Department of Computer Science
Computer science is the driver of digital transformation in society. We offer practical training for a secure and multifaceted career.
Research at the department of Computer Science
Research at the department of Computer Science is application- and practice-oriented. The range of research topics is broad: It includes topics in image processing, computer graphics, business process control, computation of people's paths, IT security as well as biomedical, mobile and automotive computing next to smart home & living.
The wide range of research projects shows how manifold and fascinating the field of computer science is. This is also experienced by our students, who are involved in these projects, and by the scientific staff, who continue their qualification after their studies.
A complete list of all research projects of the department of Computer Science is availble on the homepage of the Research Department.
To the list of reaseach projects (in German)
Following, we present two research institutes in which members of the department of Computer Science are involved, as well as additional research activities.
Two research institutes
Since its foundation in 2008, the Institute of Optical Systems at HTWG Konstanz has been working on a representative cross-section of current optical technologies.
The focus is on the system concept, which requires thematic coverage of all areas and components important in the industrial environment.
The goal of the institute is to be a competent point of contact regarding all system components. Applications outside of optical systems are also considered. The following topics are covered:
- Lighting technology
- Optical measurement technology
- Image and geometry processing
- Computer graphics
- Computer vision
- Machine learning and AI
- Mathematical modeling and simulation
The research focus of the IOS at HTWG Konstanz has emerged as one of three focal points in the area of research and teaching across the faculties of Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Electrical and Information Engineering.
Constance Institute of Process Control - Konstanzer Institut für Prozesssteuerung (kips)
The targeted control of business processes is one of the central management tasks of a company or institution. This control can take place at various organizational levels:
- Governance: Who has the decision-making rights for the process?
- Strategy: How should the process be designed for long-term usage?
- Operational control: Which key figures are in the focus? What are the deviations from the target?
- Execution: How is the implementation to be coordinated?
- Implementation: How can the process respectively process step be supported by IT?
Experience in corporate practice shows that the integration of various control systems on different levels provide significant added value.This is where kips comes in and links these levels in an integrated model and a corresponding toolset.
Within the framework of application-oriented research at kips, guidelines, instruments and tools are being developed that make this integration feasible in operational applications.
This research activity creates added value for the cooperating companies and institutions. They can learn about and use innovative process control methods at an early stage. In addition, students also participate in the work of the institute: they learn how theory relates to business practice in the context of exciting projects.
Additional research activities
Calculating flows of people
eFlow - software tool for calculating flows of people and associated spread of infectious diseases
In the eFlow project, headed by Prof. Dr. Rebekka Axthelm, the spread of infectious diseases is modeled and numerically calculated as a function of room design and associated movement pattern of people.
Focus
- partial differential equations
- Finite element methods
- SIR modelling
In a pandemic situation, it becomes apparent that protective measures are unavoidable but extremely restrictive to our daily lives and economies. In most cases, there is a lack of knowledge to determine an optimal level of restrictions. The question arises whether measures could be reduced if optimal space design can be used to reduce the probability of spreading an infectious disease. The modeling is based on partial differential equations whose solutions are calculated using a finite element method.
The aim of the project is to develop a software tool that can be used to simulate the flow of people in rooms and the associated probability of infection with various infectious diseases. Users have the possibility to test different room designs for occurrences of high densities of people or infection rates.
IT security
Research on IT security at the department of Computer Science is situated in the Lab for IT Security.
Focus
- Secure software development
- Protection against malware
- reliable cloud applications
- proactive IT forensics
Our research on improving training for the development of secure software also serves to further develop teaching for lectures regarding IT security within the bachelor and master programs. In research projects we cooperate with companies from the region. Our work is supported by an endowed professorship from the Auerbach Foundation (German homepage).
Ubiqitous Computing Lab (UC-Lab)
The Ubiquitous Computing Lab (UC-Lab), headed by Prof. Dr. Ralf Seepold, focuses its research and development on four areas:
- Biomedical computing
- Mobile computing
- Automotive computing
- Smart Home & Living
The area of biomedical computing investigates issues for a self-determined and healthy life that are relevant and important within a modern society. Algorithms and special hardware are developed to support solutions and prototypically prove their performance. The topics of sleep medicine and stress management are exemplary research topics, which are explored e.g. with doctorates.
Mobile computing continuously offers new innovations as part of embedded systems or smartphones. The detection, acquisition and pre-processing of environmental and also personal parameters are in the spotlight of research, which is often hardware and software oriented. Approches include external parameters, such as a location, and personal ones, such as the heartbeat in a body-area network.
Automotive computing investigates issues in the field of automotive software engineering and in the simulation of the behavior of a vehicle using the virtual car simulator, which is being further developed in the laboratory.
Smart Home & Living focuses on the field of assisted living. This topic, which has been accelerated in particular by demographic change, has become a technology transfer service. The lab's work is developed and tested in the Ecolar house - therefore the Ecolar house somehow became the Living Lab of the Ubiquitous Computing Lab. The lab develops new innovations but also prototypical applications that go far beyond the field of Smart Home. A significant contribution is made to a barrier-free access to new technologies.
to the Ubiquitous Computing Lab (UC-Lab)
IT infrastructure: laboratories, pc pools, software
The department of Computer Science offers various contemporarily equipped laboratories and pc pools including up to date software for different topics.