Past Projects

ENSURE - Enhancing resilience of communities and territories facing natural and na-tech hazards (finalised - 2011)

ENSURE Project Website

The project attempts to develop a new methodological framework for an integrated Multi-Scale Vulnerability Assessment, based on comprehensive, integrated and inter-disciplinary understanding of how adaptation strategies can be improved in the future in order to reduce losses, economic damages and social discomfort of communities exposed to natural hazards and potential consequences of climate change (financed by EU 7FRP).

Contact: J. Kropp, L. Costa

CI:grasp - Climate Impacts: Global & Regional Adaptation Support Platform (finalised - 2011)

 CI:grasp aims to provide a sound information basis for decision makers and development experts in third world countries. By doing this, existing and newly generated information will be processed adequately and supplied by utilization of modern web and mapping technologies. It is the aim of the project to perform this on a local scale and in addition combine top-down and bottom-up approaches. Central element is a layered and accessible platform providing knowledge about regional climate forcings, its related impacts, and systematic regional vulnerability assessments. A major advantage of the platform is that it integrates adaptation expertise. Parallel systematization and assessment of this information should open the way towards a more formalized adaptation research. CI:grasp performs local case studies in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Tunisia, and South-Africa (financed by BMU).

Contact: J. Kropp, N. Rudolf

WAKE III - Climate Impacts, Vulnerabilities and Adaptation Strategies in European Focus Regions (finalised - 2010)

The policy oriented project addresses the challenge of adaptation to climate change in sensitive regions in Europe by assessing needs, barriers and drivers of adaptation. In 2007 and 2008 the project focussed on the impacts of climate change on water availability in the European Alps and potential adaptation strategies. Vulnerability and adaptation options are analyzed in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders and decision makers. In 2009 a guideline for regional adaptation will be developed (financed by EEA/UBA).

Contact: N. Rudolf

Adaptation aux Changements Climatiques au Maroc (ACCMA - finalised 2010)

english website

french website

Morocco is one of the countries in northern Africa which is already and will be particularly affected by adverse effects of climate change. In parallel several provinces have defined ambitious (economic) growth targets (extension and development of touristic resorts) which may lead several regions to its ecological limits (e.g. with regard to water resources). It is the goal of the project to estimate the action leeways, support educating and sustainable decision making in the provinces Nador and Berkane (financed by IDRC/DIFID).

Contact: J. Kropp, N. Rudolf

Saxony-Anhalt Climate Change Study (LSA - finalised 2010)

download full report as pdf (19 MB)

download annex (17 MB)

download summary (2,5 MB)

The study focused on climate change effects in the natural sphere (e.g. foresty, phenology, water, etc.). Possible changes were estimated and assessed. The were based on three different scenarios and two different models (financed by MLU).

North Rhine-Westphalia Vulnerability & Adaptation Study (NRWII - finalised 2009)

download full report as pdf (low resolution, 12 MB, in German only)

download full report as pdf (high resolution, 53 MB!, in German only)

North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populated state of Germany. The study estimates on a small-scale level (municipality level and below) the vulnerability for seven different sectors (agriculture, forestry, environmental protection, hydrology including energy, human health,  tourism and city planning) to climate change. Based on the results adaptation options for these sectors are identified (financed by MUNLV). Find more information on our German page.

Applied multi Risk Mapping of Natural Hazards for Impact Assessment (ARMONIA, finished 2007)

website

ARMONIA provided the EU with a set of harmonised methodologies for producing integrated risk maps to achieve more effective spatial planning procedures in areas prone to natural disasters in Europe (financed by EU FRP6).

Developing Policies & Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region (ASTRA, finished 2007)

website

ASTRA assessed regional impacts of the ongoing global change in climate and developed strategies and policies for climate change adaptation. The project addressed threats arising from climate change in the region, such as extreme temperatures, droughts, forest fires, storm surges, winter storms and floods. In order to elaborate adaptation and mitigation strategies regional and local spatial planners and stakeholders were involved throughout the project lifetime. The project was awarded with the Amber Tree Award by the INTERREG office for its foresighted vision (financed by INTERREG BSR)

Common European Strategy for sustainable natural and induced technological hazard mitigation (SCENARIO, finished 2007)

website
The aim of the Scenario project, financed under the Strategic Support Action of the EU Commission, was to provide ideas regarding the potential threats menacing Europe in the future, particularly in the field of natural and na-tech hazards, and about how communities’ exposure and vulnerability will contribute to shape and change future risks (financed by EU 6FRP).

Scaling and Extreme Value Analysis of Hydrometeorological Time Series Data (SCALING, finished 2005)

website
The project developed new statistical methods for extreme value assessment and detection of correlation in finite and non-stationary data series. The newly developed techniques were tested with hydrologist from water management boards and implemented into practice (financed by BMBF).

Urban Sprawl: European Patterns, Environmental Degradation and Sustainable Development (URBS PANDENS, finished 2005)

website
URBS PANDENS provides  an integrated impact assessment of regulations, incentives, economic instruments and infrastructure measures on urban sprawl. Within the project several policies as imposed by European, national and regional agencies were  investigated and options for improvement were developed (financed by EU 6FRP).

Contact: M. Lüdeke

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