WE ARE GEORESEARCH
Climate change probably represents the most transcending challenge facing our world today. Global temperature rise is altering the face of the Earth at rates without precedent in human history. The consequences of climate change are particularly evident in high-alpine regions around the globe which are the main focus of our research interest.
- We are a non-profit research institution with core competencies in geomorphology, geoinformatics, and remote sensing. The goal of our research is to support the sustainable development of alpine regions.
- We develop fundamentals for climate change adaptation by investigating climate-driven surface and subsurface changes, related natural hazards and their impacts on lives and assets.
- We support governmental institutions and private enterprises with tailored research and knowledge transfer to reduce natural hazards and to strengthen climate resilience.
- We are not alone. We follow an inter- and transdisciplinary approach and collaborate with more than 50 national and international partners to cope with the complexity of climate change.
Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn
The immediate proximity of nature conservation, energy production, and tourism makes the Kitzsteinhorn one of the most diverse mountains in the Alps and an ideal research location. Since 2010, we have been investigating the effects of climate change on high-alpine surface and subsurface processes in the four core areas of climate, glaciers, permafrost, and rock stability. We conduct these investigations at the Open-Air Lab Kitzsteinhorn, in close collaboration with our partners.
more details...
Education & Training
Knowledge transfer is one of our most important responsibilities. Through regular courses and training, we provide participants with overviews of the current state-of-the-art technology for surveying and analyzing the Earth’s surface. Herein we focus on the communication of practical skills and hands-on expertise. Our courses empower attendees to conduct independent data collection and analysis, allowing them to generate new insights and knowledge. Currently, our training programs cover UAV photogrammetry and satellite-based InSAR techniques.
more details...
InSAR-Competence Center
Ground movements are more frequent than expected. Modern satellites directly measure them extensively and precisely in the millimeter range. This information is valuable for infrastructure planning, building monitoring, and detecting natural hazards. Together with our partner TRE ALTAMIRA, a world leader in satellite-based ground movement monitoring, we have established the InSAR Competence Center to develop innovative InSAR applications. Our focus is on alpine regions with challenging conditions such as steep rock walls and varying snow and vegetation.
more details...
Methods & Technologies
The quantitative assessment of interactions between complex systems requires a broad range of methods. For the monitoring of surface, subsurface, and atmospheric processes, we therefore rely on a variety of complementary technologies that reflect our extensive geoscientific expertise. Our range of applications extends from small-scale geotechnical in-situ measurements to geophysical subsurface investigations and large-scale satellite-based deformation analyses.
more details...
