Control Center of the Future: Workshop on Technical Supervision in Autonomous PT

Who will monitor the shuttles of tomorrow? At the LVB’s depot Angerbrücke, experts from the fields of research, practical application, and professional training came together to discuss this topic.

As a part of the ABSOLUT II project, Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe invited partners to a workshop on Technical Supervision at the Angerbrücke depot. The aim was to jointly discuss and validate a competence matrix developed by Technische Universität Dresden (Institute for Vocational Education and Vocational Didactics) based on expert interviews.
The competence matrix systematically describes the tasks, requirements and competence areas of the new Technical Supervision role making it a key instrument for the future qualification of staff in automated public transport.

The Right Expertise in the Room

The workshop brought together representatives from precisely those fields that matter for implementing autonomous driving in public transport operations. The ABSOLUT II project management team, control centre staff, and HR, training and development colleagues from LVB; Technische Universität Dresden; BitCtrl Systems GmbH; the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM); the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV); and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).

Expert Input as the Foundation

Before the actual workshop, participants took a guided tour of the LVB traffic control centre, followed by five presentations that set the shared frame of reference:
- Manuel Meyer (LVB) introduced the ABSOLUT II project and the strategy approach. 
- Timon Plass (IKEM) outlined the legal framework of the AFGBV. 
- Tobias Scheuer (BitCtrl) presented the Technical Supervision software and workplace. 
- Jan Brandstetter (VDV) shared results from the VDV working group on roles and staffing. 
- Johanna Telieps (BIBB) provided insights into the responsibilities and structures of vocational education and training.

Workshop: Assessing Competences Together

At the heart of the workshop was a holistic review of the competences required for the Technical Supervision role. Across four dimensions knowledge, skills, social competence and autonomy the individual requirements were discussed, assessed and assigned to the appropriate levels of the German Qualifications Framework (DQR).
The result: a validated foundation to build on for developing concrete qualification programmes, defining recruitment profiles, and shaping future training pathways in autonomous public transport.

Why This Workshop Mattered

Autonomous driving in public transport is not purely a technical question. It requires people who can professionally take on new responsibilities and structures that make their qualification possible. The workshop demonstrated what becomes possible when the right actors from technology, law, operations and vocational education come together: a shared understanding of the competences that the mobility of tomorrow will need.