Projects
Project: Research & Innovation
behebes.ai – Open-Source Defect Reporter
Behebes.ai is a completely open, free, and multi-tenant platform that helps municipalities efficiently receive citizen requests, process them with AI support, and implement them operationally. Its core components are: a citizen frontend for reporting and status tracking an admin control center for processes, workflows, governance and AI settings A mobile operational management system (OPS) for the construction yard, field service and operational teams. The platform was developed by the municipality of Otterbach-Otterberg using AI Assistant Coding specifically for everyday municipal use: reliable, compliant with data protection regulations, transparent and practical. What makes behebes.ai particularly valuable for municipalities Client capability Multiple municipalities can work with a single instance in parallel – cleanly separated, but centrally administered. A district, for example, could run behebes.ai on its own server and make it available to the municipalities within the district. Structured workflows Tickets, tasks, escalations and internal processes can be clearly controlled, automated and monitored. AI support The platform supports multiple OpenAI-compatible AI providers and can automatically select models depending on the task. Personal data is pseudonymized. Behebes.ai can also be used with locally operated AI. Real-time functions / Messenger Live updates via SSE and WebSockets, as well as an integrated XMPP messenger, ensure fast communication between administration and field staff. Mobile user interface The OPS app is optimized for smartphones and supports messengers, tickets, photos, location data and field processes. Technical Architecture Overview The architecture is deliberately robust and modular in design: Backend: Node.js + Express + TypeScript Database: MySQL Frontends: React + Vite (Citizen, Admin, OPS) Realtime: SSE + WebSocket/XMPP Proxy: Nginx Container: docker‑compose (dev & prod) This means the platform can be operated entirely on-premise or in a GDPR-compliant cloud. Hosting recommendations for municipalities Requirements Server or VM Ubuntu LTS (22.04 or 24.04) Domain or subdomain (optional, but recommended) Basic knowledge of using terminal/SSH Install Docker Update system: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y Install Docker: sudo apt install docker.io -y Install Docker Compose: sudo apt install docker-compose -y Enable Docker service: sudo systemctl enable --now docker Download behebes.AI Clone repository: git clone https://github.com/derdigitalaffine/behebes-ai Switch to the project: cd behebes-ai Prepare configuration Copying the example environment: cp .env.example .env.local Adjust in .env.local : Domain / URLs SMTP data AI provider (optional) Ports (Standard: 8384 internal) Start database & services (production) Start production stack: docker compose -f docker-compose.prod.yml up -d --build Docker starts automatically: Backend Citizen frontend Admin frontend OPS frontend MySQL Nginx reverse proxy XMPP server Set up external accessibility Point domain to server IP (A record) Open ports 80/443 in the firewall Setting up an HTTPS certificate via Let's Encrypt or Traefik Adjust the Nginx configuration in the repository (server name, redirects) Initial access & setup Open the admin frontend: https://deine-domain.de/admin Create the first admin user Setting up clients Configure roles & permissions Define workflows Publish citizen frontend Configuration details are included in behebs.ai
E-Government
Digital Platforms
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SB
Sick leave system
The site allows employees to easily submit sick leave notifications digitally . Both one-day sick leave notifications and longer sick leave notifications with a doctor's certificate (AU) as well as notifications for sick children can be submitted. The application can be submitted either via a QR code or by logging in . The entered data is transmitted directly to the HR department for further processing. Predefined checkboxes help employees ensure they provide all necessary information correctly, thus reducing the need for follow-up questions. The transmission and processing of the data is GDPR-compliant and serves to simplify and efficiently process sick leave notifications.
Digital communication applications in rural communities
DorfFunk, DorfNews and LösBar As part of the research project "Digital Villages Rhineland-Palatinate", various digital solutions were developed to improve and support communication in rural communities. The project was funded by the Ministry of the Interior and Sport Rhineland-Palatinate, the Rhineland-Palatinate Development Agency, and the technical research and development partner Fraunhofer IESE Kaiserslautern. Together with the three model municipalities – the Verbandsgemeinde Eisenberg, Göllheim, and Betzdorf-Gebharshain – and with the participation of the citizens, needs-based solutions were developed that are still in use today: the DorfFunk communication app, the DorfNews information platform, and the LösBar tool for processing administrative inquiries and optimizing administrative processes. These three solutions digitally supported and noticeably improved communication from the administration to the citizens, as well as between citizens and back to the administration.
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BeheBes – Your concern is our mission
The damage reporter of the Otterbach-Otterberg municipality BeheBes is an innovative, web-based reporting portal that enables residents of the Otterbach-Otterberg municipal association to easily and efficiently report municipal concerns to the administration. Whether it concerns potholes, faulty street lighting, or environmental problems – residents can submit their concerns directly via the portal, track the status of their ticket, and stay informed about its processing. Development of BeheBes began in 2023 with the goal of creating a user-friendly, digital solution for managing citizen concerns. That same year, the system was initially introduced in the municipality of Otterbach in a test phase to gain initial experience and further optimize its functionality. After successful testing, the system was rolled out to the entire municipality in 2025. What makes BeheBes special is the integration of a self-hosted AI system based on the Phi3.5 AI LLM (Large Language Model). This AI automatically categorizes incoming requests, helping administrative staff respond to citizens' concerns more quickly and specifically. BeheBes is not only user-friendly but also data protection compliant. Citizens using the portal must agree to the privacy policy before submitting their reports. The collected data is processed securely, and through the portal, citizens receive automatic confirmation emails and notifications about the status of their requests. Citizens can also view the status of their tickets at any time and learn about progress or completed work. This transparency promotes trust and satisfaction with municipal services. The BeheBes backend was developed on a LAMP stack and offers a robust and scalable solution. The connection to the municipal association's internal ticket system enables seamless processing of requests. In addition, BeheBes will be published on GitHub in the future, so that other municipalities and developers can benefit from the open-source solution. BeheBes' long-term vision is to further digitize communication between citizens and the administration and increase the efficiency of processing requests. In the future, the system will be continuously developed and expanded with additional functions to create even more added value for citizens and the administration. BeheBes thus represents a significant step in the digitalization of municipal administration and relies on innovative technologies to improve cooperation between citizens and public administration.
DT
Volunteer platform Otterbach-Otterberg
The volunteer platform digital.verein.t brings a digital networking platform to Otterbach-Otterberg to strengthen volunteer engagement in the region. Based on an open-source solution, the platform improves the visibility of clubs, facilitates communication, and promotes exchange among volunteers. Integration into the municipality's existing digital structures creates a central contact point for volunteers. The platform offers functions such as group and club profiles, event organization, and digital administration tools. The project is publicly funded as part of the "Shaping the Region" program and builds on the successful model project "Herzberg digital.verein.t." The goal is a sustainable, networked volunteer landscape that supports both existing and new initiatives and strengthens the community in Otterbach-Otterberg.
Trainee project "Digitalization"
Promoting trainees as multipliers for digital administration The "Digitalization" trainee project aims to promote digital awareness and digital skills among trainees at an early stage. The Auzubi project familiarizes trainees with the topics of digital administration and is intended to promote interdisciplinary cooperation, independent work and creative, solution-oriented thinking. A workshop report, which bundles the experiences and findings from the pilot project, enables local authorities to easily implement the trainee project. Templates contained in the workshop report can be used for this purpose.
Work 4.0
