Research Centre for Digital Labs & Production
The Research Centre for Digital Labs & Production connects people, spaces and processes in the life sciences. From mixed-reality digital twins via progressive web applications to machine-to-machine interfaces, we connect physical and digital worlds through data and analytics.
About us
The centre combines specific methodological and technological expertise in the digitization and virtualization of laboratories, processes and production facilities in the life sciences. This includes, on the one hand, the networking of devices, processes and people using interfaces, data pipelines and data management and, on the other hand, the mapping of physical systems and infrastructures to models and simulation environments. Digital twins are a good example of how these topics interact.
Three research groups are active in this field.
Simulation & Optimization
Strategic, tactical and operational process optimization using modelling and simulation tools are the focus of the research group. This includes the modelling and simulation of the dynamics of heterogeneous, complex systems as well as the investigation, optimization and control of their behaviour.
Group leader: Prof. Dr. Lukas Hollenstein | Learn more about the research group Simulation & Optimization
Data Management & Visualization
The research group specializes in the development of systems for data aggregation, transformation and management. Processing pipelines are designed and implemented to take data from their sources (e.g. graphic user interfaces, wearable sensors, measuring probes) through preparation steps (incl. quality control and homogenization) to storage solutions, analysis and visualization of results and insights.
Group leader: Dr. Robert Vorburger | Learn more about the research group Data Management & Visualization
Edge Computing & Interfaces
The research group combines dynamic physical structures with digital environments using sensor, actuators, and edge computing. The group supports automation and decentralized intelligent data processing in the life sciences by connecting people, machines, and contexts.
Group leader: Dr. Christian Glahn
Teaching Activites
The centre offers courses at BSc and MSc level in the fundamentals of data science, in mathematical and physical modelling (with a focus on simulation-based process optimization), in data management (with a focus on database technologies and visualization), and in physical computing (sensors and actuators) as well as cloud and edge computing.
The specialization Digital Labs & Production of the BSc ADLS is coordinated by this centre and corresponding Bachelor and Master theses are offered.
- Bachelor of Science (ZHAW) in Applied Computational Life Sciences
- Master of Science in Life Sciences - Specialisation Applied Computational Life Sciences
In addition, the centre is involved in programs and activities in the field of science education beyond the university level and offers continuing education courses.
Projects
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Digital Twin for Production Planning and Control in Variant-Rich Series Production (TwinPlan)
Digital Innovation to Improve On-Time Delivery: Schmid Elektronik AG faces the challenge of improving on-time delivery despite a high product variety and customer-specific small series. To address these challenges, the company is implementing a digital planning twin designed to accurately forecast…
completed, 05/2024 - 10/2024
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AWACS – Animal Welfare Assessment and Control System for Fish Farms
Urban Blue offers software solutions for land-based aquaculture farms, which include technical and operational aspects. With this innovation project, fish-based aspects are developed to complete the software. This way Urban Blue can provide a comprehensive farm management system that incorporated…
completed, 12/2021 - 08/2024
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Predictive Analytics for Hospital Supply Chain Management
Preliminary/feasibility study for a comprehensive AI-based solution in hospitals for / demand-oriented assortment and efficient inventory Management / ordering with a focus on security of supply and cost Efficiency / planning of reprocessing / planning of personnel deployment / cost and income…
completed, 03/2021 - 02/2022
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Designing Business Models for the IoT
This project aims at developing a business model simulation software for evaluating IoT business models. The holistic approach leverages advanced simulation methods and will create new revenue opportunities for Swiss manufacturing companies.
completed, 01/2021 - 07/2022
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Smart Learning Spaces for Students
completed, 01/2021 - 12/2022
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Dynamik Knowledge Platform
completed, 10/2020 - 12/2021
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Cocoa in Numbers – from data to knowledge
Nowadays consumers of cocoa and chocolate products are not only interested in safe high-quality products but also in products which are sustainable and produced under fair ecological and social conditions. The demand for transparency of information on the condition of cultivation, production and…
completed, 07/2020 - 07/2021
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Development of a web-based food frequency questionnaire
The aim of this study is to develop a web-based food frequency questionnaire (eFFQ-CH), using the menuCH photo book and the framework of a food frequency questionnaire developed at ZHAW Wädenswil (the ZHAW FFQ). The development work will follow a unique approach based on the results of the menuCH…
completed, 07/2020 - 01/2024
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Softscope
Digitalisation of fluorescence microscopy towards qualitative and quantitative structure elucidation
completed, 02/2020 - 11/2020
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Ecological Engineering Living Lab: Insights into the lab of Ecological Engineering
In Ecological Engineering, the processes in nature serve as a model for developing new technologies. As in a natural ecosystem, where nutrients and water circulate, the researchers at ZHAW are developing closed-loop systems that function according to the same principle. The aim is to save resources…
completed, 01/2020 - 12/2021
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Sustainable Food Chain Model: Life Cycle Assessment of Food Products, Food Value Chains, and Food Waste
The value of the food wasted today as food waste in retail and the food industry in Switzerland can be estimated at over 1 billion francs and pollutes the environment with around 10 trillion ecopoints, which corresponds to half of motorized private transport. The federal government is currently…
completed, 06/2019 - 12/2021
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Digitisation in the outdoor facilities of Campus Grüental
Plant Search App
completed, 01/2019 - 12/2022
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3D chemistry - platform and app for classroom use and teaching - digitalization
e-learning
completed, 11/2018 - 11/2019
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Facility Management compensation and industry study 2019
Longitudinal study on the compensation of specialists and executives in the Facility Management market in Switzerland, as well as their influencing factors on behalf of the industry association fmpro. It is designed as a quantitatively online survey for the targeted 1,000 participants in the form of…
completed, 10/2018 - 12/2020
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Eco Missions
Escape Rooms and Outdoor Missions are booming: Electronic scavenger hunts, foxtrails, geocaching, or mobile phone trails are a popular leisure activity among young families or young people. Our new "Eco Missions" offer is designed to do justice to these new leisure activities. In an eco mission, the…
completed, 09/2018 - 12/2021
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The Coffee Blockchain – From Field to Cup
Strengthen transparency and trust in the agro-food business with distributed ledger technology
completed, 08/2018 - 12/2021
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Simulation & Optimization needs HPC
The simulation and optimization is predestined for high performance computing (HPC). Many computing operations are necessary and huge amounts of data are being generated. The requirements have also increased in recent years as the models become more complex. In addition, simulation-based…
completed, 11/2017 - 12/2019
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Mobile tool for the evaluation of forest edges - Digital Transformation
Mobile Valuation Key implemented as mobile app
completed, 10/2017 - 06/2020
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Positive selection detection of genome from Ralstonia bacterium
completed, 09/2017 - 04/2018
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Longitudinal progression of White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH)
According to the latest figures from Alzheimer Switzerland, there are currently 48,242 women and 15,711 men aged 85 years and older living with dementia in Switzerland. So-called White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH), which can be measured in MRI images of the brains white matter, are distinct…
completed, 04/2017 - 06/2017
Publications
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Glüge, Stefan; Pomati, Francesco; Albert, Carlo; Kauf, Peter; Ott, Thomas,
2014.
The challenge of clustering flow cytometry data from phytoplankton in Lakes[paper].
In:
Mladenov, V.M.; Ivanov, P.C., eds.,
Nonlinear Dynamics of Electronic Systems 22nd International Conference, NDES 2014, Albena, Bulgaria, July 4-6, 2014. Proceedings.
NDES 2014, 22nd Nonlinear Dynamics of Electronic Systems Conference, Albena, Bulgaria, 4-6 July 2014.
Cham:
Springer.
pp. 379-386.
Communications in Computer and Information Science ; 438.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08672-9_45
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Hofer, Susanne; Brombach, Christine; Kauf, Peter,
2014.
Verpflegungsmanagement im Spital als Schnittstellenaufgabe.
Transfer.
2014(1), pp. 3.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-5015
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Burkhard, Marcel,
2013.
In:
Produktions- & Bedarfsplanung für die Lebensmittelindustrie, Langenthal, 13. März 2013.
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Burkhard, Marcel,
2012.
Faszination Simulation : Referat.
In:
20 Jahre Simulation an der Hochschule in Wädenswil, Wädenswil, 27. September 2012.
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Starostina, Tatiana; Lötscher, Adrian,
2011.
Simulation des Messezentrums Beaulieu Lausanne.
Transfer.
2011(3), pp. 7.
Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-22271