Civil security research cooperation between German and Austrian project partners
Austria and Germany afford equally high importance to research and development in the field of civil security. The close cultural ties and not least the very similar structure and content of the two national security research programmes offer major potential for cross-border, joint solutions. The aim of the cooperation between Germany and Austria is to strengthen national security in both countries and security in Europe. During the first stage of this cooperation, joint research is being undertaken to contribute to protection against organised crime.
Ongoing joint projects:
WAKE: Migration-related knowledge management for civil protection of the future
Funding codes 13N14748 bis 13N14752
For many aid organisations in the field of civil protection, the refugee situation of 2015/2016 was one of the largest operations they had ever had to handle. During it, they acquired new knowledge through lessons learned as well as adapting their previous knowledge and processes to the specific requirements facing them. This knowledge needs to be systematically merged, structured and processed in order to preserve it and make it transferable to other scenarios in the future. The aim of WAKE is to develop and implement a knowledge-management solution that integrates all levels, authorities and organisations. As part of an ongoing process, this will result in civil protection practice that learns systematically, constantly adapts to new challenges and thus helps improve civil security in disaster situations.
WAKE project outline (PDF, only available in German)
Completed joint projects:
AMBOS: Defence against unmanned aerial vehicles for authorities and organisations with security roles
Funding codes 13N14269 to 13N14273
As yet, there is no effective means of defence against drones being used for terrorist activity. The bilateral German-Austrian project AMBOS will create a system for anti-drone defence in defined security zones. The intention is that it will detect approaching drones, analyse their threat potential and develop effective defence measures. The aim is that the system will facilitate early identification of unmanned aerial vehicles and targeted intervention.
AMBOS project outline (pdf) (only available in German)
Bitcrime: Prosecution and prevention of organised financial crime using virtual currencies
Funding codes 13N13505, 13N13506 and 13N13508
Virtual currencies are traded directly between those who use them, independently of central banks, governments and commercial banks. Since there is no body to supervise their use, these new currencies can also be used in international organised crime. New solutions are required, both to regulate the market and to detect and prosecute criminal financial transactions. The bilateral German-Austrian project Bitcrime aimed to explore these issues and produce concrete ideas for regulation as well as possible solutions for preventing and prosecuting crime.
More information (only available in German)
DROK: Organised crime between virtual and real-world drug trafficking
Funding project outline 13N13496 to 13N13499
International drug trafficking takes place at the person-to-person level and via the internet but little is known about either market. The bilateral German-Austrian project DROK examined both forms of distribution. The German part of the project focused on organised crime on the traditional black market for drugs. The Austrian part looked at online drug trafficking. The project’s findings were supplied to the authorities responsible for investigation and prosecution. It was also possible to issue recommendations on how consumers can reduce the risks posed by these types of crime.
More information (only available in German)
FLORIDA: Flexible, semi-automated video forensics system for the analysis of mass video data
Funding codes 13N14250 to 13N14256
As shown by the terror attacks in Nice, Paris and Boston, investigators need to be able to evaluate heterogeneous video and image data related to the scene as quickly as possible if they are to achieve swift success. At the moment, they do not have analytical systems that would allow them to do that. This bilateral German-Austrian project created a system for visual and auditory analysis of mass image and video data. The aim was to make it possible to reconstruct the sequence of events more quickly and spot potential suspects promptly.
FLORIDA project outline (pdf) (only available in German)
INSPECT: Organised financial crime – methodical analyses of cash, data and knowledge flows
Funding codes 13N13470 to 13N13475
Recently, there has been a spate of cases of data theft in financial transactions. It is anticipated that the damage caused will have an impact on the national economy. Against this backdrop, this joint research project analysed responses to organised financial crime so as to improve the success rate in solving such crimes and to identify new methods of prevention. The team also examined how insider knowledge is spread. The intention was to provide the investigative authorities with a system for detecting, understanding and solving organised financial crime.
More information (only available in German)
PRIMSA: Prevention of and intervention in sex trafficking
Funding codes 13N13517 to 13N13521
Sex trafficking is a serious criminal offence and a fundamental violation of its victims’ human rights. Since the victims are subject to extreme intimidation, this type of human trafficking poses a particular challenge for legal systems and aid organisations. The partners on the PRISMA project were developing measures to support investigations, strategies for improving the help offered to victims plus new training courses for investigators, social workers and psychosocial professionals. The team was also working on a mobile device, with which investigators can determine whether a victim is underage.
More information (only available in German)
Securestamp: Application of intelligent, integrated print, encryption and sensor technology to protect printed media against forgery
Funding codes 13N13581 to 13N13584
Forged transport tickets cause losses running into the millions. They are produced using real ticket paper, stolen from ticket machines, which is then printed on using commercially available thermal printers. Current security features are built into the paper. The partners on the Securestamp project were conducting research into a new printing technique, in which the security features are not applied until the ticket is actually produced. Suitable inks and pigments were being developed on the project, as is a sensor system for detecting the pattern and allowing mobile checking. The new uniqueness of the patterns made it easier to trace tickets and to prosecute those involved.
More information (only available in German)