Austria
Markus Ray, joined the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology in 2004, where he heads the Competence Unit "Digital Resilient Cities" - an interdisciplinary team of more than 50 engineers and scientists. The Digital Resilient Cities Competence Unit supports cities and their stakeholders in the cross-sectoral transformation process, primarily combining climate, energy, mobility and urban planning expertise. In the associated City Intelligence Lab, researchers combine innovative processes with state-of-the-art digital planning tools using big data and artificial intelligence for co-creative urban planning. Ray studied electronics with a specialization in computer and systems engineering. His field of expert is about mobility data acquisition and analysis using various sensor and data technologies. He researched innovative solutions for collecting and analysing individual passenger mobility in the multimodal transport system. He used various sensor systems for active mobility data acquisition such as GPS, video, Wifi, infrared, cell phones and smartphones. On the other hand, he used high-performance computing and big data technologies to enable infrastructure-based data sources such as from mobile phone data and floating car data for mobility research. In 2012, he was promoted to Senior Research Engineer and subsequently took over the management of the Mobility Data Acquisition and Analysis research group. In 2017, he took over the management of the Competence Unit in the field of multimodal transport system modelling and optimization, which was expanded in 2021 together with the Competence Unit Digital Resilient Cities.
The Competence Unit Digital Resilient Cities supports cities and their stakeholders in the cross-sectoral transformation process, combining expertise in the areas of climate, energy, mobility and urban planning. With the aim of creating climate-neutral, competitive and sustainable living spaces, we develop and integrate state-of-the-art evidence-based analysis and simulation tools for systemic urban transformation, but also for the concrete planning and management of neighborhood and building solutions. This enables stakeholders to carry out an evidence-based, cross-sectoral evaluation of measures at every planning and detailing stage. The quantified evaluation enables the targeted optimization of a region, city, district, neighbourhood or building. With the City Intelligence Lab (CIL), we also pay special attention to the early planning phase of urban and neighborhood development projects using artificial intelligence. The effects of urban planning measures on microclimate, accessibility and mobility, for example, are evaluated almost in real time and visualized for specific target groups. This makes it possible for the first time to design a cross-sector, co-creative process and to create a sound basis for decision-making for the next steps in this early planning phase.
Heading the competence unit Digital Resilient Cities in the Center for Energy. Operating in the fields of mobility, urban planning, energy and climate on district and city levels. Main responsibility in the strategic and operational integration and set-up of the new unit. Full budget and resource/competence management for the unit with an organizational structure of about 60 persons, 3 teams a 15-20 persons and supporting staff. Digital Resilient Cities In the era of digitization and climate change we are pioneering new ways to plan and realize the sustainable, smart and resilient habitats of tomorrow. AIT is an independent, urban know-how partner that develops cutting-edge urban management and planning solutions. By embracing today’s complexities, we’re pioneering new ways to plan and realise the sustainable, smart and resilient habitats of tomorrow. Our approach is our differentiator. We combine innovative processes with the latest digital planning tools using big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Transcending the boundaries of traditional disciplines and enhancing our services with scientific innovations, we formulate and answer questions today about the urban tasks and challenges of tomorrow.
- Heading the competence unit Dynamic Transportation Systems in the Center for Mobility Systems (One of two units). Covering the fields passenger transport and freight logistics. Full responsibility (economic, thematic, strategic, personal) for 35-40 persons, incl. 3 Team-leaders in the areas of “Integrated Mobility Systems”, “Transport Optimization and Logistics” and “Mobility Data Collection and Analysis”. - Business Manager for the topics related to Mobility Data Collection and Analysis. Direct sales responsibility for industrial projects. Business Unit Dynamic Transportation Systems (DTS) DTS performs research in traffic systems optimization to enable pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and motorised individual traffic getting from A to B more quickly, more safely and in a more environmentally friendly way – while at the same time ensuring that the entire transportation system continues to work in an optimal manner. This consideration of all traffic modes is the key to efficient mobility systems. Such complex research issues can be tackled with the business unit’s profound experience in the fields of traffic flow measurement, analysis, simulation and control. Data from different sensor sources are collected, analysed, modelled and integrated into complex simulation tools. This allows accurate predictions about travel times or capacity utilisation in order to guide people and traffic flows safely and efficiently – the aim being to balance the optimum of every traffic mode with the entire transportation system optimum.
- R&D in mobile information and positioning technologies. - Diploma thesis about mobile GPS data collection in urban areas
- Software Development in Java and VB and database solutions for different applications - Acquisition and management of small industry projects - Technical support for implementing base transceiver stations for Mobilkom Austria - Electrical installations at several industries (e.g. OMV, Hamburger Austria, LGV – Vienna) - Support of procurement department provided.