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Dieses TATuP-Thema präsentiert erste Perspektiven, Indiziensammlungen und Diskussionsbeiträge zum Themenfeld des automatisierten Fahrens, das seit einigen Jahren ein wichtiger Gegenstand der Mobilitätsforschung geworden ist. Auch wenn in der Öffentlichkeit weiterhin verbreitet Skepsis hinsichtlich der technischen und organisatorischen Reife herrscht, dominiert in der Fachwelt die Erwartung, dass hochoder vollautomatisierte Fahrzeuge in absehbarer Zeit zugelassen werden. Aber wird sich die Automatisierung des Straßenverkehrs als Fluch oder als Segen für Konzepte nachhaltiger Mobilität erweisen? Die Technikfolgenabschätzung (TA) sieht sich dabei mit einem für die Disziplin nicht untypischen Dilemma konfrontiert: Einerseits lässt sich angesichts der vielen Unwägbarkeiten noch wenig Belastbares über mögliche Technikfolgen sagen. Andererseits hat die Technologie erhebliches Transformationspotenzial, sodass ein "rechtzeitiges" Gestalten ihrer Entwicklung gesellschaftlich wünschenswert scheint.

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate and discuss how stakeholder assessment of scenarios can be used to trigger a structured and, therefore, more efficient debate amongst stakeholders about future options for achieving a more eco-efficient transport system in Europe. Particularly, it wants to explore the extent to which a distinction between the desirability and the feasibility of a potential future development can render such debates more rational and transparent.Design/methodology/approach– The paper is based on a project on eco-efficient transport for the Science and Technology Option Assessment panel of the European Parliament (STOA). Key elements of the methods used in the STOA project were easily understandable scenarios and a survey of the main assumptions underlying the scenarios. Both the scenarios and the survey were used in a stakeholder workshop to assess the desirability and the feasibility of approaches towards establishing a more eco-efficient transport system.Findings– The methodological approach proved helpful for collecting a large amount of valuable information in a relative short time. In particular, the distinction between desirability and feasibility was useful in mapping out the patterns of opinion amongst stakeholders and for understanding where there is common ground, where there are differences and what the reasons behind these differences are. It helped in identifying promising pathways towards more eco-efficient transport futures and in getting a better understanding of barriers and of the ways to overcome them.Practical implications– The approach served as the basis for having a well-structured, rational and, thus, efficient debate. In practice, this factor is relevant because stakeholder involvement is crucial when it comes to transitions of socio-technical systems, such as the transport system. Keeping stakeholders motivated to take part in such participatory processes is only possible, however, if they perceive that these processes are well-structured and, therefore, efficient.Originality/value– In contrast to many other scenario-based approaches, the scenarios in this project were understood as an input to the discussion and not as the result of a process. Furthermore, not only the results but also the underlying assumptions of the scenarios were explicitly made a topic for assessment. The differentiation between desirability and feasibility was used as a guiding dimension for the assessment.

Energy as a Sociotechnical Problem offers an innovative approach to equip interdisciplinary research on sociotechnical transitions with coherence and focus. The book emphasizes sociotechnical problems in three analytical dimensions:- In the control dimension, contributing authors examine how control can be maintained despite increasing complexity and uncertainty, e.g., in power grid operations or on energy markets;- In the change dimension, the authors explore if and how change is possible despite the need for stable orientation, e.g., regarding discourses, real-world labs and learning;- Finally, in the action dimension, the authors analyze how the ability to act on a permanent basis is sustained despite opaqueness and ignorance, exemplified by the work on trust, capabilities or individual motives.Drawing on contributions from engineering, economics, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology, the book assembles a range of classic and current themes including innovation, resilience, institutional economics, design or education. Energy as a Sociotechnical Problem presents the ongoing transformation of the energy complex as a multidimensional process, in which the analytical dimensions interact with each other in shaping the energy future. As such, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy transitions, energy science and environmental social science more generally, as well as to practitioners working within the field of energy policy.

The digital revolution of the energy system promises a new sustainable energy future, but risks security and privacy. How to balance or at least compare these risks against other values like more sustainability is far from obvious and poses severe challenges for the orientation knowledge of technology assessment (TA). This paper explores the Capability Approach (CA) as a normative orientation for TA that allows addressing these challenges. We use two scenarios for the current digitalization in the energy sector as case studies.

PurposeAs in other socio‐technical fields, future‐oriented technology analysis (FTA) methods are used in transport planning to provide knowledge for decision‐making. Potential effects of policy interventions should be assessed; risk and uncertainties should be reduced; unintended effects should be avoided. A variety of tools and methods of rather different character are applied, none of these methods are able to systematically reproduce a complete system; they all have their specific limits. It is not always clear, however, which method could be used for which purpose. In this paper, a transparent and problem‐oriented categorisation of FTA‐methods is suggested. It aims at supporting an appropriate usage of FTA‐methods in planning processes.Design/methodology/approachA literature review carried out in context of the EU funded transport project OPTIC (see www.optic.toi.no) reveals that differentiating between different types of uncertainty is possible. This sets the basis for the problem‐oriented categorisation of FTA methods. Key criteria for the categorisation of methods are their abilities in dealing with different types of missing knowledge.FindingsTwo categories are introduced which are called "structurally open methods" and "structurally closed methods". It is shown that the openness‐closedness dichotomy is highly important for the type of unintended effects that can be detected with a method.Originality/valueThe paper has a novel approach for structuring FTA techniques that goes beyond the traditional quantitative/qualitative approach. It juxtaposes a problem typology and a typology of methods

Der Band vereint die wichtigsten Forschungsergebnisse der Helmholtz-Allianz ENERGY-TRANS zur Energiewende aus dem Blickwinkel unterschiedlicher Fachbereiche: u.a. der Soziologie, der Psychologie, der Politikwissenschaft und der Wirtschaftswissenschaften