnectedKV – Transport Platforms in Combined Transport

The fundamental objective of the project ConnectedKV is to analyze the adoption decision of (comprehensive) multi-sided platforms in CT from the user perspective. The influencing factors (drivers and barriers) on the adoption decision will be investigated. Their effects on the diffusion or platform acceptance are to be evaluated, considering the impact of positive and negative network effects. Building on this basic objective, the effects of platforms implemented in CT on the business model level will be explored in greater depth.

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m² – Control of Containers

Due to different customer needs, today's freight wagon fleet is characterized by diversification with various specific types and designs. With its multifunctional and modular (m²) platform, the m² freight wagon from DB Cargo can help to operate more flexibly and more in line with customer needs.

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KIBA – Artificial Intelligence and discrete loading optimization models to increase capacity utilization in Combined Transport

The combination of transport modes in combined road/rail freight transport creates the need for loading from a truck onto a rail car, which requires additional resources. Optimal handling of these transshipments is therefore of great importance. The optimal assignment of the loading unit and wagon plays an important role in this. Errors in loading not only impair efficiency in the operational process but, in extreme cases, can also endanger the safety of personnel and other participants.

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m² – Planning

The project “m² – Planning” addresses the changed strategic requirements for the depots and transshipment locations. The project will develop heuristic planning procedures to solve strategic planning problems in the context of the multifunctional and modular freight wagon m². In the course of this, the analysis of the changing demands on depots and transshipment locations and the development of algorithms for the strategic planning of, e.g. transshipment capacities and locations, will be part of the focus. Mathematical optimization is to map the demands and transports in the rail network and the required handling and area capacities in the handling locations and depots are to be calculated based on the container transports determined. Both historical and forecast data are to be included in the optimization, which requires the consideration of uncertainties in the data. In order to be able to use the required amount of data in the optimization, a heuristic solution procedure will be developed.

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KV-HUB – Piloting and testing of new, innovative combined transport products and processes involving the MegaHub rapid transshipment facility in Hanover/Lehrte

The aim of this project is to shift road freight traffic to the more environmentally friendly combined transport (CT), which thus contributes to achieving the climate targets. Due to the limited economic competitiveness of combined transport compared to road freight transport, there has been an increasing concentration of CT services on only a few direct train-capable routes between major economic centers. This led to a reduction in the range of services offered at smaller locations with more dispersed traffic volumes. In particular, the polycentric economic geography in Germany makes it difficult to generate a direct-train-capable volume for an economically viable CT service at all German terminal locations. With the help of innovative production processes and new digital applications, new, innovative approaches to solutions are therefore to be tested in the KV-HUB project, as the existing CT production systems alone will not be able to achieve the shift targets from road to rail planned by the German government.

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Completed research projects

Learn more about our completed research projects