Completed Research Projects

ERAME

The ERAME project aims to develop a procedure supported by software tools that will help security authorities monitor and analyze extremist content on YouTube. The Freiburg sub-project includes the legal monitoring and evaluation of the project as well as the contribution of legal expertise to the development process.

 

Duration: 01.12.2020 - 31.11.2022
Project management at the CSS: Dr. Benjamin Rusteberg, Dr. Nicholas Eschenbruch
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

More information about the project  >>

 

 

Artificial Intelligence and Civil Security

Artificial Intelligence and Civil Security: A Study on the Effects of the Future Vision “Artificial Intelligence made in Germany” on applied security research

With its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, published in 2018 under the title "Artificial Intelligence made in Germany", the German Federal Government presents its idea of the future development and application of AI. The project analyses how this sociotechnical imaginary is constructed in political discourse and how it structures the field of applied security research in Germany.

 

Duration: 01.04.2020 - 31.03.2022
Project management: Dr. Jens Hälterlein
Support: Fritz Thyssen Foundation

 

TRESSPASS

TRESSPASS - robusT Risk basEd Screening and alert System for PASSengers and luggage

The goal of TRESSPASS is to develop, demonstrate and validate a single cohesive risk-based border management concept for air, maritime and land border crossing points. It follows an “ethics and data protection by design” approach.

The 42-month EU H2020 innovation action project will address border control tasks at regular border crossing points, such as customs and smuggling prevention, immigration control, police searches for suspects, as well as cross border crime and terrorism prevention. Under a newly developed single cohesive concept, related threats will be managed as risks tailored to the specific situational needs of individual border crossing points.
TRESSPASS does not address border crossings outside of regular border crossing points (e.g. by boat). Threats posed by state-actors are out of scope, as well.

Building on previous ethical research as part of the project XP-DITE, the role of the University of Freiburg’s Centre for Security and Society is to provide the basis and input needed to address ethical, legal and societal aspects from the start and throughout the design and development process, with a special focus on data protection needs. Furthermore, Freiburg also leads the tasks related to accompanying research ethics.

TRESSPASS is a strong European Consortium of 22 partners. It is coordinated by the Greek National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”. The project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 programme, Grant Agreement No. 787120.


Find more information on the project's homepage 

Duration: 01.06.2018 - 30.11.2021
Lead for the University of Freiburg contribution: PD Dr. Elisa Orrù
Support: EU Horizon 2020

 

HITD

Multimodal remote Detection of hidden potential Dangers in Security Checks

During the attacks in Paris and Brussels in recent years, terrorists used weapons and explosive vests in crowds aiming for killing as many people as possible. To prevent such attacks, it is necessary to identify the perpetrators from distance and stop them before they reach a crowd. This is not possible with current means.

The goal of the project is to develop an integrated and automated system for detecting weapons and bombs concealed on the body. A combination of terahertz wave technology, known from body scanners at airports, and other optical sensors will be integrated into a detector that can detect assassins or their weaponry. The system will be able to be used from a distance of up to 50 meters, allowing security personnel to intervene before the assassin becomes aware that they has been screened and detected.

Since the beginning of the project the technical side is supported by intensive accompanying legal research. Due to this measure obeying legal requirements will be ensured and no personal rights will be violated.

 

Duration: 01.09.2018 - 31.08.2021
Project management at the CSS: Prof. Dr. Walter Perron
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Scientific Assistence: Philipp Johner, Stefan Uhl

 

HITD

Multimodale Fernerkennung verborgener Gefahrenpotenziale in der Personenkontrolle

Bei den Anschlägen in Paris und Brüssel in den vergangenen Jahren wurden von Terroristen Waffen und Sprengstoffwesten in Menschenmengen eingesetzt, mit dem Ziel möglichst viele Personen zu töten. Um solchen Angriffen begegnen zu können, ist es erforderlich, die Täter bereits aus der Distanz zu identifizieren und sie zu stoppen, bevor sie eine dichte Menschenmenge erreichen. Das ist mit den derzeitigen Mitteln nicht möglich.

Das Ziel des Projekts ist die Entwicklung eines integrierten und automatisierten Systems zur Erkennung von am Körper versteckten Waffen und Bomben. Es soll eine Kombination aus Terahertzwellen-Technologie, bekannt aus Personenscannern am Flughafen, und anderen optischen Sensoren in einem Detektor integriert werden, der Attentäter bzw. deren Bewaffnung erkennen kann. Das System soll aus einer Distanz von bis zu 50 Metern eingesetzt werden können und dem Sicherheitspersonal ein Einschreiten ermöglichen, bevor dem Attentäter bewusst wird, dass er kontrolliert und erkannt wurde.

Dabei soll die technische Seite des Projekts von Beginn an durch intensive juristische Begleitforschung unterstützt werden. So soll sichergestellt werden, dass das System rechtlichen Ansprüchen genügt und insbesondere keine Persönlichkeitsrechte verletzt.

Laufzeit: 01.09.2018 - 31.08.2021
Projektleitung: Prof. Dr. Walter Perron
Förderer: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit: Philipp Johner, Stefan Uhl

 

SIKET

Evaluation and Development of Security Concepts for Railway Tunnels

Security concepts for railway tunnels – e.g. for fire safety, evacuation, rescue and fire-fighting operations - have so far been drawn up on the basis of individual expert opinions and experience. In contrast, SIKET focuses on research findings and a systematic approach. Taking into account both organisational and structural aspects, the aim of the project is to develop suggestions for improving security concepts on the basis of scientific analyses and simulations of escape systems as well as smoke distribution.

With a Sociology of Knowledge approach, the sociological subproject will record and model the forms and types of organisation and knowledge transmission among the participating rescue organizations. Role concepts for improving simulation environments and exercise scripts will be developed. Rescue exercises that will have been carried out in the project will be evaluated from a specific perspective: In view of the unavoidable artificiality of such exercises, criteria for determining their closeness to reality will be developed. Regarding the improvement of security concepts, criteria for determining security levels will be developed.

Find a more detailed project description here (only available in German)

Duration: 01.08.2018 - 31.07.2021
Project management: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Scientific Assistance: Sabine Blum, Markus Jenki

 

Security Research Dialogue

The Security Research Dialogue was set up in 2007 by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Since 01. August 2016, the “Supporting office to the Security Research Dialogue” has been located at the Center for Security and Society CSS.

The Office promotes the establishment and continuation of a network of researchers from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences in civil security research and promotes scientific excellence in this research field. This is achieved in particular by the conception and organization of events such as workshops, conferences and other public events as well as by the promotion of young academics. In all of these activities, the Supporting Office is committed to interdisciplinary dialogue and the development and integration of international and, in particular, EU security research.

Through the events and other impulses, the Security Research Dialogue contributes to the dynamic determination of the research needs in this field and also provides scientific debates to the interested public.

 

Find more information on the project's homepage

Duration: 01.08.2016 - 31.07.2021
Project management: Dr. Nicholas Eschenbruch
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Scientific Assistance: Sabrina Ellebrecht (until 02/2019), Dr. Björn Brömmelsiek

 

SERIOR

The Eucor universities, including the University of Freiburg, and the University of Koblenz and Landau, and further project partners intend to establish a trinational graduate academy on the topic of risk management and risk appraisal. A joint qualification program for junior researchers and a knowledge transfer program with businesses and political organizations will open up new research potential on the Upper Rhine. The EU will provide 1.8 million euros in funding for the project.

Duration: 01.01.2016 - 30.06.2019
Project management: Prof. Dr. Hans-Helmuth Gander
Support: EU Interreg

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RESIBES

“RESIBES – Resilience through networks of spontaneous volunteers for emergency and crisis response”, aims to support the establishing of a network of help and helpers. By the means of innovative and robust technological solutions, this network can be activated in a rapid and coordinated manner in cases of emergencies and crisis. Together with the German Red Cross Frankfurt am Main, who brings the perspectives of the user into the project, the task of the sociological sub-project is to identify the aid- and volunteer network.

Duration: 01.02.2016 - 30.04.2019
Project management: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

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RESILIENZMAßE

The project aims at developing  a systemic and systematic practical method to validate and compare different system designs concerning resilience.

Duration: 01.05.2015 - 30.09.2018
Project management: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Support: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and the state Baden-Württemberg

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NeTIRail

The multi-disciplinary, collaborative research project aims to better interlink the different agents within emergency medical services. For this purpose new audio-visual communication media such as data goggles are developed and tested. The sociological research project explores general effects on professional interactions by observing the use of similar communication media in different organisations. Moreover, the technical solution developed by project partners will be monitored and evaluated during two large-scale exercises. A triage study is also part of the project.

Duration: 01.06.2015 - 31.05.2018
Project management: Prof. Dr. Hans-Helmuth Gander
Support: EU Horizon 2020

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EVADEX

EVADEX's purpose is to set standards in the broad field outside aviation against threats deriving from explosion hazards or chemical accidents. The project is coordinated by Fraunhofer ICT and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. While André Biermann's remit includes investigations about societal aspects of detection technologies, Martina F. Biebert is concerned with the animal alternative: explosive detection dogs. The subproject's task is to formulate and correlate the very diversity of aspects and criteria evolving in questions of acceptance in particular societal realms.

Duration: 01.11.2014 - 31.10.2017
Project management: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

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XP-DITE

Having begun on 01. September 2012, the EU FP7 funded project XP-DITE (New integrated approach for airport security checkpoints) has been conducting research in the field of aviation security. Its main goal is to develop a new and balanced approach for the design and evaluation of airport checkpoints, which would not just meet growing security needs, but would balance these with operational demands as well as ethical and societal requirements.

Duration: 01.09.2012 - 31.12.2017
Project management: Prof. Dr. Hans-Helmuth Gander
Support: 7th EU-Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development

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KOMPASS

Mass rescue operations at sea hold several aggravating circumstances, for example difficult access for rescue workes, limited space aboard, limited means of transport and long distances. The management of such an incident requires the effective cooperation of various actors. The aim of the project KOMPASS is to design, elaborate and implement an integrative management system for patient care and rescue operations at sea, which consists of structural, organizational and technical measures. The solutions are developed in close cooperation with stake holders and end-users. They will be evaluated in several exercises based on realistic scenarios.

Duration: 01.09.2012 - 31.12.2017
Project management: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

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TeraSCREEN

TeraSCREEN develops an innovative concept of multi-frequency multi-mode Terahertz (THz) detection with new automatic detection and classification functionalities. The system developed demonstrates, at a live control point, the safe automatic detection and classification of objects concealed under clothing, whilst respecting privacy and increasing current throughput rates.  This innovative screening system combines multi-frequency images taken by passive and active imagers which scan the subjects and obtain complementary information, thus allowing for automatic threat recognition.

Duration: 01.05.2013 - 31.10.2017
Project management: Dr. Nicholas Eschenbruch
Support: EU FP-7

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AUDIME

The multi-disciplinary, collaborative research project aims to better interlink the different agents within emergency medical services. For this purpose new audio-visual communication media such as data goggles are developed and tested. The sociological research project explores general effects on professional interactions by observing the use of similar communication media in different organisations. Moreover, the technical solution developed by project partners will be monitored and evaluated during two large-scale exercises. A triage study is also part of the project.

Duration: 01.10.2014 - 30.09.2017
Project management: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

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ENCOUNTER

The ENCOUNTER project aims to assess current state of the art capability in both neutralisation of small scale IEDs and in mitigation of the effects of a detonated IED, leading to development of improved capability in both areas.

Duration: 01.09.2012 - 31.11.2016
Project management: Prof. Dr. Gisela Riescher
Support: 7th EU-Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development

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KORSE

The KORSE project work aims at the theoretical, doctrinal, and practical aspects of the advancing Europeanisation, internationalisation and globalisation of security law.  At the theoretical level, fundamental questions of a Europeanised security law will be dealt with. Firstly, this will concern fundamental normative questions on the balancing of security and freedom in a multilevel system of democratic orders, shaped by human rights, and questions on the relations between different ideas of security and the law. For example, the capacity of new key concepts in the security discourse, such as resilience, will be examined. Secondly, fundamental theoretical terms, such as threat or risk, will be developed in a European law context. Dealing with the fundamental normative and theoretical questions is a necessary condition for the complementary research of ethics, which is increasingly demanded and supported, also on the European level.

Duration: 01.12.2012 - 31.08.2016
Project management: Prof. Dr. Ralf Poscher
Support: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)

Further information >>