University of Hamburg - to research, to teach, to educate and form, to homepage
Information Systems, Socio-Technical Systems Design (WISTS)

Photo: WISTS Team

Research

Current Projects

Jurisdiction Support for Refugees through Thoughtful Software

Current Situation

Many refugees and migrants in Germany face significant challenges when they want to exercise their right to reside, study, or settle in the country. The German legal system is complex, and many advisory services are overburdened, expensive, or only available in a limited number of languages. Volunteer initiatives such as the Refugee Law Clinic Hamburg do valuable work in this area but quickly reach their limits due to limited resources and a lack of technical support.

Objective of the Project

The aim of JuST (Jurisdiction Support for Refugees through Thoughtful Software) is to develop a data protection-compliant, multilingual software prototype that facilitates easier access to legal advice for refugees and supports them in exercising their rights. The focus is on key areas of application, including studying, obtaining residence permits, and preventing deportations. JuST aims to provide both advisors and those seeking help with innovative, AI-supported assistance, thereby relieving valuable resources through targeted automation – whether in direct counseling sessions or digital self-service, available around the clock.

JuST combines modern approaches from legal tech research and current AI-based language processing. At its core is a multilingual dialogue platform based on open-source large language models (including Llama) in combination with a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system architecture. Users receive well-founded information about their options in their native language, are guided through complex legal decision-making processes, and can generate pre-filled application forms directly – naturally in compliance with the highest data protection standards.

Participation of the WISTS group

The Informations Systems, Social-Technical System Design (WISTS) group is responsible for the system architecture, development, and evaluation of the prototype. The Refugee Law Clinic Hamburg is directly involved as a practice partner, providing its legal expertise in requirements analysis, validation of legal content, and evaluation.

Funded Partners

  • University of Hamburg, MIN Faculty — Department of Business Informatics, Socio-Technical System Design
  • Refugee Law Clinic Hamburg
  • Other practice partners from the Law Clinics network

Project Details

  • Duration: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
  • Project management: Prof. Dr. Eva Bittner, Marten Borchers
  • Funding: Calls for Transfer (Hamburg Innovation GmbH)

RESCUE-MATE

Current Situation

The creation of a digital twin with the continuous integration of real-time data is a crucial step in today's interconnected world. This process involves the collection, integration, and interpretation of real-time data from various established data sources, including information from rescue functions, environmental sensors, and traffic sensors. These data sources are merged into a comprehensive situational overview, serving as an orientation and assessment basis for emergency responders and decision-makers. Furthermore, social media data and information from reconnaissance drone flights are also integrated into this digital twin. This enables an even more precise and comprehensive representation of the current situation. These diverse data sources ensure that the digital twin is always up to date, providing valuable support to those who must make quick and well-informed decisions in emergency situations.

Objective of the Project

Within the scope of the research project Rescue-Mate, the challenge of situational awareness and optimization of information flows in the security scenario of a storm surge in Hamburg is investigated. This challenge arises against the backdrop of rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, and a growing number of residents who need to be evacuated and provided for in disaster situations. The involved stakeholders in this scenario include authorities and downstream entities such as the fire department, police, the port staff, and various relief organizations. They urgently require a shared situational overview for mission planning and real-time information on the current status. This is particularly relevant in disaster situations such as a storm surge, which involves aspects such as drowning individuals, drifting ships, and road closures. The geographic focus is on the Hamburg harbor and the neighborhoods of Wilhelmsburg and Hafencity, as these areas are particularly affected and have a high number of potentially vulnerable residents. The urgency of this project is underscored by increasing population figures, the vulnerability of specific neighborhoods, higher storm surge levels, and outdated analog information and communication flows. Currently, there is a lack of digital processing of real-time data that would enable a comprehensive situational assessment.

The solution lies in the creation of a shared data platform for all participating stakeholders. This platform allows the inclusion, analysis, and consolidation of sensor data such as water levels and traffic flows, as well as social media content and information from drone-based aerial reconnaissance. The main objective of this project is to minimize risks for emergency responders, facilitate the evacuation and care of citizens, enable tailored mission planning, and ensure the efficient utilization of available resources.

Within the project, the AG WISTS is responsible for the area of citizen engagement and is in charge of developing the Rescue-Mate app. This app is designed to proactively facilitate the collection of data from hazard areas and support decision-making both preventively and during crises, thus enhancing the situational overview.

Funded Partners

  • Universität Hamburg (UHH)
    • Arbeitsgruppe Wirtschaftsinformatik, Sozio-Technische Systemgestaltung (WISTS)
    • Arbeitsgruppe Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
    • Arbeitsgruppe Rechnernetze (NET)
    • House of Computing and Data Science (HCDS)
  • Behörde für Inneres und Sport (BIS)
  • Absolute Software (AS)
  • Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk (THW)
  • Eurocommand (EC)
  • HafenCity Universität (HCU)
  • Hamburg Port Authority (HPA)
  • Hanseatic Aviation Solution GmbH (HAS)
  • Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (HAW)
  • Hamburger Informatik Technologie-Center (HITeC)
  • Landesbetrieb Straßen, Brücken und Gewässer (LSBG)

Associated Partners

  • Artificial Intelligence Center (ARIC)
  • Bezirksamt Hamburg-Mitte
  • Bundesrettungshundestaffel Hamburg & Harburg e.V (RHS)
  • Deutsche Telekom AG (DTAG)
  • Deutsche Lebensrettungsgesellschaft (DLRG)
  • Deutsche Rote Kreuz (DRK)
  • Esri Deutschland GmbH
  • Freiwillige Feuerwehr Pinneberg
  • Hamburg Aviation
  • Innovations Kontaktstelle Hamburg (IKS)
  • Landesbetrieb Geoinformation und Vermessung (LGV)
  • Lufthansa Industry Solutions (LHIND)
  • NMS New Mobility Solutions Hamburg GmbH
  • Stadtreinigung Hamburg
  • UAM-InnoRegion-SH

Project Details

  • Duration: 01.10.2023 – 30.09.2027
  • Project Management: Behörde für Inneres und Sport (BIS)
  • Project Website: https://www.rescue-mate.de/
  • Funding: The SifoLIFE funding initiative is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the German government's "Research for Civil Security" program (funding codes 13N15596 and 13N15597).