2011 St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences - Fachhochschule St ...

St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences 

Your partner for practice-oriented R&D activities 

2011

R&D at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences 

In the last few years, the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule 

St. Pölten) has successfully intensified its research and development activities, featuring 

internationally recognized top expertise and laboratory equipment. These areas will 

continue to be the focus of much energy in the future. 

The St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences 

emphasizes broad cooperation and scientific 

networking with national and international 

partner organizations. The early involvement 

of the students in research projects with 

enterprises is important to the St. Pölten 

University of Applied Sciences, enabling young 

scientists to gather experience. The state-ofthe-art 

infrastructure, featuring labs, a radio 

and TV studio, and audio rooms, provides the 

optimal premises for interdisciplinary research 

projects. 

In accordance with the breadth of the studies 

offered (especially in the departments of 

Technology, Economics, and Health and Social 

Studies), successful work has been carried out 

in the development of studies-related applied 

research competence and the construction 

of long-lasting Research, Development and 

Innovation (RDI) capacity. 

This brochure offers you insight into current 

projects of the research areas of 

n Simulation and 

n Railway Transport 

as well as the 

n Institute of Creative \ Media / Technologies, 

n Institute for Research in IT Security, 

n Institute of Media Economics, 

n Institute for Health Sciences, 

n Ilse Arlt Institute for Research on 

Social Inclusion. 


looks forward to working on projects with you, 

and warmly invites you to participate. 

For more information on the R&D projects, 

please go to: www.fhstp.ac.at/forschung/projekte/ 

Contact 

St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Matthias Corvinus-Straße 15, A-3100 St. Pölten 

T: +43/2742/313 228, F: +43/2742/313 228 - 339, E: research@fhstp.ac.at 

I: www.fhstp.ac.at/forschung

R&D projects 

http://www.fhstp.ac.at/forschung/institute_bereiche/ 

simulation/unsereprojekte 


simulation/unsereprojekte 

Tunable Microfluidic Chips for Isolating Circulating Cancer Cells 

Together with project partners from the areas 

of cancer research, magnetic nanotechnology 

and blood cleansing, the Simulation Team 

has developed a prototype for a kind of sieve 

to catch circulating tumor cells. The analysis 

of circulating tumor cells using lab-on-chip 

technology opens up new possibilities. For 

example, the growth of a tumor and the success 

of a treatment both can be observed. Compared 

with current microfluidic chips, the advantage 

of this method is in the option to adjust the 

microstructure of the chip in such a way as to 

maximize both its capacity and its sensitivity to 

the cells of a certain type of cancer. A tuneable 

chip can be used for cancer research and for 

the clinical treatment of cancer in the areas of 

detection, diagnosis and monitoring. 

Expensive rare earths are a necessary 

component of high-performance magnets. Their 

usage for this purpose can be optimized and 

thus reduced. 

In joint research projects with the University 

of California, Davis (USA) and the University 

of Sheffield (UK), computer models are 

being developed and employed for materials 

development to compensate for the projected 

shortage in rare metals and rare earths. Within 

these projects, the intention is to optimize highperformance 

magnets for hybrid cars. 


is a national research partner in the Vienna 

Computational Materials Laboratory (ViCoM), 

a collaborative research center for the 

development and application of computer-aided 

Project Management at the St. Poelten University of Applied 

Sciences 

FH-Prof. Univ. Prof. DI Dr. Thomas Schrefl, 

Research Area Simulation, 

E: thomas.schrefl@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

July 2010 – June 2012 

Project partners 

Austrian Institute of Technology, Health & 

Environment Department 

Danube University Krems, Center for 

Biomedical Technology 

Federal Clinical Center Krems, Hematological- 

Oncological Services 

Financing 

Life Science Krems GmbH 

Rare Earths – Simulation to Optimize the Use of Expensive Basic Materials 

methods to calculate the physical and chemical 

qualities of materials as precisely as possible. 

Within the Multiscale Simulations of Magnetic 

Nanostructures project, the St. Pölten University 

of Applied Sciences is using funding from the 

Austrian Science Fund to develop fast methods 

for calculating magnetic interactions. 

Project Management 

FH-Prof. Univ. Prof. DI Dr. Thomas Schrefl, 

Research Area Simulation, 

E: thomas.schrefl@fhstp.ac.at

R&D projects 


kompetenzfeld-schienenverkehr 

http://neviset.fhstp.ac.at 

Simulation of Electric Heating of Direct Current Overhead Contact Systems 

In short-range public transportation, direct 

current is frequently used for powering engines. 

In comparison with standard railways, the 

power supply and the output that is transferred 

are both lower. Additionally, the increased 

use of electronics makes the vehicles prone 

to frequent malfunctions. Ice can easily form 

where sections of track are exposed. These 

same sections can also suffer from insufficient 

power supply, which compounds the effects of 

the ice. Keeping direct current railways ice-free 

is therefore an important goal. 

Targets: Keeping overhead contact systems icefree 

using electricity is especially suitable for 

long sections of track, as within a short time, they 

can be de-iced with little personnel expenditure. 

A widely-used variant, which, however, has 

operational disadvantages, is de-icing using 

NeVisET – New Visions of Emerging Technologies 

The research project NeVisET is dedicated to 

the problem that currently, in the A/V area, 

media presence is an important factor for 

success, while at the same time there is a lack 

of TV programs featuring science, research 

and technology communication, especially for 

adolescent viewers. 

Targets: The project is therefore developing an 

audio and video media program for science and 

technology communication for an adolescent 

audience, while especially considering gender 

aspects. A key goal is the reprocessing and 

practical utilization of current theoretical 

foundations in the areas of gender, target group 

analysis and format development for media 

production. The added value of this research 

project thus consists of the practical testing 

targeted short circuits. A third method uses 

pulsed switches to limit the heat current. This 

variant is to be researched, compared with the 

short circuit method, and its usage simulated 

using a real network. The results will lead to 

conclusions about its applicability, operational 

effects, and benefit. 

Project Management/St. Poelten University of Applied Sciences 

DI Dr. Christian Fabian, Railway Transport 

Team, E: christian.fabian@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

March 2011 – current 

Project partner 

Andreas Randacher, Salzburg AG, (Traffic 

Division) 

Financing 

Salzburg AG, (Traffic Division) 

of current theories in the process of prototype 

development of an audio-visual media program 

for science and technology communication for an 

adolescent target group, as well as the prototype 

production of three pilot broadcasts. 


FH-Prof. DI Hannes Raffaseder, Institute of 

Creative \ Media / Technologies, 

E: hannes.raffaseder@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

September 2009 – December 2011 

Financing 

Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and 

Technology in the framework of the FEMtech 

programme.

R&D projects 

http://gemma.fhstp.ac.at 

http://icmt.fhstp.ac.at 

GeMMA – Generative Music for Media Applications 

Choosing suitable media music has become an 

increasingly difficult task. One central question 

of GeMMA (Generative Music for Media 

Applications) is how to intelligently transfer to 

the applied sector of media music the methods 

of algorithmic and generative composition that 

have been developed in the area of experimental 

new music. 

Targets: During the project, a software tool is 

being developed that will simplify the choice 

of media music through an optimized user 

interface and through targeted, up-to-date 

research on the categories, functions and effects 

of media music. It is still up to the producers 

to make important decisions, such as style, 

mood, orchestration, etc. Furthermore, (partly) 

automatized composing of media music is to 

be made possible, allowing it to be adapted to 

Education that teaches state-of-the-art 

technology in the area of renewable sources of 

energy, energy efficiency and energy systems is 

a pedagogical challenge. Especially in the field 

of renewable energy, it is extremely difficult to 

keep conventional teaching materials, such as 

books, up to date, as the technology is constantly 

changing and being developed further. 

Targets: This project aims at compiling additional 

didactic teaching and studying material based 

on new media in this area for vocational and 

similar high schools. In accordance with the 

concept of blended learning, the students play a 

part in the production of the teaching material – 

film clips, role plays and podcasts – while being 

supported by relevant experts. 

individual needs without a deep knowledge of 

music theory being required. 


FH-Prof. DI Hannes Raffaseder, Institute for 

Media Production, hannes.raffaseder@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

May 2009 – April 2012 

Financing 


Technology, Federal Ministry for Economy, 

Family and Youth, in the framework of the 

programme COIN Aufbau. 

Clip-it! – New Didactic Media in the Area of Renewable Sources of Energy and 

Energy Efficiency for Vocational and Similar High Schools 



Creative \ Media / Technologies, 


Duration 

January 2011 – January 2014 

Project partners 

energieautark consulting Ltd. (project 

management), AEE – Institute for Sustainable 

Technologies, Bioenergy 2020+ Ltd., 

Die Wiener Volkshochschulen Ltd., 

Sonnenplatz Großschönau Ltd., TB-Panic 

Financing 

Climate and energy funds of the New Energies 

2020 programme

R&D projects 

http://icmt.fhstp.ac.at 

http://www.fit-fuer-forschung.eu 

PITOTI – Digitalization and Presentation of Prehistoric Rock Art from Italy 

Prehistoric rock engravings are an important 

part of Europe’s cultural heritage. ‘Pitoti’, as the 

figures that our ancestors carved into rock are 

called, mainly occur in a high Alpine valley in 

Lombardy called Valcamonica, which has been 

designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage 

site. The preservation of these art works require 

special measures. As rock art is stationary, 

it cannot be transported at will. The high 

interest in these works of art exposes them to 

a constant stream of visitors, which endangers 

and destroys the delicate paintings. 

Targets: Archaeologists and media technology 

experts from Italy, Austria and England have 

been working at preserving the most precious 

examples of early art. Through state-of-the-art 

technology, the works of art are digitalized, thus 

making them permanently accessible to visitors 

European Researchers‘ Night 2011 

European Researchers’ Night is a coordinated, 

Europe-wide event in which researchers and 

scientists make their achievements come alive 

for the public in one night at around fifty locations 

in the member states of the EU. This science 

night takes place at the St. Pölten University 

of Applied Sciences, which was selected as 

the only location in Austria to participate. The 

slogan ‘FIT for research’ embraces research, 

art and lifestyle at the University of Applied 

Sciences. In this context, FIT means fitness 

as well as focus on research, innovation and 

technology The St. Pölten University of Applied 

Sciences metamorphoses into an intellectual 

fitness center where visitors find a wide range 

of diverse activities for body, mind and soul. 

The cooperation of the Archeology Museum of 

in exhibitions across the continent in the forms 

of film, animation and installation. 


Dr. Frederick Baker, B.A. (Hons) Sheffield, M.Phil., 

Ph.D. (Cambridge), Institute of Creative\ Media / 

Technologies, E: frederick.baker@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

May 2011 – April 2013 

Project Partners 

Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici, Capo di 

Ponte, Italy (project management), Museum 

of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of 

Cambridge, UK 

Financing 

European Commission Culture Programme 

(2007–2013) 

the world-renowned University of Cambridge, 

the Italian Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici 

and the Bauhaus University of Weimar enables 

a confrontation of prehistoric worlds with the 

virtual cyberspace of digital media. 



Creative \ Media / Technologies 


Duration 

April 2011 – October 2011 


PR&D GmbH 

Financing 

7th Research Framework Programme of the European 

Commission, program FP7-People-2011-Night

R&D projects 


institutfueritsicherheitsforschung 


institutfueritsicherheitsforschung 

Face-MOC – Facial Recognition Matching-On-Chip for biometric authentification 

with Smart Cards / HW Token 

Our information society lives on unmanipulated, 

authentic and confidential data. Today, user 

authentification is mostly done using passwords 

and PINs. In the future, for reasons of security, 

more and more biometric methods will be used. 

And for reasons of security and data protection, 

the storage and verification of biometric data 

directly on the chip of the smart card will become 

more important. For facial recognition, however, 

the problem of how to make a Matching-On-Chip 

(MOC, biometric pattern comparison directly on 

the chip of a smart card) has not been solved, 

mainly because of the chip cards‘ limited central 

memory and low computational power. 

Targets: During the project, a practical MOC 

solution for biometric facial recognition with 

StegIT – Research of Anti-Steganography Solutions 

Steganography is the science of transmitting and 

saving secret information in such a way that an 

outsider does not even perceive the existence 

of this information. Thus, there is great danger 

in the area of organized crime and industrial 

espionage. Due to the increasing distribution 

of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and the 

‘intelligence’ of mobile telephony, a drastic 

increase in steganography is to be expected in 

the future. 

Targets: In the project, concrete procedures 

and prototypes for defense against modern 

steganographic attacks via Voice over Internet 

Protocol (VoIP) are being industrially researched 

and developed. So that defensive measures can 

be tested and weaknesses can be optimally 

identified, this project deals also with concealed 

chip cards is to be researched and developed, so 

that the user‘s data on the chip of his/her smart 

card is protected and cannot be read. For saving 

the most important innovations, an European 

patent was registered. 


FH-Prof. Univ.-Doz. DI Dr. Ernst Piller, Institute for 

Research in IT Security, ernst.piller@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

June 2009 – July 2011 

Financing 


Technology, Federal Ministry for Economy, 

Family and Youth, in the framework of the 

programme COIN Aufbau 

data transmission in VoIP and data storage 

using steganographic methods. 

The next step is to improve these defense 

measures with the so called steg-analyis and 

with a safety evaluation. 


FH-Prof. Univ.-Doz. DI Dr. Ernst Piller, Institute for 

Research in IT Security, ernst.piller@fhstp.ac.att 

Duration 

January 2009 – current 

Financing 


Technology in the framework of the KIRAS PL3 

programme.

R&D projects 


institutfuermedienwirtschaft 


institutfuermedienwirtschaft 

IT-induced changes in publishing houses 

Increasing digitalization has changed the 

structure of the products of media enterprises, 

leading to changes in performance processes and 

financing processes as well as in the instruments 

for company management. For example, when 

content is created at one point and then used 

repeatedly in different media, the way that prices 

are calculated for that content has to change. 

The introduction of content management 

systems leads to different production processes; 

digitalizing products results in altered cost 

structures and new requirements for the 

calculation of cost and profit. 

Target: To identify and systematize changes in 

publishing houses and to propose design ideas 

for required changes. As a first step, based 

on a framework of theoretical analysis and 

taking into consideration two case studies, 

The media industry is characterized by what has 

been called a double market: on the one hand, 

media products such as newspapers and TV 

programs convey information and entertainment 

for the recipients, and on the other, they offer 

advertisers access to their target groups and 

help communicate advertising messages. 

Between the advertising customers and the 

media enterprises, there are intermediaries 

who market spots and time slots for advertising 

messages, thus bringing together demanders 

(advertising customers) and providers (media 

enterprises). In contrast to other countries with 

strong media, the Austrian marketers’ market 

is not transparent concerning its number of 

research has been conducted to determine 

what change processes are triggered when 

content management systems are introduced 

in professional media enterprises – and how 

publishing houses deal with them. 


Priv.-Doz. Dr. Svenja Hagenhoff, Institute for 

Media Economics, E: svenja.hagenhoff@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

June 2010 – current 


Deutscher Ärzte-Verlag GmbH, Schlütersche 

Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Verein 

Deutsche Fachpresse, Deutsche Post 

Verlagsservices 

Financing 

Project partners and proprietorial financing 

Analysis of the Structure of the Markets for People who Market Advertising Space and 

Advertising Time in the Media Categories of TV, Radio, Print, Internet, and Posters in Austria 

participants and the size of the values involved. 

This project, therefore, aims at comprehending 

and analyzing the structure of this market. 


Mag. (FH) Johanna Grüblbauer, Institute for 

Media Economics, 

E: johanna.grueblbauer@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

February 2011 – July 2011 

Project Partner 

Puls 4 

Financing 

Puls 4

R&D projects 


gesundheitswissenschaften 

http://www.fhstp.ac.at/fhstp/forschung/institute_bereiche/ 

gesundheitswissenschaften 

St. Pölten on a Healthy Path 

Under the slogan ‘St. Pölten on a healthy path’, 

new trails in the areas of health and health 

promotion will be explored. In close cooperation 

with the city of St. Pölten, the Institute for 

Health Sciences is establishing projects for 

health promotion and preventative medicine for 

St. Pölten’s population, its enterprises and its 

institutions. One of the targets of this project is 

to obtain scientifically-based statements about 

how heath-promoting behavior on the part of 

individuals can be supported and promoted by 

the city government of an Austrian state capital. 

The multi-dimensional projects essentially aim 

at the whole of the population, but are offered 

on various intervention levels and for specific 

target groups. 

Diabetes Risk Screening In Adolescents 

In a worldwide development, diabetes mellitus 

type 2 has been transforming from a disease 

of the elderly into a disease striking people 

in their first half of life, and is by far the most 

frequent consequence of obesity. Today, one 

of the big challenges in the health sector is the 

implementation of effective strategies for the 

prevention of type 2 diabetes in public and private 

health care. For this, it is necessary to identify 

people with an increased risk for the disease as 

early and inexpensively as possible. 

Targets: World Diabetes Day (WDD) is an 

opportunity to call adolescents‘ attention to 

diabetes as a widespread disease. The target of 

the project is to assess the prevalence of diabetesthreatened 

adolescents in the St. Poelten area 

while simultaneously directing their attention 


FH-Prof. Barbara Schmid, MSc, Institute for 

Health Sciences 

Duration 

January 2010 – December 2012 

Project Partner and Financing 

Municipal Administration of St. Pölten 

to preventive possibilities. Furthermore, based 

on FINDRISK – Risiko-Fragebogen DIABETES, 

a scientifically-based screening tool is to be 

developed for adolescents. 


Daniela Wewerka-Kreimel, MBA, Institute for 

Health Sciences, 

E: daniela.wewerka-kreimel@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

January 2009 – December 2014 


Health Administration of the City St. Pölten, 

Federal Vocational School St. Pölten, High 

School Englische Fräulein St. Pölten, as well as 

other high schools and vocational schools in 

St. Pölten.

R&D projects 

http://www.fhstp.ac.at/studienangebot/bachelor/pt/projekte 

http://www.fhstp.ac.at/studienangebot/bachelor/pt/projekte/ 

music-enhanced-training 

Research in Physical Therapy 

Researchers from the degree programm 

Physiotherapy investigate new types of problems 

in numerous projects on behalf of small and 

medium-sized enterprises. A support program 

called Innovationsscheck, financed by the Federal 

Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology 

(BMVIT) and the Federal Ministry of Economy, 

Family and Youth (BMWFJ), facilitates access to 

ongoing research and innovation activities for 

small and medium-sized businesses. 

In a project with Martin Daxböck Ltd., an 

innovative and novel health care concept for geriatric 

patients who are leg amputees is being developed for 

the area of central Lower Austria, considering 

the quality of patient care as well as health 

economics. 

Based on the problem of how to use shoes with 

Music Enhanced Training 

Especially in cyclical endurance sports such as 

running and cycling, asynchronous music can 

negatively influence the motion rhythm, thus 

possibly resulting in a disadvantage in keeping 

up the heart frequency desired. Assuming 

that the rhythm of the body’s motion can be 

actively influenced by the rhythm of music, this 

interdisciplinary project uses music as a steering 

measure in endurance sport. 

Target: The concept is to support runners through 

the intelligent choice and manipulation of 

music from their private music library during 

their training in an individual way, and enable 

them to maintain the optimal running speed, as 

determined by heartbeat and by a previouslyentered 

training target. A music-based feedback 

system for mobile phones and smart phones could 

unstable soles in the area of physical therapy 

strength training for the lower extremities, a 

scientific concept is being developed on behalf 

of the physical therapist Roman Erdösi that 

explains choices and types of strength exercises 

using unstable soles. 

In a project commissioned by the company 

Sport Christian, a concept for science-based training 

of coordination and balance is being developed and 

evaluated, using the balance pad as sports 

equipment. 

Project Management and Project Team 

FH-Prof. Mag. Astrid Figl-Hertlein, PT, degree 

programme Physiotherapy, 

E: astrid.figl@fhstp.ac.at; Kerstin Lampel, PT, 

Romana Bichler, PT, Mag. Brian Horsak 

sustainably contribute to motivating people to 

become involved in sports, while increasing the 

quality of each training unit. 


FH Prof. DI Hannes Raffaseder, Institute of 

Creative\ Media / Technologies 


FH-Prof. Mag. Astrid Figl-Hertlein, PT, 

degree programme Physiotherapy, 

E: astrid.figl@fhstp.ac.at 


Interdisciplinary project of the Institute of 

Creative \ Media / Technologies and the degree 

programme Physiotherapy

R&D projects 


ilsearltinstitut 


ilsearltinstitut 

Development of an Information Platform with Didactic Videos to Support Relatives 

of the Sick and Elderly as they Give Care 

Most people want to be cared for at home in 

familiar surroundings. But family members 

often lack sufficient knowledge how to turn care 

into the best practice possible. In this context, 

forms of training supported by information and 

communication technology, including didactic 

videos, could provide support. 

Targets: The aim of this pilot project is to develop 

a prototype for an information platform. For this, 

relevant material has been developed according 

to topics chosen, processed with the support 

of information and communication technology, 

and provided on the internet for use. The 

didactic videos graphically show special care 

methods; users can access them according to 

their needs. 

Network Empowerment in Labor-Market Projects 

The Family Group Conference is a process that 

has strongly increased in importance over the 

last few years. Developed in New Zealand to 

help services planning and decision-making in 

situations where a child’s welfare is in jeopardy, 

it has spread to other countries and social work 

fields. The focus of this process is on developing 

solutions in a gathering of the extended family. 

This activates the resources of the social network 

and prioritizes autonomy and participation. The 

best practice examples so far demonstrate the 

success and sustainability of the process. 

Targets: To improve the integration of individuals 

outside the labor market into their first 

employment and to support networking. This 

project is intended to be evaluated and its 

procedure adapted in a feasability study for use 


FH Prof. DI Hannes Raffaseder, Institute of 

Creative\ Media / Technologies 


FH-Prof. Dr. Tom Schmid, Ilse Arlt Institute for 

Research on Social Inclusion, 

E: tom.schmid@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

July 2011 – April 2012 

Projekt partner 

Interdisciplinary project between the Ilse Arlt 

Institute for Research on Social Inclusion, and the 

Institute for Media Production 

Financing 

Lower Austrian State Academy 

in a labor-market context, targeting recipients 

of need-oriented guaranteed minimum income. 

Furthermore, a training concept is to be 

developed and tried in a pilot project. 


FH-Prof. DSA Mag. (FH) Christine Haselbacher, 

Ilse Arlt Institute for Research on Social Inclusion, 

E: christine.haselbacher@fhstp.ac.at 

Duration 

June 2011 – March 2013 

Project Partner 

Office of the Lower Austrian State Government 

Financing 

Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and 

Consumer Protection (BMASK) and European 

Social Fund (ESF)

St. Poelten University of Applied Sciences 

Matthias Corvinus-Straße 15, A-3100 St. Pölten 

T: +43/2742/313 228, F: +43/2742/313 228 - 339 

E: office@fhstp.ac.at, I: www.fhstp.ac.at 

Photos: Foto-Kraus, FH Archiv, Rita Newman, Fotostudio Vodicka

2011 St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences - Fachhochschule St ...

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