RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ŽILINA - 2nd PHASE
Project title:
Research centre of the University of Žilina - 2nd Phase
Project designation in ITMS2014+:
313011D011
Place of implementation:
Žilina, Vysoké Tatry
Requester:
Unviersity of Žilina
Operational program:
Research and Innovations
Priority axis:
PO 1 Support of research, development and innovations
Investing priority:
1.1 Enhancing research and innovation infrastructure and capacity to develop excellence in research and innovation and promoting centres of excellence, in particular such centres of European interest
Specific goal:
1.1.3 Increase research activity by improving the coordination and consolidation of the R&D potential of research institutions
Notice code:
OPVaI-VA/DP/2016/1.1.3-02
Total Eligible Expenditure for the Implementation of the Project Activities::
1 578 152.47 EUR (non-refundable 1 499 244.85 EUR)
Total project duration::
25 months
Beginning of the project implementation::
12/2015
End of project implementation::
12/2017
Main activities
activity 1.3 Purchase and commissioning of necessary research instruments and equipment and VC equipment
The main objective of the activity is to retrofit the VC of the University of Žilina with state-of-the-art equipment and subsequent pilot operation of the technical infrastructure necessary for the intended research and development and streamlining of scientific activities. Without adequate modern technology and equipment, it is not possible to carry out cutting-edge research and development in the VC ŽU at an adequate international level.
activity 2.1 Creation of an incubator for potential spin-off and start-up projects The aim of the activity will be to raise awareness for the creation of new innovative companies within the Research Centre of the University of Žilina and in other organizational units of the applicant (the University of Žilina), as well as to identify potential applications of the achieved results of research and development and to ensure their implementation through the creation of prospective spin-off/start-up projects.
activity 3.1 Research and development in the field of monitoring and evaluation of the state of transport infrastructure The global objective of the activity is to develop methods and tools based on R&D in the field of monitoring the state of transport infrastructure and the application of information systems in the administration and management of investments in transport infrastructure, that will generate sustainable societal benefits by increasing the efficiency of transport road investments (new projects and road repair and maintenance projects with a focus on road transport) and by increasing the safety of the transport road through the established research infrastructure for the diagnosis and evaluation of variable and non-variable parameters of the transport road, together with the development of management models to increase transport safety (reduction of accidents and breakdowns). This will then be translated into the creation of a regional databank for the needs of regional governments with potential use for other road managers. This means to develop an objective system for the evaluation of variable and non-variable parameters of the major components of the transport road, which will be used to define decision-making processes for the maintenance strategy and rehabilitation of the basic elements of the transport road in order to objectify the allocation of funds, whether at the level of the VUC as the owner and manager of Class II and III roads (where the situation is critical), or of the SSC as the manager of Class I roads and of the NDS as the owner and manager of the network of motorways and expressways. To this end, it also pursues the design, research and development and verification of the application of new methods, whether for the elimination of road degradation due to the driving of overloaded trucks, or new methods of diagnosis and evaluation of variable and non-variable pavement parameters, diagnosis of ground structure failures and methods of their remediation and repair. All areas addressed in the activity are linked to the evaluation of the financial complexity and economic efficiency of their application in comparison with existing methods. The aim is to complete the research workplace of a complex integrated system of monitoring and evaluation of the condition of transport infrastructure and applications of information systems in the administration and management of investments in transport infrastructure, including the verification of the effectiveness of the application of methods of rehabilitation and repair and maintenance of faults.
This objective will be implemented through the following sub-objectives:
- Creation of a system of diagnostic infrastructure and methodologies for automated collection and objective evaluation of variable and non-variable parameters of the transport road and their degradation models in order to predict the development of technical parameters of the transport road in order to ensure the safety and continuity of road traffic while minimizing costs throughout the life cycle of the transport road. (Life cycle cost analyses).
- Development of a system to minimize road pavement degradation from heavy freight traffic:
- Analysis of the utilization of pre-selected roadways and implementation of sensors for WIM (Weighing In Motion) and completion of information infrastructure along the selected roadway.
- Establishment and creation of a control centre and supporting software for data collection and evaluation.
- Development and optimisation of new types of bridge (bridge-road) transition structures in order to eliminate their degradation due to the effects of traffic loads
- Development of a methodology and comprehensive tools for assessing the economic efficiency of investments in transport infrastructure, with emphasis on assessing the efficiency of investments in the construction, management and operation of the road and motorway network, taking into account their durability, reliability, safety and user characteristics, and the further development of calculation programs that are used by road network managers at all levels in assessing the economic efficiency of investments in road and motorway infrastructure.
Development and validation of the application of new diagnostic methods and monitoring the state of transport infrastructure. The aim is to verify the possibilities of use and R&D in the field of application of new methods and tools for diagnosing and monitoring variable and non-variable parameters of the road using the 3 D scanning method in monitoring and assessing the condition of the transport infrastructure, or in assessing the roughness of the road surface, the use of GPR technology in assessing the bearing capacity and residual life of the road, the development of recognition software for automatic monitoring and evaluation of the condition of the road surface in terms of defects (potholes, cracks.... ) assessment of damage to transport infrastructure due to natural disasters or traffic accidents, use of the TDR method in monitoring and evaluation of the stability of the ground structures of the transport road, design, development and verification of the effectiveness of the application of new methods of rehabilitation of transport infrastructure defects, etc. R&D was also carried out in the field of development of an open system of digital sensors for complex diagnostics of transport structures. The aim is to complement the complex monitoring system by automatic data collection on the condition and behaviour of traffic structures such as bridges, footbridges, etc., to enable their interconnection and evaluation in terms of the most significant influencing factors. All sensors have a single MODBUS-compatible communication protocol and RS485 interface. They are fed over a communication cable, which allows a significant number of sensors to be connected over a length of several hundred metres. The system will include autonomous modules for measuring inclinations, deformations, meteorological data (temperature, humidity, illumination, solar radiation, atmospheric pressure), vibrations and mechanical stresses.
activity 3.2 Research into advanced materials for road construction and vehicle manufacturing
Establishment of a facility for defining environmental aggressiveness, surface and volume degradation verification of modern and conventional materials for roadways and transportation vehicles. The workplace creates conditions for the study and determination of degradation processes, creation and verification of real degradation models in simulated aggressive conditions as well as in real conditions throughout the Slovak Republic. The aim is to provide infrastructure and personnel for experimental determination of durability, prediction of durability of structures and equipment and evaluation methodology for specific applications required by practice or research and development of new materials and technologies. The developed workplace is to further create a background for the design of surface treatments and corrosion protection of road and vehicle structures in real conditions of technical practice.
Implementation of pilot research in the field of corrosion load mapping within the Slovak Republic, design of corrosion degradation models, types and methods of protection of modern and conventional materials against degradation by passive and active corrosion protection, verification of the effectiveness of surface protection (coatings and layers) in specific locations and applications, and development of technologies for repair and reconstruction of corrosion-affected structural elements and equipment.
To create conditions for the implementation of medium- and long-term tests for the assessment of material degradation in real conditions and their correlation with the results of accelerated tests in laboratory conditions. The aim is to propose a methodology for assessing the suitability of materials and corrosion protection systems for real conditions by accelerated test methods on both conventional and unique equipment.
activity 3.3 R&D in the field of design, construction and management of intelligent buildings and renewable energy The aim of the activity is to carry out research and development in the field of:
- modern low-energy constructions and technologies in the construction of buildings - modern concept of energy self-sufficient buildings;
- efficient conversion of primary energy from renewable energy sources (RES) into heat, with an emphasis on reducing the emission load on the environment;
- efficient use of RES for heat and electricity, with emphasis on reducing the emission burden on the environment;
- energy sources of the future with a focus on "Green Energy";
- optimisation of the operation management of smart buildings.
The aim of the activity is to build a research infrastructure that will allow cutting-edge applied research to be carried out. The following research sites are established:
- Research unit on Advanced Low Energy Structures and Technologies for Building Construction.
- A research unit for the conversion of renewable energy sources (RES) into heat.
- Research unit on the use of RES for heat and electricity.
activity 3.4 Establishment and operation of the Regional Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer and Popularisation of Science.
The main objective of the activity is to popularize the results of R&D of the University of Žilina in relation to the professional and lay public in order to transfer knowledge into practice and to attract potential customers for R&D activities of the University of Žilina at national and international level. The role of the RCTPT is also to identify potential applications of the achieved results of research and development, to ensure their transfer into practice and to build a system for the effective commercialization of the R&D outputs. The Regional Centre is also to ensure the transfer of knowledge and technology by coordinating the work of the employees of the University of Žilina on the preparation of new, induced R&D projects.