Research

The applied research project aims to develop concrete solutions for integrating climate change adaptation measures into spatial planning in Vorarlberg and to derive recommendations for comparable use cases in Austrian planning law. Based on high-resolution climate analysis and planning information maps at regional level (Rhine Valley), which are available for the first time in Austria, specific development areas (vacancies, brown fields, settlement expansion areas) are examined for their bioclimatic assessment and targeted adaptation measures are derived from them. The project examines how the information from these climate analyzes and planning advice maps can be translated into adaptation measures and determinations at the municipal or regional level and what adjustments need to be made in spatial planning instruments or planning law. The focus is not on adaptation measures in the existing settlements, but on development areas for which future development and use should take into account the climate analyses. The research project can draw on the results of a current project in Vorarlberg (climate analyzes in connection with the creation of the Rhine Valley 5th Generation agglomeration program).

The project "VULKANO - vulnerable groups in local disaster and emergency planning" aims to gain a better understanding of the susceptibility of vulnerable groups to climate change-related stress and disruptive events and to assess the extent to which Austrian municipalities already take these groups into account in the preparation and management of crises and disasters, especially in the preparation of disaster and emergency response plans. Based on desktop research of national and international examples and the cooperation with local and regional representatives (e.g. mayors, KLAR! and KEM! managers), recommendations for measures to improve prevention and inclusion of vulnerable groups (e.g. economically, institutionally and socially marginalized groups including people with disabilities, chronically ill people, children, elderly people, people living alone, people affected by poverty or people with language barriers) will be derived.

The City of Salzburg is currently preparing a new spatial development concept (REK-NEU). Based on a baseline survey, a methodology for the creation of planning recommendation maps is being developed within the framework of the project "Planning recommendation maps and measures for climate change adaptation in the city of Salzburg". The central research questions are: Which method can be used to create a "planning recommendation map urban climate" and which target areas and measures support the implementation of climate change adaptation?