Research

The main objectives of the project are: + to further develop and demonstrate the principle of retentive construction methods as elements of climate change adaptation in settlement areas, transport routes and for the prevention of pluvial floods (passive flood protection) + to gain insights for numerical simulations and to utilise these for the planning and operation of passive flood protection systems + optimising the use of synergies with carbon storage and biodiversity The central research topics are: + thesis: with the exception of high-ranking transport routes, retentive construction methods can be used everywhere where there is a need to adapt the components of the water balance (infiltration, evaporation and runoff) to local requirements (incl. groundwater management) + How can synergies in climate change adaptation of the water balance, carbon storage (in the soil) and conservation or reactivation of biodiversity be optimised with the use of nature-based methods (blue-green-brown infrastructure)? Description and evaluation of ecosystem services + nature-based retentive measures are to be developed, tested and modelled for the areas of windbreaks, viticulture, peri-urban settlements, housing estates, traffic route drainage and car parks + What influence do soil additives and/or soil organisms have on improving the properties of retentive construction methods, e.g. in terms of cleaning performance or plant vitality? The various elements of the technical substrates need to be analysed with regard to their effect on geotechnics, hydrology/hydraulics or filters and cleaning performance, especially by means of soil life and plants. + Scaling, dimensioning and test methods It is therefore necessary to develop dimensioning procedures, test parameters and test procedures for different construction methods to ensure their functions. These test procedures and parameters serve to ensure that they can be used in hydraulic construction methods in hydrological-hydraulic calculation and simulation procedures. Representative demonstration objects are used for the reliable validation of the water flows, which are to serve as the basis for simulation programmes in small and large areas. The data should be usable for open source or licensed modelling programs. + Integral modelling and monitoring

VERBUND Hydro Power GmbH (VHP) is planning the construction and operation of the Golling power plant (KW Golling) as a diversion power plant on the Salzach. The Golling power plant is to be built southwest of the market town of Golling. The technical reservoir length is approx. 3,500 m. With a head of approx. 4.00 m and a discharge water volume of 160 m³/s as well as a residual water volume of max. 46 m³/s, the Golling power plant will have an design capacity of approx. 30 MW. For this purpose, a sectional model on a scale of 1:20 is constructed in order to check the capacity of the weir system and the functionality of the stilling basin and, if necessary, to optimize the design. Finally, the risk of clogging of the weir system is to be examined and, if necessary, reduced by design measures.

The consumption of fruit and vegetables causes environmental impacts that vary depending on which crops are consumed in which season. In order to reduce the environmental impact and in particular greenhouse gas emissions caused by consumption, it is essential to understand the cultivation methods and value chains. The life cycle assessment (LCA) method, standardized according to ISO 14040/44, and the product environmental footprint (PEF) are suitable methods for this. There are currently hardly any LCAs for the production of fruit and vegetables in Austria. This project aims to fill this gap. Based on primary data from Austrian farms, detailed LCAs will be prepared for at least 5 fruit and vegetable crops. The aim of this work is to find out what influence the origin of selected fruit and vegetables has on the environmental impact associated with the product. In detail, the carbon and water footprint will be considered. The following research questions are to be answered as part of the project: - What is the environmental impact of selected fruit and vegetable crops - Are there differences due to different transportation routes and types of cultivation - What savings could result from a change in consumer behavior from foreign to domestic products