During the excursion week, Prof. Dr Hardy Lehmkühler accompanied students from the third to seventh semesters to the Vorarlberg region. The aim was to demonstrate various professional fields of surveying and geoinformatics using interesting examples. The destinations were the instrument manufacturer Leica, the Illwerke pumped storage facilities and the Rhine stabilisation project near Lustenau. Bregenz was explored and hiking was part of the supporting programme.
We were given a vivid demonstration of the power of water in the impressive Illwerke pumped storage plant, which is currently the largest of its kind. Here, the altitude of the mountains is utilised to store and recover energy. Some of these plants have been in operation for a long time and are still being expanded. In addition to the technical facilities, the challenges in the field of engineering surveying, which are necessary for the construction and safe operation of the Illwerke, became clear.
The rainy weather did not prevent the group from enjoying the leisure programme in addition to the thematic programme. The shared accommodation in separate quarters encouraged mutual exchange across the semesters. The leisure facilities - music system, billiards, table tennis and basketball - were explored in high spirits.
The excursion was sponsored by the DVW German Society for Geodesy, Geoinformation and Land Development and the Friends of the University association, for which we would like to express our sincere thanks!