Comprehensive Security Research to Contribute to Critical Infrastructure Protection Contributions to Security Governance in Disaster Risk Reduction

Critical infrastructure protection (CIP) has become a major issue in civil security, emergency management and natural hazard management. The all-hazard approach has gained ground on the international scale, and the “comprehensive approach” in security policies and security research has been advanced in order to meet current and future threats based on better integrated information, assessment, policies and capabilities. This paper aims to showcase this “comprehensive approach”, highlighting its character and cross-links to CI and natural hazard and disaster management. The paper also contributes to a broader perspective on CIP by addressing current European political concepts and socio-cultural conditions, as well as possible future EU roles. A focus is put on international critical infrastructure (CI) risks, and results from an Integrated Risk Taxonomy are presented. The paper concludes with proposing socio-cultural aspects for future research topics related to CI risks and security governance

Green Facades – How they Matter for Working Environments, Public Spaces and the Livability of a City

Sustainable urban development is the focus of many research initiatives, especially due to increasing urbanization and climate change. Buildings and their renovation are central to the European "Green Deal". In the new Austrian climate and energy program, the topic of buildings comes first with a target renovation rate of 3%. Current climate change adaptation strategies call for an increase in greening of existing buildings and on facades. Public spaces are shaped by the surrounding buildings. The facades and roofs of these buildings can have a high potential to mitigate urban heat island effects. Social change and innovation in working cultures result in reshaping working environments and the need for public space. Large-scale glass buildings are widely considered architectural highlights, but pose problematic challenges to urban spaces. Glass has a significant impact on the microclimate inside the building and in the immediate outdoor environment: a concentration of radiant energy and high indoor temperatures put a strain on the energy balance and the well-being of the occupants. The retrofit greening of glass facades is a gap in building expertise and there is a lack of standard applications for the retrofit shading and insulation of glass buildings to obtain associated microclimatic benefits. The project GLASGrün aims to develop, implement, test and monitor modular vertical greening standards for active external shading by deciduous plants on commercial buildings with large glazed facades. Transferable modular-based designs are to be developed. Additionally, sociological surveys on acceptance and perception will be implemented. GLASGrün generates quantitative data on energy, temperature and microclimate balance as well as qualitative data on the perception of the building situation before and after greening interventions and on public awareness. New findings on the acceptance and well-being of employees and customers, on purchasing behavior and market-economic parameters will be available. GLASGrün is developing guidelines for constructive solutions, submission processes and care and maintenance management plans for the systems under consideration and for the vertical green standards tested, which are scalable and transferable and form an economic basis for future adaptations of further buildings as well as for their maintenance. A socio-ecological transformation faces the challenge of how integrated solutions can be developed in dialogue with the users and to what extent these produce the desired effects such as greenhouse gas reduction or better indoor climate. On the other hand, the best solutions in the technical sense can also fail due to social barriers: the acceptance of decision-makers, a lack of willingness to cooperate on the part of employees, or a loss of image in the neighborhood, to name just a few examples. Acceptance depends amongst other factors on both the concrete technical implementation and the process of introduction. Thus, acceptance is not a static variable, but is in a relationship with the technical solution options themselves. Public spaces are key to the discussion on sustainable urban development in their function against urban heat islands. Their diversity of uses and users allows for both a broad discussion and start of discourses and the testing of innovative sustainable measures, in this case greening of facades on buildings perceived in public space. In this paper we will present 2 case studies in Austria with the first results of interviews with employees and users of glass facade buildings and the users of public space

Alnus ssp. zur Rutschungsaufforstung am Beispiel der Stambachmure, Oberösterreich - Eine Quantifizierung der ingenieurbiologischen Leistung von Erlenbeständen : eine Quantifizierung der ingenieurbiologischen Leistung von Erlenbeständen

Aufforstungen mit Pioniergehölzen stellen eine wichtige Ergänzung zu technischen Stabilisierungs- und Entwässerungsmaßnahmen in Rutschflächen dar. Anhand einer Erlenaufforstung aus den 80-iger Jahren wurde versucht, die ingenieurbiologische Leistung der Erlen zu quantifizieren. Die Interaktionen zwischen Bodenstatus, Bestandes- und Biomassestrukturen sowie der Wasserhaushalt an Problemstandorten werden aufgezeigt. Neben der Analyse von bodenphysikalischen und mineralogischen Parameter sowie einer Bestandesanalyse auf Basis des festen Probekreisverfahrens wurden Stammzahlreduktionen zur Untersuchung der Stockausschlagfähigkeit durchgeführt. Bodenwassergehalt und Interzeption wurden von 2001 bis 2002 gemessen. Mit Hilfe der Wasserbilanz wurden Evapotranspirationsraten für ausgewählte Perioden generiert. Zur bodenspezifischen Feldkalibrierung der Bodenfeuchtesensoren (CS 615 WCR) wurden lineare und multiple Regressionsmodelle entwickelt. Eine Reihe von biometrischen Kennwerten sowie der Blattflächenindex (LAI) wurden erhoben. Über die regressionsanalytische Methode wurden allometrische Beziehungen zwischen ln-transformierten Baumparametern und Biomassefraktionen entwickelt. Bei der Bodentextur Ton werden die mineralogischen Komponenten weitgehend von quellbaren Tonmineralen dominiert, die außergewöhnlich nasse Bodenkonditionenn (Wasseranteil bis 0,79 m3 m-3) bedingen. Bei 7.023 Stämmen pro Hektar bildeten sich 18 t/ha oberirdische Biomasse bei einem LAI von 1,5. Großflächige Stangenholzentnahme erwies sich für die Regeneration durch Stockausschlag als vorteilhafter. Mit Interzeptionsraten bis 258,3 mm und Evapotranspirationsraten bis 731,8 mm leistet der Erlenbestand einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Beeinflussung des Wasserhaushaltes in der ehemaligen Rutschung.Afforestation of slopes damaged by mass movements is an essential part of technical stabilisation and drainage measures. The thesis was carried out to quantify the soil bioengineering performance of a 20 years old alder stand, which was established after a large-scale slide in 1982. To demonstrate the interactions between soil status, stand and biomass structures and the hydrological functions on difficult sites, soil physical and mineralogical analyses and stand analyses based on sample plot surveys were carried out. Stem reduction served to validate the regeneration capacity after coppicing. During 2001 and 2002 soil water content and interception were measured continuously. Soil specific linear and multiple regression models were developed to calibrate the soil moisture sensors (CS 615 WCR) using field data. Using the water balance equation, evapotranspiration rates of selected periods were generated. A series of biometric parameters including the leaf area index (LAI), were evaluated. Allometric functions between ln-transformed tree parameters and biomass fractions were computed using the regression analytical method. The soil texture of the former landslide is clay, its mineralogical components are dominated by swelling clay minerals leading saturated conditions throughout the year (water content up to 0.79 m3 m-3). At 7,023 stems per hectare, the total stand biomass equated to 18 t/ha having an LAI of 1.5. Full pole wood removal proved to be more advantageous for coppice sprouting. Despite unfavourable site conditions the alder stand produced considerable above ground biomass. Interception up to 258.3 mm and evapotranspiration up to 731.8 mm show that the water regime of former land slides can be efficiently influenced by artificial establishment of alder forests.eingereicht von Rosemarie StanglAbweichender Titel laut Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersZsfassung in engl. SpracheWien, Univ. für Bodenkultur, Diss., 2008OeBB(VLID)193073

Green Infrastructures and the Consideration of Their Soil-Related Ecosystem Services in Urban Areas—A Systematic Literature Review

Although urban soils are strongly influenced by human activities, they provide a wide range of Ecosystem Services (ES) as long as they are not sealed off. This is a major sustainability issue as the loss of soil functions directly impacts ES and further on the possibility to adapt to the effects of the climate crisis. Green Infrastructure (GI) measures can be utilized to restore previously covered soil surfaces and compensate for lost soil functions. We conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the extent of peer-reviewed publications on GI measures in (peri-) urban areas covering soil-related ES. After identifying the relevant publications (n = 284), we generated an overview of the annual, spatial, and thematic distribution of the publications. Then, we employed an extended content analysis of the published focus topics to assess the representation of soil-related ES provided by GI. The content analysis revealed that the representation of soil-related ES in GI measures focused heavily on the contribution of soil to stormwater management. Detailed assessment of the interconnection of GI measures with key soil-related ES were missing. So far, the assessment of the loss of soil-related ES is not covered extensively in GI research publications

Urban Green Infrastructure and Green Open Spaces: An Issue of Social Fairness in Times of COVID-19 Crisis

At the time of the restrictions and lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, it became apparent how difficult it is for city dwellers to adhere to the prescribed behavioural measures and the protective distance in densely built urban areas. Inner-city parks and green spaces were heavily used for recreational purposes and were thus periodically overcrowded. These observations highlight the need for green open spaces in urban areas, especially in exceptional situations regarding pandemics and climate-related heat periods. Green open spaces and greened buildings help cities and the population cope with the consequences of climate change and have a decisive positive effect on human health and well-being. This paper aims to outline which social issues are related to the availability of green infrastructure close to home and which health consequences need to be considered. The COVID-19 challenges could offer a chance and an opportunity to increase the resilience of cities and their inhabitants in various terms. A cross-disciplinary team of authors (public health, urban and landscape planning, landscaping and vegetation technologies science) describes and discusses challenges and opportunities that arise from this crisis for cities from an inter-disciplinary perspective, concluding that urban green infrastructure helps in two ways: to adapt to climate change and the challenges posed by COVID-19

Design and temporal issues in Soil Bioengineering structures for the stabilisation of shallow soil movements

In the last decades, soil bioengineering has gained considerable popularity worldwide, especially in hillslope, riverbank, and earth embankment stabilisation works. The use of plants as a building material transfers the plant multifunctionality within engineering structures and meets the demand rising from society for more environmental-friendly approaches to structure design. In addition, soil bioengineering approach complies with public policies, such as EU strategies concerning the green infrastructures, the circular economy and the green deal, as well as the global framework defined by the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Despite the widespread use of soil bioengineering techniques and their adherence to the new directions of public policies, however, quantitative and temporal aspects of soil bioengineering approach are not fully considered. Construction criteria typical of civil engineering approaches, such as safety, serviceability and duration, need to be evaluated and fulfilled by bioengineering measures in an analog way as for technical construction, with the additional effort to consider spatial and temporal variability of their properties. In particular, it must be considered at the same time the dynamic temporal development of vegetation (especially the dynamic of root reinforcement) and the decrease in strength of some additive construction ma-terial (e.g. wood decay). A comprehensive design scheme, comparable with the one for conventional engineering structures, is still lacking. In this paper, knowledge and tools aiming to address the above issues, are reviewed, with particular reference to points associated with the structural stability of soil bioengineering structures for shallow landslide stabili-sation. The paper: - provides the background to the traditional engineering design for slope stabilisation, and the normative state of the art of geotechnical and construction design, as well as the residual risk of slope stabilisation; - considers the temporal issues associated with the vegetation and the effect of soil bioengineering structures on the stability of natural, man-made, and anthropogenically influenced slopes; - develops a decision framework for soil bioengineering applications that explicitly considers quantitative and temporal aspects of soil bioengineering approach, highlighting critical parameters governing the design with vegetation against shallow slope instability; - critically debates the issues of the quantifiability of vegetated slopes and the use of permanent and temporary inert material

Design and temporal issues in Soil Bioengineering structures for the stabilisation of shallow soil movements

In the last decades, soil bioengineering has gained considerable popularity worldwide, especially in hillslope, riverbank, and earth embankment stabilisation works. The use of plants as a building material transfers the plant multifunctionality within engineering structures and meets the demand rising from society for more environmental-friendly approaches to structure design. In addition, soil bioengineering approach complies with public policies, such as EU strategies concerning the green infrastructures, the circular economy and the green deal, as well as the global framework defined by the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Despite the widespread use of soil bioengineering techniques and their adherence to the new directions of public policies, however, quantitative and temporal aspects of soil bioengineering approach are not fully considered. Construction criteria typical of civil engineering approaches, such as safety, serviceability and duration, need to be evaluated and fulfilled by bioengineering measures in an analog way as for technical construction, with the additional effort to consider spatial and temporal variability of their properties. In particular, it must be considered at the same time the dynamic temporal development of vegetation (especially the dynamic of root reinforcement) and the decrease in strength of some additive construction ma-terial (e.g. wood decay). A comprehensive design scheme, comparable with the one for conventional engineering structures, is still lacking. In this paper, knowledge and tools aiming to address the above issues, are reviewed, with particular reference to points associated with the structural stability of soil bioengineering structures for shallow landslide stabili-sation. The paper: - provides the background to the traditional engineering design for slope stabilisation, and the normative state of the art of geotechnical and construction design, as well as the residual risk of slope stabilisation; - considers the temporal issues associated with the vegetation and the effect of soil bioengineering structures on the stability of natural, man-made, and anthropogenically influenced slopes; - develops a decision framework for soil bioengineering applications that explicitly considers quantitative and temporal aspects of soil bioengineering approach, highlighting critical parameters governing the design with vegetation against shallow slope instability; - critically debates the issues of the quantifiability of vegetated slopes and the use of permanent and temporary inert material

Towards the Circular Soil Concept: Optimization of Engineered Soils for Green Infrastructure Application

At conventional construction sites, the removal of soil and other excavated materials causes enormous mass movement, with a significant climate impact and contribution to global CO2 release. This study aimed to generate a Circular Soil concept for reusing excavated materials by creating engineered soils for landscape construction at large building sites. Engineered soils act as a substitute for natural soils and fulfill vital technical and soil functions when installing an urban green infrastructure (GI). In a field study, the vegetation performance on engineered soils was evaluated to establish a methodological approach, to assess the applicability of the Circular Soil concept. First, the technical specifications (grain-size distribution) were modeled for intensive green roof and turfgrass applications. Then, the soil components were optimized, mixed, installed and tested for greenery purposes, focusing on plant growth performance indicators (vitality, projective cover ratio and grass-herb ratio) to assess the vegetation performance. The results showed that the engineered soils match the performance of the reference soil alternatives. In conclusion, the Circular Soil concept has a high potential to contribute considerably to sustainable on-site soil management and the circular economy. It can be applied on a larger scale for urban GI development and sustainable resources management in the landscaping and construction sector