AT-4 :: Dealing with natural hazards

Various natural hazards affect the Austrian counties differently. Nuanced approaches are necessary for legal guidelines, but are often difficult to reach because of the assessment of the remaining risk. Centralised strategic planning is not the solution. However, all counties will need more precaution for extreme weather events. The West will need further flood protection and the East a more pronounced water saving cultivation to combat droughts. The priority should be knowledge gathering and access to information for all involved levels (from home-builders to mayors).
Demand
• What is the area demand for flood protection areas, levees, residential areas, (water) transportation ways, retention areas, nature conservation areas and danger zones?
Land management
• What is the contribution of soil to water retention?
• How can open space be useful as a barrier and for higher resilience in context of climate change (e.g. alignment of spatial structures, keep infrastructure embankments clear in the alpine regions?)
• How can open space be used to tackle potential conflict of interests for nature conservation, silviculture and areas for hazard prevention?
• How can flood protection areas be used in times of no floods? (yield, contaminants, functions, soil structure, leakage capability, ...)
Net impacts
• How can information and access to information for all involved levels (from home-builders to mayors) be improved?