Research and Projects

As an innovative partner, OpenTerra contributes to the development of forward-looking solutions in urban ecology by participating in research initiatives with leading institutions.

Our Projects

Through its partnerships with leading institutions, OpenTerra brings together innovative ideas and cutting-edge technologies to develop groundbreaking solutions for the urban ecosystems of the future. This collaboration is essential for developing tailored strategies that not only address the challenges of climate change but also improve the quality of life in urban areas.

Project HEART: 4D – Digital Twin for Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Climate Resilience

HEART is developing a 4D digital twin to mitigate urban heat islands and enhance climate resilience. The project combines geodata, UAV and multispectral imagery, AI-supported point cloud processing, weather data, and IoT measurements with modeling of evapotranspiration from green roofs. The goal is to provide a robust basis for decision-making regarding urban cooling strategies in South Tyrol.

Project Details

Project duration: January 2026 – December 2028
Total cost: €475,153.79
EU funding: €388,735.49
Cohesion Italy 2021–2027 Funding Program: Alto Adige / South Tyrol

Project Orchestra: Innovation in Water Management

Orchestra presents an innovative approach to water management that has the potential to transform how cities address the challenges of climate change and shape a more sustainable future.

Climate change calls for innovative solutions in water management

Climate change, as a global challenge that significantly shapes our environment, society, and economy, underscores the need to find innovative solutions for managing our natural resources. Extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, highlight the urgency of this need. This is where the “Orchestra” project comes in, aiming to revolutionize rainwater management through the use of green technologies and digital twins.

Orchestra: A technological revolution in rainwater management

Orchestra aims to optimize rainwater management by integrating IoT technology, monitoring systems, and artificial intelligence. The project covers the entire water cycle—from innovative retention systems such as green roofs to urban wastewater systems. The goal is to develop a connected and intelligent system that enables sustainable management of water resources while ensuring the protection of urban areas.

ORCHESTRAHub: The central platform for sustainable water management

A key component of “Orchestra” is the development of the “ORCHESTRAHub” platform, which enables comprehensive data analysis and visualization. This provides a holistic view of the stormwater cycle and ensures efficient management and optimization of water resources in urban areas.

Project Details

Project Name: EFRE 1014 ORCHESTRA – Open Smart Technologies for Sustainable Water Management
Budget: €945,656.40, with a grant of €628,890.24
Funding Program: ERDF Regional Program 2021–2027 for the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol
Partners: Fraunhofer Italia Research Scarl, Systems S.r.l., ClimaGrün S.r.l., Photogram GmbH, Ingena S.r.l., SEAB S.p.A.

Project NaiS: Sustainable Smart Renovation

The NaiS research project focuses on combining sustainability and smart technology in the renovation industry. By leveraging AI technologies, NaiS aims to consolidate data from various sources in order to objectively evaluate and optimize renovation measures.

OpenTerra, an associate partner of KIT

Key aspects of the project

Objective: To use AI to link various data sources for the evaluation and optimization of renovation measures on a digital platform.
Funding: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, May 2023 – April 2026, winner of the “GreenTech” innovation competition.

Research Areas

Digitalization: Using AI to digitize hard-to-capture information from existing buildings.
Exchange Platform: Development of a platform based on open standards for information exchange and the exploitation of synergies.
Analytical Tools: Development of intelligent tools for analyzing and optimizing sustainability in renovation projects.

Research Questions

Digitization and machine learning for the integration and processing of inventory data.
Enrichment of digitized data for comprehensive planning purposes.
Use of digitized data for energy efficiency and sustainability analyses.
Integration of sustainability factors into the exchange platform.
Identifying synergies through data integration.
Development of an exchange platform as a foundation for digital sustainability tools.

Technological advances

Development of an AI model for digitizing floor plans by the KSRI.
Future development of a 3D model through the combination of image processing techniques and AI predictions.

Project Details

consortium

KIT: Led by the Institute for Technology and Management in Construction (TMB), with a research focus on construction process optimization and sustainability.
IAI: Specializing in data modeling and openBIM.
KSRI: Focus on AI and human-machine collaboration.
DGNB GmbH: Expertise in sustainable construction and online platforms.
CAALA GmbH: Specializing in life cycle assessments for climate-neutral buildings.
Concular GmbH: Promoting circular construction.
iisys Research Group: Legal consulting, specializing in EU data protection law.
Ed. Züblin AG and STRABAG PFS: Contributing practical experience from construction and renovation projects.

Future plans

To further develop the project, market-oriented implementation strategies are planned, which will be carried out using design thinking tools and interactive events such as roundtables and a blog. NaiS invites all interested parties to participate, ask questions, or offer suggestions so that we can shape the future of smart renovation together.

Olaia Academy Project: A Continuing Education Platform for Urban Planning

The "Olaia Academy" project is developing a digital training platform for climate-focused urban planning. It provides practical knowledge on stormwater management, green roofs, and urban biodiversity—featuring expert content, multimedia resources, and opportunities for collaboration among planners, local governments, and environmental professionals.

Public Funding – “Olaia Academy” Project

In 2024, Climagrün SRL received a grant under Provincial Law No. 14 of December 13, 2006. The “Olaia Academy” project was supported as part of the innovation promotion program of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – Office for Innovation and Technology.

Key Information

Grant Decree: No. 19714/2024 dated November 12, 2024
File No.: 71.06.2024.00648
CUP: B57H24004090001
Total expenses (approved):€39,000
Approved grant:€25,350
– of which€14,742is for2024
– and€10,608is for2025
Funding rate:65%
Legal basis: Exemption under Article 25 of the AGVO

Brief description of the innovation project

The funded project focuses on establishing the Olaia Academy —a digital continuing education platform for climate-focused urban planning. The goal is to make practical knowledge on topics such as stormwater management, green roofs, and urban biodiversity accessible. The platform offers specialized content, multimedia resources, and opportunities for exchange among planners, local governments, and environmental experts.

This publication is made in accordance with the transparency requirements set forth in Article 1, paragraphs 125–129 of Act No. 124/2017.

Project: Ecological Impact of Green Roofs: Innovation Consulting

The “Innovation Consulting – Ecological Impact of Urban Greenery” project is developing digital tools to assess urban vegetation. The goal is to quantify the benefits in terms of climate adaptation, air quality, CO₂ sequestration, and biodiversity—as a basis for new planning services in urban areas.

Public Funding – Project: “Innovation Consulting – The Ecological Impact of Green Roofs”

In 2025, OpenTerra GmbH received a grant under Provincial Law No. 14 of December 13, 2006. The project “Innovation Consulting – Ecological Impact of Green Roofs” was approved as part of the innovation support program administered by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – Office for Innovation and Technology.

Key Information

Grant Decree: No. 10712/2025 dated June 26, 2025
File No.: 71.06.2025.00325
CUP: B57H25001660001
Total expenses (approved): €65,000
Approved grant: €42,250
Funding rate: 65%
Legal basis: Exemption pursuant to Provincial Law No. 14/2006, as amended

Brief description of the innovation project

The funded project focuses on the technically sound further development of the simILP simulation platform to include digital modules for capturing and evaluating the ecological impacts of green roofs. The goal is to present urban vegetation in a quantifiable and standards-compliant manner with regard to its contributions to climate adaptation, air quality improvement, CO₂ sequestration, biodiversity, and mental well-being.

The project establishes the methodological and technical foundation for new digital services in urban and open-space planning. The consulting work is carried out in collaboration with international experts (including Fraunhofer Italia, Landa Industries, and Ontano Engineering) and is coordinated by OpenTerra.

Publication pursuant to Article 1, Sections 125–129 of Act No. 124/2017
This publication is intended to comply with the legal transparency requirements for public funding.