Geographic information systems in mountain risk and disaster management

Abstract

Mountain risk and disaster management (MRDM) and natural hazards are in alpine countries a national task. Natural hazards in alpine spaces are represented by floods, avalanches, landslides, rock falls and debris flows. MRDM is a very complex system which includes many technical and administrative components. MRDM is based on legal acts and regulations enforced by different federal political levels and departments. A big desire of all involved participants in MRDM is to get simple solutions in this complexity. Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control has to keep a TAC. With the support of geographic information systems (GIS) it was possible to create a digital TAC. The digital TAC is diverted into different modules: torrent areas, avalanche areas, hazard zone maps, etc. Each module has its own character, but act also interactive. In view of data security TAC has no public access. For public information supply objects can be exported from digital TAC. Only when technical and legal work of an object is correct it can be send through a data tunnel to WebGIS portals with permanent public access for further public use. This paper gives a basic insight into digital TAC supported by GIS which is used in the offices of Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control.