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The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology will be exhibiting at the Vienna Construction Congress at the Austria Center Vienna on 23 and 24 April 2026, with a booth at stands 79 and 80. The exhibition will showcase the latest research and technology solutions for the construction and infrastructure sectors. The focus will be on approaches that enable data-driven assessment and monitoring of structures, allow for more targeted planning of maintenance measures, and simultaneously open up new perspectives for decarbonisation, resource efficiency and energy integration.
Research with a tangible impact
Through its presence at the Construction Congress, AIT is showcasing the breadth of its application-oriented research addressing key challenges in the construction sector. On display will be technologies for the realistic measurement of traffic loads, innovative monitoring methods for bridges and infrastructure structures, as well as solutions from the energy sector that support sustainable construction and the transformation of existing systems. In doing so, AIT covers the spectrum from structural condition assessment and digital analysis tools to new concepts for the energy-efficient use and circular planning of buildings.
“In times of climate change and dwindling resources, innovation is playing an increasingly important role. This begins with increasing the resilience of our infrastructure and extends to the sustainability and recyclability of energy and raw materials. As Austria’s largest non-university research institution, AIT is a guarantor for the development of new solutions. Conferences such as the Construction Congress provide an important platform for presenting ideas and driving forward networking and cooperation. Because one thing is clear: ideas alone are not enough; it is also about scaling up innovations,” explains Peter Hanke, Minister for Innovation and Infrastructure.
“At AIT, we develop solutions with a tangible impact on the infrastructure of tomorrow, particularly through data-driven infrastructure monitoring and innovations that enable informed decisions throughout the entire lifecycle and unlock new potential for resource efficiency. “The Construction Congress is an important platform for raising awareness of this mission and driving the transfer of research into practical application in a targeted manner,” says Andreas Kugi, Scientific Director of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology.
Data-driven solutions for infrastructure
In the field of infrastructure, the focus is on several technological approaches that enable a more precise assessment of the condition of structures and more efficient planning of maintenance measures. The presentation covers methods for load model calibration under real traffic loads, distributed fibre-optic sensor technology for high-resolution and continuous structural monitoring, motion amplification for the non-contact analysis of minute movements and vibrations, and satellite-based monitoring for observing large-scale changes in infrastructure networks. These solutions provide structure-specific data for verification, condition assessment and maintenance, thereby creating a sound basis for the safe, economical and long-term operation of infrastructure. At the same time, they demonstrate how the intelligent combination of measurement data, digital analysis methods and an understanding of physical systems enables robust decisions to be made regarding the maintenance, refurbishment and further development of structures.
Focus on energy, circularity and buildings
This focus is complemented by approaches aimed at the sustainable transformation of the construction and infrastructure sector. As part of the 2026 Construction Congress, the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology will present three innovative approaches for the sustainable transformation of the construction and infrastructure sector: The Circularity Quick Assessment Tool (CirQA) is a digital instrument that enables an integrated assessment of circularity and environmental impacts as early as the initial design phases, thereby supporting well-informed planning decisions. The Heat Tunnel Power project unlocks new potential for sustainable energy generation from existing tunnel infrastructure and demonstrates how geothermal resources can be systematically harnessed for heating and electricity applications. In addition, AIT demonstrates its expertise in thermal building simulation, which allows for the precise analysis and optimisation of energy efficiency, comfort and operational behaviour of buildings throughout their entire life cycle. Together, these solutions address key challenges relating to decarbonisation, resource efficiency and system integration in the construction sector.
Real-world load models for bridge design verification
AIT is also represented in the conference programme: Alois Vorwagner will speak on the topic of “Real-world load models for bridge design verification”. His presentation focuses on how real, site- and structure-specific traffic data can be used to perform realistic bridge calculations, objectively assess safety and plan maintenance measures more efficiently. Results from projects such as REALLAST show that, compared to standard loads, potential savings of 20 to 50 per cent are possible without reducing the safety level. The presentation thus highlights the great potential of data-based methods for assessing existing infrastructure in a more cost-effective yet reliable manner.
The presentation at the Vienna Construction Congress 2026 underscores AIT’s interdisciplinary approach to the future challenges of construction – from resilient infrastructure and digital monitoring and assessment methods to energy, the circular economy and sustainable system integration. At stands 79 and 80, AIT offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the latest research findings, technological developments and specific fields of application first-hand, and to engage in professional discussions with the experts.
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Baukongress 2026