Since 2015, the University of Vienna, ENGAGE working group (Geomorphological Systems and Risk Research at the Institute for Geography and Regional Research) has been running a long-term monitoring project to investigate landslides in Lower Austria. These investigations take place as part of the NoeSLIDE project, which was created in 2014 in close cooperation between the University of Vienna and the Federal State Government of Lower Austrian. In the course of the last few years further collaborations have been established; the cooperation partners include the Federal Geological Institute (GBA), the Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV) as well as University of Heidelberg and the Vienna University of Technology.
The original NoeSLIDE project ran until 2017 or was extended until 2019. The follow-up financing of the monitoring locations is to be guaranteed through future projects, but “NoeSLIDE” continues to function as a project name.
The initial research sites of the project included an earth flow (Eckerwirt) and a complex landslide (Hofermühle) near Konradsheim in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, a deep seated landslide near Brandstatt, areas affected by rockfall and tipping on Ofenlochstrasse and the Amtmann natural monument near Opponitz - also in the district of Waidhofen an der Ybbs - as well as a landslide in Gresten (Scheibbs district), which has been active regularly for 40 years. The sites “Hofermühle” and “Gresten” are currently in operation; the investigation of the other locations has been completed.
In addition to the analysis of connections between flow, fall and slide activities with triggering factors such as precipitation, one focus of the project is on the development and testing of new types of investigation techniques for geo-monitoring. Therefore, in addition to traditional methods such as the installation of inclinometers, methods such as continuous terrestrial laser scanning and permanent geoelectric are used. Another goal of the project is to create a web-based platform that graphically visualizes the incoming data and allows the measured data to be analysed quickly and easily. It is envisioned that these tools would provide vital data to ensure a fast response by authorities should any of the landslides pose a risk to people or infrastructure.
Contact:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Glade
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