POCO-FLOOD - Reconstruction of historical land cover and river morphology

Within the framework of the research project "POlicy COordination in FLOOD risk management" (POCO-FLOOD), we reconstruct the historical land cover and the fluvial morphology in large alpine catchments in Austria. GIS reconstructions will be conducted based on historical maps, in particular the Franziscean Cadastre (dating back to 1817-1861). In addition, the Second Military Survey (1810-1850) will be used for higher alpine regions. The historical reconstruction will reveal the physical state of the alpine river basins in the early/mid-19th century before the implementation of large-scale river channelization and flood protection schemes. By providing a baseline data for comparisons with status quo land uses and flood risks, the historical reconstruction shows that current interrelations, synergies and conflicts between the sectors flood protection, hydropower, agriculture and spatial planning evolved over many decades in river basins as part of “coupled human-water systems”.