This privacy policy applies to the central website of the Anywhere Academy project of the Engineering Hydrology teaching and research area at RWTH Aachen University. Other privacy policies may apply to decentralised websites, which are listed there.

Status of the privacy policy: March 2025

I. Data controller

The controller within the meaning of the EU General Data Protection Regulation and other national data protection laws of the Member States as well as other data protection regulations is:

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing Heribert Nacken
Mies-van-der-Rohe-Str. 17
52074 Aachen
Phone. +49 241 80 25273
Fax: +49 241 80 22071
E-Mail: sekretariat@rwth-aachen.de
Website: https://lfi.rwth-aachen.de

II. Contact details of the officially appointed data protection officers

Contact details for the Data Protection Office at RWTH Aachen University:

Data Protection Office at RWTH Aachen University
Templergraben 83
52062 Aachen (street address)
52056 Aachen (postal address)
Germany
Phone: +49 241 80 94114
E-Mail: dsb@rwth-aachen.de
Website: www.rwth-aachen.de/datenschutz

III. General information on data processing

1. Scope of processing personal data

The Department of Engineering Hydrology at RWTH Aachen University only processes personal data of users of this website to the extent necessary to provide a functional website and the content and services offered therein. The processing of users' personal data is generally only carried out with the user's consent. An exception applies in cases where prior consent cannot be obtained for practical reasons and the processing of the data is permitted by law.

2. Legal basis for the processing of personal data

Insofar as the Department of Engineering Hydrology at RWTH Aachen University obtains the consent of the data subject for the processing of personal data, Article 6(1)(a) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) serves as the legal basis.

When processing personal data that is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party, Article 6(1)(b) GDPR serves as the legal basis. This also applies to processing operations that are necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures.

Insofar as the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of our tasks, which are in the public interest or carried out in the exercise of official authority, Article 6(1)(e) GDPR serves as the legal basis.

3. Data deletion and storage period

The personal data of the data subject will be deleted or blocked as soon as the purpose of storage no longer applies. Storage may also take place if this has been provided for by European or national legislators in EU regulations, laws or other provisions to which the controller is subject. The data will also be blocked or deleted if a storage period prescribed by the aforementioned standards expires, unless there is a need for further storage of the data for the conclusion or fulfilment of a contract.

IV. Provision of the website and creation of log files

1. Description and scope of data processing

Each time you visit our website, the system of the Department of Engineering Hydrology, RWTH Aachen University, may automatically collect data and information from the computer system of the accessing computer.

The following data may be collected:

1. Information about the browser type and version used
2. Information about the user's operating system
3. The user's internet service provider
4. The user's IP address
5. Date and time of access
6. Websites, von denen das System des Nutzers auf die Webseite des Lehr- und Forschungsgebiets Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University gelangt
7. Information about the websites and files accessed

The data is stored in the log files of the university's system. This data is not stored together with other personal data relating to the user.

2. Legal basis for data processing

The legal basis for the temporary storage of data and log files is Article 6(1)(e) GDPR.

3. Purpose of data processing

The temporary storage of the IP address by the system is necessary to enable the website to be delivered to the user's computer. For this purpose, the user's IP address must remain stored for the duration of the session.

The data is used to optimise the website and to ensure the security of the information technology systems. The data is not evaluated for marketing purposes in this context.

4. Duration of storage

The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the purpose for which it was collected. This is normally the case after seven days at the latest. Storage beyond this period is possible. In this case, the IP addresses of the users will be deleted or anonymised so that it is no longer possible to identify the accessing client.

5. Right to object and right to erasure

The collection of data for the provision of the website and the storage of data in log files is essential for the operation of the website. Consequently, there is no possibility for the user to object.

V. Use of Cookies

1. Description and scope of data processing

Die Webseite des Lehr- und Forschungsgebiets Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University verwendet Cookies. Bei Cookies handelt es sich um Textdateien, die im Internetbrowser bzw. vom Internetbrowser auf dem Computersystem des Nutzers gespeichert werden. Ruft ein Nutzer eine Website auf, so kann ein Cookie auf dem Betriebssystem des Nutzers gespeichert werden. Dieser Cookie enthält eine charakteristische Zeichenfolge, die eine eindeutige Identifizierung des Browsers beim erneuten Aufrufen der Website ermöglicht.

The following data is stored and transmitted in the cookies:

• Anonymous IDs to identify logged-in editors of the website
• Declaration of consent for the use of external services

2. Legal basis for data processing

The legal basis for the processing of personal data using cookies is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e GDPR. When processing consent in connection with the storage of cookies, this is done on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

3. Purpose of data processing

The Engineering Hydrology teaching and research department at RWTH Aachen University uses the cookies employed on the website to identify logged-in editors and to temporarily store consent to access external services such as Google Maps.

4. Duration of storage, right to object and right to erasure

Cookies werden auf dem Rechner des Nutzers gespeichert und von diesem an die Seite übermittelt. Daher haben Sie als Nutzer auch die volle Kontrolle über die Verwendung von Cookies. Durch eine Änderung der Einstellungen in Ihrem Internetbrowser können Sie die Übertragung von Cookies deaktivieren oder einschränken. Bereits gespeicherte Cookies können jederzeit gelöscht werden. Dies kann auch automatisiert erfolgen. Werden Cookies für die Website des Lehr- und Forschungsgebiets Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University deaktiviert, können möglicherweise nicht mehr alle Funktionen der Website vollumfänglich genutzt werden.

VI. Mailing lists

1. Description and scope of data processing

Auf der Webseite des Lehr- und Forschungsgebiets Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University besteht die Möglichkeit, verschiedene kostenfreier Mailinglisten zu abonnieren. Dabei werden bei der Anmeldung die Daten aus der Eingabemaske an das Lehr- und Forschungsgebiet Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University übermittelt. Diese sind ggf.:

1. Your email address
2. Your name (optional)
3. Password (freely selectable)
4. Language preference

Your consent will be obtained during the registration process for the processing of your data.

In connection with data processing for the mailing lists, no data is passed on to third parties. The data is used exclusively for sending emails.

2. Legal basis for data processing

The legal basis for processing data after the user has subscribed to the mailing lists is Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, provided that the user has given their consent.

3. Purpose of data processing

The user's email address is collected for the purpose of delivering emails.

4. Duration of storage

The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the purpose for which it was collected. The user's data will therefore be stored for as long as the mailing list subscription is active.

5. Right to object and right to erasure

The mailing list subscription can be cancelled by the user concerned at any time. For this purpose, a corresponding link is included in every email sent via the distribution list. Users also receive a monthly membership reminder with links to delete and edit their membership settings.

VII. Google Maps

Auf der Webseite des Lehr- und Forschungsgebiets Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University wird die Möglichkeit geboten, geographische Informationen zu Kontakt- und Anfahrtszwecken über Google Maps abzubilden. Dies basiert auf der Google Maps API, die von der Google Ireland Limited, Google Building Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Irland zur Verfügung gestellt wird. Mit dem Aufruf des Kartendienstes kann Google Ihre IP-Adresse und die Sprache des Systems, sowie verschiedene browserspezifische Angaben ermitteln.

The requested geographical positions are transferred directly to the service from the navigator menu. When accessing the page with a GPS-enabled device, the location position can also be transmitted. No other personal data is transferred to Google.

Google uses cookies. The data processing operations and the purposes of the processing can be found directly at Google and viewed.

VIII. YouTube

Die Website des Lehr- und Forschungsgebiets Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University nutzt Plugins der von Google betriebenen Seite YouTube. Betreiber der Seiten ist die YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.

When you visit one of our pages equipped with a YouTube plugin, a connection to the YouTube servers is established. This tells the YouTube server which of our pages you have visited.

If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to associate your browsing behaviour directly with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

Further information on the handling of user data can be found in YouTube's privacy policy at: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy.

IX. Vimeo

Die Website des Lehr- und Forschungsgebiets Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University nutzt Plugins des Anbieters Vimeo. Vimeo wird betrieben von Vimeo LLC mit Hauptsitz in 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011.

When you visit one of our pages equipped with a Vimeo plugin, a connection to the Vimeo servers is established. This informs the Vimeo server which of our pages you have visited.

If you are logged into your Vimeo account, you enable Vimeo to assign your surfing behaviour directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your Vimeo account.

Further information on the handling of user data can be found in Vimeo's privacy policy at: https://vimeo.com/privacy.

X. Rights of the data subject

If your personal data is processed, you are a data subject within the meaning of the GDPR and you have the following rights vis-à-vis the controller:

1. Right to information

Sie können von dem Verantwortlichen eine Bestätigung darüber verlangen, ob personenbezogene Daten, die Sie betreffen, vom Lehr- und Forschungsgebiet Ingenieurhydrologie, RWTH Aachen University verarbeitet werden.

If such processing takes place, you may request the following information from the controller:

1. the purposes for which the personal data are processed;
2. the categories of personal data that are processed;
3. the recipients or categories of recipients to whom your personal data has been or will be disclosed;
4. the planned duration of storage of the personal data concerning you or, if specific information on this is not possible, criteria for determining the storage period;
5. the existence of a right to rectification or erasure of personal data concerning you, a right to restriction of processing by the controller or a right to object to such processing;
6. the existence of a right of appeal to a supervisory authority;
7. all available information on the origin of the data, if the personal data is not collected from the data subject;
8. the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, referred to in Article 22(1) and (4) of the GDPR and, at least in those cases, meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and the envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject.

You have the right to request information about whether personal data concerning you is being transferred to a third country or to an international organisation. In this context, you may request to be informed about the appropriate safeguards pursuant to Article 46 GDPR in connection with the transfer.

This right to information may be restricted to the extent that it is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the research or statistical purposes and the restriction is necessary for the fulfilment of the research or statistical purposes.

2. Right to rectification

You have the right to request the controller to correct and/or complete your personal data if it is inaccurate or incomplete. The controller must make the correction without delay.

Your right to rectification may be restricted to the extent that it is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the research or statistical purposes and the restriction is necessary for the fulfilment of the research or statistical purposes.

3. Right to restriction of processing

You may request the restriction of the processing of personal data concerning you under the following conditions:

1. if you dispute the accuracy of the personal data concerning you for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data;
2. the processing is unlawful and you oppose the erasure of the personal data and request the restriction of their use instead;
3. the controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of processing, but you require it for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims, or
4. if you have lodged an objection to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) of the GDPR and it is not yet clear whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override your grounds.

Where the processing of personal data concerning you has been restricted, such data may, with the exception of storage, only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the Union or of a Member State.

If the processing has been restricted in accordance with the above conditions, you will be informed by the controller before the restriction is lifted.

Your right to restrict processing may be limited to the extent that it is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the research or statistical purposes and the restriction is necessary for the fulfilment of the research or statistical purposes.

4. Right to erasure

a) Obligation to delete

You may request that the controller delete your personal data without delay, and the controller is obliged to delete this data without delay if one of the following reasons applies:

1. The personal data concerning you are no longer necessary for the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed.
2. You revoke your consent on which the processing was based in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR, and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
3. You object to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or you object to the processing pursuant to Article 21(2) GDPR.
4. The personal data concerning you has been processed unlawfully.
5. The erasure of personal data concerning you is necessary to comply with a legal obligation under Union law or the law of the Member States to which the controller is subject.
6. The personal data concerning you was collected in relation to the information society services offered in accordance with Article 8(1) of the GDPR.

b) Information to third parties

If the controller has made the personal data concerning you public and is obliged to erase it pursuant to Article 17(1) GDPR, it shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, taking into account the available technology and implementation costs, to inform controllers who process the personal data that you, as the data subject, have requested them to delete all links to this personal data or copies or replications of this personal data.

c) Exceptions

The right to erasure does not apply if processing is necessary

1. to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information;
2. for compliance with a legal obligation which requires processing by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject or for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller;
3. for reasons of public interest in the area of public health pursuant to Art. 9(2)(h) and (i) and Art. 9(3) GDPR;
4. for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) GDPR, insofar as the right referred to in section a) is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the objectives of such processing, or
5. to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.

5. Right to information

If you have exercised your right to rectification, erasure or restriction of processing against the controller, the controller is obliged to notify all recipients to whom your personal data has been disclosed of this rectification or erasure of the data or restriction of processing, unless this proves impossible or involves disproportionate effort.

You have the right to be informed by the controller about these recipients.

6. Right to data portability

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you that you have provided to the controller in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. You also have the right to transmit this data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to whom the personal data was provided, provided that

1. the processing is based on consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR or on a contract pursuant to Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR and
2. processing is carried out using automated procedures.

In exercising this right, you also have the right to have the personal data concerning you transferred directly from one controller to another controller, where technically feasible. This must not adversely affect the freedoms and rights of other persons.

The right to data portability does not apply to the processing of personal data necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

7. Right to object

You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) or (f) of the GDPR; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions.

The controller shall no longer process the personal data concerning you unless the controller can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

If your personal data is processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for such marketing purposes; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.

If you object to processing for direct marketing purposes, the personal data concerning you will no longer be processed for these purposes.

You have the option, in relation to the use of information society services – notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC – to exercise your right to object by means of automated procedures using technical specifications.

You also have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out for scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) of the GDPR.

Your right to object may be restricted to the extent that it is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the research or statistical purposes and the restriction is necessary for the fulfilment of the research or statistical purposes.

8. Right to revoke the declaration of consent under data protection law

You have the right to revoke your declaration of consent under data protection law at any time. Revoking your consent does not affect the legality of the processing carried out on the basis of your consent prior to revocation.

9. Right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority

Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data relating to you infringes the GDPR.

The supervisory authority to which the complaint has been lodged shall inform the complainant of the progress and outcome of the complaint, including the possibility of a judicial remedy pursuant to Article 78 of the GDPR.

The supervisory authority responsible for the teaching and research area of Engineering Hydrology at RWTH Aachen University is the State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NRW). [https://www.ldi.nrw.de/]