Data Privacy
I. Person responsible for data processing

The responsible person 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. data protection officer

Availability of the officially appointed data protection officer:

Leon Filser
Mies-van-der-Rohe-Str. 17
52074 Aachen
Deutschland
Phone: +49 241 80 25279
Fax: +49 241 80 22701
E-Mail: filser@rwth-aachen.de
Website: https://lfi.rwth-aachen.de

III. General information on data processing

1. Scope of the processing of personal data

The Teaching and Research Field Engineering Hydrology processes personal data of the users of the site only to the extent necessary for the provision of a functional website and the contents and services. The processing of personal data of the users takes place regularly only after consent of the user. An exception applies in those cases where it is not possible to obtain prior consent for factual reasons and the processing of the data is permitted by legal regulations.

2. Legal basis for the processing of personal data

Insofar as the Teaching and Research Field Engineering Hydrology obtains the consent of the data subject for processing operations involving 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 a party, Art. 6 (1) (b) DSGVO serves as the legal basis. This also applies to processing operations that are necessary for the performance 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 in the exercise of official authority, Art. 6 (1) (e) DSGVO serves as the legal basis.

3. Data deletion and storage period

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

IV. Provision of the website and creation of log files

1. Description and scope of data processing

Each time our website is accessed, the system of the Teaching and Research Field Engineering Hydrology may automatically collect data and information from the computer system of the accessing computer.

The following data may be collected in the process:

  • Information about the browser type and version used
  • Information about the operating system of the user
  • The Internet service provider of the user
  • The user's IP address
  • Date and time of access
  • Websites from which the user's system accesses the website of the Teaching and Research Field of Engineering Hydrology.
  • Information about the web pages and files accessed
 

The data is stored in the log files of the system of the Teaching and Research Field of Engineering Hydrology. This data is not stored together with other personal data of the user.

2. Legal basis for data processing

The legal basis for the temporary storage of the data and the log files is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e DSGVO.

3. Purpose of the data processing

The temporary storage of the IP address by the system is necessary to enable delivery of the website 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 optimize the website and to ensure the security of the information technology systems. An evaluation of the data for marketing purposes does not take place in this context.

4. Duration of storage

The data is deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. Normally, this is the case after seven days at the latest. Storage beyond this period is possible. In this case, the IP addresses of the users are deleted or alienated so that an assignment of the calling client is no longer possible.

5. Possibility of objection and elimination

The collection of data for the provision of the website and the storage of the data in log files is mandatory for the operation of the website. Consequently, there is no possibility of objection on the part of the user.

V. Use of cookies

1. Description and scope of data processing

The website of the Department of Engineering Hydrology uses cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored in the Internet browser or by the Internet browser on the user's computer system. When a user accesses a website, a cookie may be stored on the user's operating system. This cookie contains a characteristic string of characters that enables the browser to be uniquely identified when the website is called up again.

The following data is stored and transmitted in the cookies:

  • Anonymous IDs to identify the 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 (1) lit. e DSGVO. When processing consent in connection with the storage of cookies, this is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO.

3. Purpose of the data processing

The Department of Engineering Hydrology uses cookies on the site to identify logged-in editors of the website, as well as to temporarily store consent to call external services such as Google Maps.

4. duration of storage, possibility of objection and elimination

Cookies are stored on the user's computer and transmitted from it to the site. Therefore, you as a user also have full control over the use of cookies. By changing the settings in your Internet browser, you can disable or restrict the transmission of cookies. Cookies that have already been stored can be deleted at any time. This can also be done automatically. If cookies are deactivated for the website of the Teaching and Research Field of Engineering Hydrology, it may no longer be possible to use all functions of the website to their full extent.

VI. E-Mail contact

In the event that a user contacts us by e-mail, the user's personal data transmitted with the e-mail will be stored.

In this context, the data will not be passed on to third parties. The data is used exclusively for the processing of the conversation.

1. Legal basis for data processing

The legal basis for the processing of data transmitted in the course of sending an e-mail is Art. 6 (1) lit. e DSGVO.

2. Purpose of the data processing

The processing of personal data in the case of contact by e-mail, this is also the necessary legitimate interest in processing the data.

3. Duration of storage

The data is deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. For personal data sent by e-mail, this is the case when the respective conversation with the user has ended. The conversation is ended when it is clear from the circumstances that the matter in question has been conclusively clarified.

4. Possibility of objection and elimination

The user has the possibility to revoke his consent to the processing of personal data at any time. If the user contacts the Teaching and Research Field of Engineering Hydrology by e-mail, he or she may object to the storage of his or her personal data at any time. In such a case, the conversation cannot be continued.

The e-mail contact to withdraw consent and object to storage can be made at the following address:

it@lfi.rwth-aachen.de

All personal data stored in the course of contacting us will be deleted in this case.

VII. Google Maps

The website of the Engineering Hydrology teaching and research area offers the possibility to map geographical information for contact and directions purposes. This mapping is based on the Google Maps API, which is provided by Google Ireland Limited, Google Building Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland. By calling up the map service, Google can determine your IP address and the language of the system, as well as various browser-specific details.

The requested geographical positions from the Navigator menu are transmitted directly to the service. When calling up 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 as well as the purposes of the processing can be viewed directly at Google erfragt und eingesehen werden.

When you access the contact page, you will be asked for your consent to use the map service under these conditions. You can revoke this consent at any time.

VIII. YouTube

The website of the Engineering Hydrology teaching and research area uses plugins from the YouTube site operated by Google. The operator of the pages is 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 assign your surfing behavior directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

For more information on the handling of user data, please see YouTube's privacy policy at: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy.

IX. Vimeo

The website of the Department of Engineering Hydrology uses plugins of the provider Vimeo. Vimeo is operated by Vimeo LLC with headquarters at 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 tells 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 behavior directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your Vimeo account.

For more information on how we handle user data, please see Vimeo's privacy policy at: https://vimeo.com/privacy.

X. Matomo

The website of the Department of Engineering Hydrology uses plugins from the provider Matomo. Matomo is an open source software for recording user behavior on a website.

Among other things, the following data is collected:

  • Information about the browser type and version used
  • Information about the operating system of the user
  • The user's IP address
  • Date and time of access
  • Websites from which the user's system accesses the website of the Teaching and Research Field of Engineering Hydrology.
  • Information about the web pages and files accessed

All data are stored anonymously for an indefinite period of time on the servers of the Teaching and Research Field of Engineering Hydrology. No data will be passed on to third parties.

 

XI. 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

You are entitled to obtain confirmation from the controller as to whether personal data relating to you are being processed by the Teaching and Research Field of Engineering Hydrology.

If there is such processing, you can request information from the controller about the following:

  • the purposes for which the personal data are processed;
  • the categories of personal data which are processed;
  • the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data concerning you have been or will be disclosed;
  • the planned duration of the storage of the personal data concerning you or, if concrete information on this is not possible, criteria for determining the storage duration;
  • 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;
  • the existence of a right of appeal to a supervisory authority;
  • any available information on the origin of the data, if the personal data are not collected from the data subject;
  • the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, pursuant to Article 22(1) and (4) of the GDPR and, at least in these cases, meaningful information about the logic involved and the scope and intended effects of such processing for the data subject.
 

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

This right of access 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 fulfillment of the research or statistical purposes.

2. Right to rectification

You have a right to rectification and/or completion vis-à-vis the controller, insofar as the processed personal data concerning you are inaccurate or incomplete. The controller shall carry out the rectification without undue delay.

Your right to rectification may be limited to the extent that it is likely to make impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the research or statistical purposes and the limitation is necessary for the fulfillment of the research or statistical purposes.

3. Right to restriction of processing

Under the following conditions, you may request the restriction of the processing of personal data concerning you:

  • if you contest the accuracy of the personal data concerning you for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data;
  • the processing is unlawful and you object to the erasure of the personal data and request instead the restriction of the use of the personal data;
  • the controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of processing, but you need them for the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims, or if you have objected to the processing pursuant to Article 21 (1) DSGVO 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 be processed, with the exception of their storage, only with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defense 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 a Member State.

If the restriction of 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 restriction of processing may be limited to the extent that it is likely to render impossible or seriously impede 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 deletion

a) Obligation to delete

You may request the controller to delete the personal data concerning you without undue delay, and the controller is obliged to delete such data without undue delay, if one of the following reasons applies:

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

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) of the GDPR, it shall take reasonable measures, including technical measures, having regard to the available technology and the cost of implementation, to inform data controllers which process the personal data that you, as the data subject, have requested that they erase all links to or copies or replications of such personal data.

c) Exceptions

The right to erasure does not exist insofar as the processing is necessary to

  • to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information;
  • for compliance with a legal obligation which requires processing under 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;
  • for reasons of public interest in the area of public health pursuant to Art. 9(2)(h) and (i) and Art. 9(3) DSGVO;
  • for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes, or statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) of the GDPR, insofar as the right referred to in Section a) is likely to render impossible or seriously prejudice the achievement of the purposes of such processing, or
  • for the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims.
 

5. Right to information

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

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

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 has been provided, provided that

  • the processing is based on consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) a DSGVO or Art. 9 (2) a DSGVO or on a contract pursuant to Art. 6 (1) b DSGVO and
  • the processing is carried out with the help of 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, insofar as this is technically feasible. The freedoms and rights of other persons must not be affected by this.

The right to data portability does not apply to 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 of objection

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

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

If the personal data concerning you is processed for the purpose of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; 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 possibility, in connection with 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 for statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) DSGVO.

Your right to object may be limited to the extent that it is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the realization of the research or statistical purposes and the limitation is necessary for the fulfillment 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. The revocation of consent does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out on the basis of the consent until the revocation.

9. Right to complain to 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 residence, workplace or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you infringes the GDPR.

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

The supervisory authority responsible for the teaching and research field of engineering hydrology is the State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (NRW). [https://www.ldi.nrw.de/]