Low-infection mobility: indoor air measurement in autonomous vehicles

Since January 1, 2021, "SURAAA" has also been part of the "EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program". As part of the "SHOW" ("SHared automation Operating models for Worldwide adoption") project, the use of electrified, networked and automated fleets in passenger transport and logistics in (peri-)urban areas throughout Europe is being tested. The aim is to optimize fleets for regular operation and enable new business models. The overarching goal is to minimize traffic emissions such as CO₂ and noise through the use of new vehicle and mobility-related technologies.

A total of 69 project partners from 13 EU countries and ten other nations are involved in "SHOW", with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), the research service provider ERTICO, the city network Eurocities and others acting as consortium leaders. In addition to the "Mobility as a Service" and "Logistics as a Service" use cases, the "COVID-19 Use Case" - where DURAG GROUP products are used - will be available until the end of the project on September 30.

The idea behind the "SURAAA" project follows the objectives of the European Union, which sees the mobility of the future as a combination of autonomous driving in conjunction with local public transport. Automated electric minibuses will be used, which will travel driverless on the roads. One starting point is the worsening shortage of drivers in local public transport, which plays a central role in European mobility.

In addition, 40 percent of car journeys in Austria are shorter than 2.5 kilometers. It has been proven that cars are often only driven for half an hour a day and are parked for the remaining 23.5 hours, taking up valuable urban space. "This is where we come in with automated driving. We want to make an intelligent contribution to the mobility of the future," says Prutej. This is to be achieved through the test program, which was awarded the title of Austria's most innovative mobility solution by the Ministry of Transport two years ago.

The project trial is taking place in Klagenfurt, but it all began in 2017 in Pörtschach am Wörthersee, where the headquarters of PDCP GmbH are located. Since then, "SURAAA" has been testing and developing the use of electrified, automated vehicles in public transport in cooperation with partners such as the federal state of Carinthia. "We had a complex route there until the beginning of 2024," says Prutej. "Now it was time to take the next step, which is why we were looking for a route with five traffic lights, a traffic circle, a highway connection and a train station. For the next phase of the project, we needed mobility hubs, a large work, education and living space. All of this is available in Klagenfurt-West, the fastest-growing conurbation in Austria, which is also very popular with tourists because of Lake Wörthersee."

Another Austrian premiere is taking place there: an automated fleet is on the road for the first time. Three cars are taking on different routes in parallel in an autonomous fleet that is also integrated into the public transport system as a hybrid. "We will soon also be offering on-demand transport via an app," explains Prutej. 

The application example in which the aerosol measurements are carried out using GRIMM AEROSOL TECHNIK products concerns the testing of low-infection passenger transportation in public, autonomous means of transport. In addition to contactless driving, the focus is on disinfected surfaces and breathing air, with various approaches and methods being tested. Aerosol measurement in the passenger compartment is an important component for testing the necessity and effectiveness of highly efficient filter systems (HEPA) in automated shuttles.

Walter Prutej summarizes: "In the 'SHOW' project, we have the task of simulating how public transport can function safely, contactlessly and, ideally, germ-free in the event of a pandemic." In a follow-up project, says Prutej, system packages could be jointly developed in order to be prepared in the event of a new pandemic. Action could then be taken relatively quickly and suitable air purification devices could be installed in buses, trains or planes.