University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal

Logo BOKU Resarch Portal

Alpine Forest Fire Warning System

Project Leader
Vacik Harald, BOKU Project Leader
Duration:
01.09.2009-30.11.2012
Programme:
INTERREG IIIB Alpine Space Programme
Type of Research
Applied Research
Project partners
Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale del Piemonte, via Pio VII 9, 10135 Torino, Italy.
Contact person: Renata Pelosini;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
BSC, Poslovno podporni center d.o.o. Kranj, Staneta Žagarja 37, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia.
Contact person: Helena Cvenkel;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
Ente Regionale per i Servizi all’Agricoltura e alle Foreste - ERSAF Lombardia - Dipartimento dei Servizi al Territorio Rurale e alle Foreste, Via Copernico 38, 20125 Milano, Italy.
Contact person: Enrico Calvo;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
ENTENTE POUR LA FORET MEDITERRANNEENNE, Centre Francis Arrighi / Domaine de Valabre , 13120 Gardanne, France.
Contact person: Claude Picard;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
Regione autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia - Protezione civile della Regione, Via Natisone, 43, 33057 Palmanova, Italy.
Contact person: Guglielmo Berlasso;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
Regione del Veneto - Direzione Foreste ed Economia Montana, Via Torino, 110, 30172 Mestre (VE), Italy.
Contact person: Guido Munari;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
Regione Piemonte - Direzione Opere pubbliche , Difesa del suolo, Economia montana e Foreste - Settore Politiche Forestali, Corso Stati Uniti, 21, 10122 Torino, Italy.
Contact person: Federico Pelfini;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vecna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Contact person: Marko Kovac;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
Technische Universität München, Fachgebiet für Ökoklimatologie, Arcisstr. 21, 80333 München, Germany.
Contact person: Anette Menzel;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik, Hohe Warte 38, 1190 Wien, Austria.
Contact person: Alexander Beck;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner
Staff
Arpaci Alexander, Project Staff
Eastaugh Christopher Stuart, Project Staff
Müller Mortimer, Project Staff
BOKU Research Units
Institute of Meteorology and Climatology
Institute of Silviculture
Funded by
Commission of the European Communities, Rue de la Loi, Brussels, European Union
Abstract
The overall objective of the project is to control and reduce the role of forest fires as natural hazard for the Alpine environment considerably through prevention and mitigation actions. The project aims to develop a multi-referential innovative service that supports forest fire management, above all in prevention activities and in the mitigation of the negative impacts on the Alpine forests. The ambitious goal of ALP FFIRS is to set up a framework for a common warning system for forest fire danger for the whole Alpine region taking into account weather conditions and vegetation patterns. The decision support tool will consist of a daily fire danger level assessment and forecast in order to identify critical periods of forest fire danger in advance. The system will provide actors involved in forest fire prevention and suppression, as well as the general public with enhanced and more accurate predictions of forest fire danger. Through cooperation with the partner countries, methodologically similar and standardised actions can thus be ensured.
The project aims to improve forest fire prevention under a changing climate in the Alpine Space with the creation of a shared warning system based on weather conditions affecting fire potential. The fire regime at any given location is a result of complex interactions between fuel, forest structure, topography, ignitions and weather conditions. The analysis of the frequency and distribution of forest fires will allow to model forest fire danger in the alpine region. A univocal definition of an Alpine Forest Fire Danger Scale and a common interpretation of the danger level will be complemented by emergency plans and operational procedures. Due to the debate on likely climate change forest fires as potential disturbance agent have become an issue in the Alpine region over the last decade. An Alpine network on forest fire impact mitigation will be assembled reflecting common political strategy in risk prevention management, explicity taking into account climate change that is affecting fire potential, and fostering mutual aid in vigilance and extinction procedures.
Keywords
meteorology; forest protection; silviculture;
Decision Support; Forest Fire;
Publications

** Muller, MM; Vacik, H; Valese, E Anomalies of the Austrian Forest Fire Regime in Comparison with Other Alpine Countries: A Research Note.

FORESTS. 2015; 6(4): 903-913. WoS FullText FullText_BOKU

** Arpaci, A; Malowerschnig, B; Sass, O; Vacik, H Using multi variate data mining techniques for estimating fire susceptibility of Tyrolean forests.

APPL GEOGR. 2014; 53: 258-270. WoS FullText FullText_BOKU

Vacik, H; Arpaci, A; Müller, MM (2014): Monitoring der Waldbrandgefahr in Österreich und anderen Alpenländern .

Wildbach- und Lawinenverbau, 173, 256-267

Vacik, H; Müller, MM (2013): Waldbrand-Datenbank für Österreich.

Wildbach- und Lawinenverbau, 77 Jg., Nr. 172, 188-189

Müller, MM; Arpaci, A; Vacik, H (2013): Waldbrandforschung in Österreich: von der Wissenschaft zur Praxis.

Die Österreichische Feuerwehr, 11/2013, 32-35

Müller, MM; Vacik, H; Arpaci, A; Kaiser, G (2013): Waldbrand-Datenbank für Österreich.

Online-Bericht auf waldwissen.net FullText

** Eastaugh, CS; Arpaci, A; Vacik, H A cautionary note regarding comparisons of fire danger indices.

NAT HAZARD EARTH SYS. 2012; 12(4): 927-934. WoS FullText FullText_BOKU

Arpaci, A; Grimma,LN;Formayer,H;Leidinger, D; Beck, A; Gruber,C; Müller,M; Albers,J; Vacik,H; (2012): Development of a daily fire danger sytem. [Poster]
[4th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2012, Davos, Switzerland, 26.08.2012 - 30.08.2012]

In: Global Risk Forum, GRF Davos, IDRC DAvos 2012, "Integrative Risk Managment in a changing world - Pathways to a Resillient Society" Programme & Short Abstracts

Cane D., Arpaci A., Conedera M., Barbarino S., Vacik H., Valese E., Pezzatti G.B. (2012): Suitability of different Fire Weather Indices for alpine conditions: an extensive evaluation with high resolution data . [Poster]
[European Geosciences Union EGU General Assembly 2012, Vienna, Austria, 22.04.2012 - 27.04.2012]

In: EGU (Eds.), Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 14

Vacik H (2011): Alpines Waldbrand-Warnsystem.

Österreichische Forstzeitung, 07, 2-3; ISSN 1012-4667

** Vacik, H; Arndt, N; Arpaci, A; Koch, V; Muller, M; Gossow, H Characterisation of forest fires in Austria.

AUSTRIAN J FOR SCI. 2011; 128(1): 1-31. WoS

Arpaci A., Valese E., Vacik H. (2011): Potential Fire Intensities in the Alpine Region based on characteristic fuels in Austria and Italy. [Poster]
[5th International Wildland Fire Conference Wildfire 2011, Sun City, South Africa, 09.05.2011 - 13.05.2011]

In: Working on Fire (Eds.) , Living with Fire, Adressing Global Change through Integrated Fire Management, www.wildfire2011.org

Cane D., Arpaci A., Barbarino S., Vacik H., Valese E., Rizzolo R. (2011): An approach for the evaluation of fire weather indices in the Alpine Space: preliminary results. [Poster]
[5th International Wildland Fire Conference Wildfire 2011, Sun City, South Africa, 09.05.2011 - 13.05.2011]

In: Working on Fire (Eds.), Living with Fire, Adressing Global Change through Integrated Fire Management, www.wildfire2011.org

Eastaugh CS, Arpaci A and Vacik H (2011): Methods of comparing fire danger indices.. [Poster]
[European Geosciences Union EGU General Assembly 2011, Vienna, Austria, 03.04.2011 - 08.04.2011]

, Geophysical Research Abstracts, 13; ISSN 1607-7962

Müller M., Formayer H., Diendorfer G., Arpaci A., Gossow H., Vacik H. (2011): Analysis of lightning induced forest fires in Austria .
[5th International Wildland Fire Conference Wildfire 2011, Sun City, South Africa, 09.05.2011 - 13.05.2011]

In: Working on Fire (Eds.) , Living with Fire, Adressing Global Change through Integrated Fire Management, www.wildfire2011.org

Vacik H., Gossow H. (2011): Forest Fire Research and Management Options in Austria: Lessons Learned from the AFFRI and the ALP-FFIRS Networks .
[2nd Managing Alpine Future 2011 - Inspire and drive sustainable mountain regions, Innsbruck, Austria, 21.11.2011 - 23.11.2011]

In: Borsdorf, A., J. Stötter & E. Veulliet (Eds.), Managing Alpine Future II - Inspire and drive sustainable mountain regions. , Proceedings of the Innsbruck Conference, November 21-23, 2011. (= IGF-Forschungsberichte 4). Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften: Wien. p. 203-211; ISBN: 978-3-7001-7153-3

Valese E., Conedera M., Vacik H., Japelj A., Beck A., Cocca G., Cvenkel H., Di Narda N., Ghiringhelli A., Lemessi A., Mangiavillano A., Pelfini F., Pelosini R., Ryser D., Wastl C. (2011): Wildfires in the Alpine region: first results from the ALP FFIRS project . [Poster]
[5th International Wildland Fire Conference Wildfire 2011, Sun City, South Africa, 09.05.2011 - 13.05.2011]

In: Working on Fire (Eds.) , Living with Fire, Adressing Global Change through Integrated Fire Management, www.wildfire2011.org

Vacik H. (2011): ALP FFIRS Tagung und Projekttreffen in Hermagor.

Kärntner Forstverein Information (KFV Info), 65, 20-21 FullText

Arpaci A., Beck A., Formayer H., Vacik H. (2010): Interpretation of fire weather indices as means for the definitionof fire danger levels for different eco-regions in Austria. [Poster]
[6th International Conference on Forest Fire Research 2010, Coimbra, Portugal, 15.11.2010 - 18.11.2010]

In: D.X. Viegas, Abstracts of the 6th international conference on Forest Fire Research; ISBN: 978-989-20-2157-7

Arpaci A., Lexer M.J.,Seidl R.,Vacik H. (2010): Developing novel fuel models for the eastern Alps to simulate fuel dynamics in an ecosystem model. [Poster]
[6th International Conference on Forest Fire Research 2010, Coimbra, Portugal, 15.11.2010 - 18.11.2010]

In: D.X. Viegas, Abstracts oh the 6.th International Conference on Forest Fire Research; ISBN: 978-989-20-2157-7

Arpaci A., Mattiuzzi M., Cai D., Lexer M.J., Gossow H., Vacik H. (2010): Aufbereitung der Datengrundlagen für die Beschreibung des Waldbrandverhaltens für Kiefernwälder in Österreich.
[AGIT 2010, Salzburg, Austria, 07.07.2010 - 09.07.2010]

In: (Hrsg) Strobl/Blaschke/Griesebner, Angewandte Geoinformatik 2010, Beiträge zum 22. AGIT Symposium Salzburg http://www.vde-verlag.de/proceedings-en/537495107.html, 834-840; ISBN: 978-3-87907-495-2

Valese, E., Beck A., Comini B., Conedera M., Cvenkel H., Di Narda N., Ghiringhelli A., Japelj A., Lemessi A., Mangiavillano A., Pelfini F. , Pelosini R., Ryser D., Vacik H., Wastl C. (2010): The Alpine Forest Fire Warning System (ALP FFIRS) project. [Poster]
[6th International Conference on Forest Fire Research 2010, Coimbra, Portugal, 15.11.2010 - 18.11.2010]

In: D. X. Viegas (Ed.), Proceedings of the VI International Conf. on Forest Fire Research

Gossow, H; Hafellner R; Vacik H; Huber T (2009): Major Fire Issues in the Euro-Alpine Region – the Austrian Alps.

International Forest Fire News (IFFN), 38, 1-10; ISSN 1029-0864 FullText

Arndt N., Arpaci A., Gossow H., Ruiz Rodrigo P., Vacik H. (2009): A forest fire hazard based on the estimation of tourist hot spot activities in Austria.
[7th International EARSeL Workshop 2009, Matera, Italy, 02.09.2009 - 05.09.2009]

In: Chuvieco, E., Lasaponara, R., Advances in Remote Sensing and GIS applications in Forest Fire Management Towards an operational use of Remote Sensing in Forest Fire Management, Published for: EARSeL, European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories by Il Segno, Potenza (Italy), Seite 51-55; ISBN: 978-88-904367-0-3

Arpaci A., Arndt N., Lexer M.J., Matiuzzi M., Müller M., Vacik H. (2009): Classivicaion of site and stand characteristics based on remote sensing data for the development of Fuel models within a 3D Gap forest stand model.
[7th International EARSeL Workshop 2009, Matera, Italy, 02.09.2009 - 05.09.2009]

In: Chuvieco E., Lasaponara R., Advances on Remote Sensing and GIS applications in Forest Fire Management Towards an operational use of Remote Sensing in Forest Fire Management, Published for: EARSeL, European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories, published by Il Segno, Potenza (Italy), Seite 57-62; ISBN: 978-88-904367-0-3

Vorträge

Vacik, H (2023): Sub-Regional Euro-Alpine Wildland Fire Network of the the Global Wildland Fire Network. [Poster]

8th International Wildland Fire Conference, Governance Principles: Towards and International Framework, 16.05.2023 - 19.05.2023, Porto

Vacik H. (2011): ALP FFIRS - Alpine Forest Fire Warning System .

, Mid-Term Conference MANFRED , March, 10, 2011, Vienna

Müller, MM; Diendorfer, G; Arpaci, A; Gossow, H; Formayer, H; Vacik, H (2010): Analysis of lightning induced forest fires in Austria. [Poster]

ALP FFIRS 3rd General Meeting, MAY 5-7, 2010, Hermagor, AUSTRIA

Vacik H. (2010): Report on activities in the regional Euro-Alpine Network .

, Joint Meetings of the UNISDR Wildland Fire Advisory Group (WFAG), the Fire Aviation Working Group (FAWG), International Liaison Committee (ILC) for the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference and Fire Management Actions Alliance (FMAA), 26-29.June 2010 , Freiburg

© BOKU Wien Imprint