Development of an integrative cable car concept for the town of Mücheln (Geiseltal) - "Coal2Cable"

Scientists from Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences (THI) and Merseburg University of Applied Sciences are working together with practice partner FMS Future Mobility Solutions GmbH on a simulation-based optimization of local public transport for the town of Mücheln (Geiseltal). A cable railway over the Geiseltalsee plays a central role in this.

The mobility of the future? This is what the cable car across the lake could look like (Graphic: THI).

The former brown coal town of Mücheln (Geiseltal), 60 kilometers west of Leipzig, is transforming. To cushion the decline in economic growth, it is focusing on strengthening the areas of digitalization and mobility. With the help of the partners mentioned above, an intermodal mobility concept with a cable car is to be developed and tested for feasibility.

In the town of Mücheln (Geiseltal), the project is being supported by the local building authority and the town council. The THI is participating with the AImotion Bavaria Institute as part of the research professorship for Intermodal Mobility and Artificial Intelligence. The Department of Social Work, Media and Culture at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences (Saxony-Anhalt) will also take on research activities. FMS GmbH from Gaimersheim will support the project from a technical perspective with its specially developed simulation software "VirtualCity@FMS".

In the project "Simulation-based optimization of local public transport in the town of Mücheln (Geiseltal) through an intermodal and integrative suburban cable car concept across the Geiseltalsee - Coal2Cable", the framework conditions for a cable car are to be developed by January 2027. The focus here is on simulation-based optimization using artificial intelligence (research by THI). Specifically, it is about recording, collecting, and utilizing data in the context of mobility. The aim is also to create jobs and thus increase acceptance of the project. As part of the project, FMS GmbH is creating traffic simulations based on the data and Merseburg University of Applied Sciences is conducting accompanying empirical studies on acceptance among the population. A recommendation for action for the town of Mücheln (Geiseltal) is to be derived from the results.

The official kick-off event for the Coal2Cable project will take place on 8 May 2024 in the town of Mücheln (Geiseltal) and in digital form. The project consortium will present the planned project content, especially the topics of data reference and innovation content, to representatives of the specialist public from politics, business, and citizens and discuss them together. 

The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) with a total of 1,084,734 euros through the mFUND innovation initiative. With the mFUND, the BMDV has been supporting research and development projects relating to data-based digital innovations for Mobility 4.0 since 2016. The BMDV also supports municipalities and municipal transport companies in the realization of urban cable car projects. Further information can be found at: www.mfund.de and www.bmdv.bund.de

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