ALPMON FINAL REPORT - ARC systems research

Contract ENV4-CT96-0359 ALPMON
density, management type and intensity, erosion zones, avalanche risk zones, etc.. This should allow the
identification of developments which might lead to disastrous events. The quantification of the risk
potential caused by the observed trends of decreasing protection function of forests in the alpine
environment should allow the administration to take preventive measures.
The research results should be used as input parameters for models, which simulate the effects of global
change on alpine ecosystems. Based on the results the development of scenarios should be done, taking
into account the differing predictions of models or, especially for the socio-economic sector, follow on
effects of EU legal frameworks and especially the subsidies policy (Agenda 2000, etc.).
Taking into account the upper considerations a technical/methodological development on RS data
handling and preparation as well as the resulting improvements for thematic evaluation chains can be
observed these days. The final products to be offered in the future to the customers are multi-criterial
evaluation procedures, able to contribute to decision finding on management level or really to propose a
rank of possible alternatives for specific problems. Such multi-criterial evaluation systems should focus on
the natural environment but also on socio-economic developments and their follow on effects on the
functionality of alpine ecosystems.
3.5 Exploitation
The techniques and methods developed within ALPMON are of very significant interest to all
customers. As all customers are environmental oriented organisations the main exploitation plans are
connected to possibilities to improve environmental conditions in the Alps. Internal priorities for
utilisation of the results are strong since the methods gave all partners tools to collect essential
information on the alpine environment that will be of increasing importance in the future. The expertise
and knowledge gained will secure the partners national role in researching and monitoring the
environment.
The result of this investigation were and still will be printed in research papers. It follows that
publication of results to the scientific community was a major goal. Additionally, subtask, interim, and
final reports are presented on the ALPMON homepage and may be downloaded from there. The
results also were presented in international congresses and symposiums.
The software produced in this investigation was made available for every partner and the customers.
The established databases of ALPMON were given to the customers. The customers benefit from the
methods and guidelines developed in this project. These methods can now be used for practical
planning tasks.
Another output of the project are maps illustrating the classes and environmental parameters for larger
areas. These maps may be provided on request for administration organisations as a base for
decisions.
ALU
There was very much interest shown in the results of the application 'remote sensing and tourism' by
German tourist associations and nature park administrations. This led to the planning of new tourism
projects with new partners where the results of the project will be enlarged and put up to practice.
One result of ALPMON is a virtual fly-through showing a combination of the different image data used
for the Engadine test site draped on a digital elevation model (done with ERDAS Imagine). This flythrough
will be passed on to the National Park Administration for further use in their public relations
activities.
JR
One main output of the project was the detailed classification of forest parameters with special respect
to the alpine protection forest. Methodologies have been developed and applied to derive these
parameters from high resolution satellite images. These results will be brought into projects which are
concerned with the classification and monitoring of protection forests in Austria. In this respect
Joanneum Research is negotiating with the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture as well as with the
Government of the Province of Carinthia. Among others, an INTEREG project on this topic is
envisaged together with Carinthia and Slovenia.
Furthermore, Joanneum Research is specialising in supporting the assessment of avalanche risks
from different points of view. Negotiation with the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture are in the final phase
concerning a project which shall investigate the use of laser scanner data for deriving a very detailed
JR, RSDE, ALU, LMU, Seibersdorf, WSL 90