Austrian Forest Fire Research Inititative II
- Boden und Landökosysteme
- Wasser - Atmosphäre - Umwelt
Abstract
In 2008 the Institute of silviculture at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna started the research on forest fires in Austria. Within the projects AFFRI, ALP FFIRS and FIRIA more than 5000 fires were recorded. Research included fuel measurements, socioeconomic causes, vulnerability analysis, tree mortality studies and the analysis of lightning ignitions. Aims of the project are to focus on the acquisition of older forest fire data and to enhance the performance and functionality of the internal and public accessible database. The prediction of forest fires in Austria should be improved by the conceptualization of a forest fire danger prediction system that includes climatic and socioeconomic factors and the vegetation. Because ground moisture is the most important factor of fire ignition, the construction of a network of moisture sensors should be accelerated. The implementation of a prototype of this warning system has to be conducted. The active monitoring of large forest fires in Austria should be initiated. Here, tree mortality studies and fuel measurements should lead to a better understanding of forest fires and their behaviour. Silvicultural recommendations to avoid forest fires and how to treat burned areas should be developed. The whole project will be attended by active public information and awareness rising through press reports, blog articles, interviews. It is planned to initiate workshops with stakeholders and action forces and to start new research projects during AFFRI II, to ensure the Austrian forest fire research and to dig deeper into some research questions.
- Forest Fire
- Database
- natural hazard
- assessment
Project staff
Harald Vacik
Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Harald Vacik
harald.vacik@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91312
Project Leader
15.12.2015 - 30.09.2025
Markus Koller
Markus Koller
markus.koller@students.boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91317
Project Staff
15.12.2022 - 30.09.2025
Mortimer Müller
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.rer.nat. Mortimer Müller
mortimer.mueller@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91318
Project Staff
15.12.2015 - 30.09.2025
Mona Nazari
Mona Nazari M.Sc.
mona.nazari@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91317
Project Staff
15.12.2015 - 30.09.2025
Mariana Silva Andrade
Mariana Silva Andrade M.Sc.
mariana.andrade@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91318
Project Staff
15.12.2015 - 30.09.2025
BOKU partners
