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Expert Workshop on Risk-Adaptive Spatial and Settlement Development in Austria (RASE)

As part of the research project on Risk-Adaptive Spatial and Settlement Development in Austria, an expert workshop was held at the BMLUK.

Grouppicture of the workshop-participants

© Rosinak & Partner

On 19 June 2026, an expert workshop was held at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK) in Vienna as part of the project “Risk-Adaptive Spatial and Settlement Development in Austria” (RASE).

The research project focuses on advancing risk governance and strengthening the integration of natural hazard aspects into spatial planning and decision-making processes. Particular attention is given to challenges related to climate change, settlement pressure, and the management of building land reserves at the interface with natural hazards.

The workshop was organised as part of a cooperation between Division III/6 – Coordination of Regional Policy and Spatial Planning and Division III/4 – Torrent and Avalanche Control, Protection Forest Policy and Forest Fire Prevention at BMLUK. The project is being carried out by the Research Unit of Land Policy and Land Management, Rosinak & Partner ZT GmbH, and FALCH Spatial Planning and Regional Development.

Following the welcome by Roland Arbter and Andreas Pichler (BMLUK), and an introduction to the workshop programme and objectives by Elisabeth Stix (Rosinak & Partner), the event began with a series of expert inputs. Prof. Arthur Kanonier and Barbara Steinbrunner (Research Unit of Land Policy and Land Management) presented initial findings on the legal foundations of preventive natural hazard and risk management, with a particular focus on building land reserves and spatial planning instruments. Katharina Drage (Rosinak & Partner) introduced first results from geospatial analyses on the overlap of hazard zones and building land reserves and provided insights through initial case studies. Andreas Falch (FALCH) complemented these contributions with practical perspectives from planning practice and highlighted challenges and experiences in dealing with risk areas.

During the subsequent workshop session, experts from the fields of spatial planning, natural hazard management, academia, and public administration discussed key questions regarding challenges, action needs, and potential solutions in working groups. Particular emphasis was placed on legal frameworks, planning practice, and perspectives for preventive natural hazard management.

The discussions and shared experiences provided valuable input for the next steps of the project and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary exchange between research, administration, and planning practice.

We would like to sincerely thank all participants for the engaging discussions and their valuable contributions.