The project partnership consists of 9 organisations from 7 Central European countries (Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Germany, Croatia).
PROJECT COORDINATOR
ISAC is the largest atmospheric sciences institute of CNR and one of the leading institutes of the Department of Earth System Sciences and Environmental Technologies. It is composed of seven units spread throughout the country (Bologna, Lecce, Rome, Turin, Padua, Lamezia and Cagliari) and its highly multidisciplinary research addresses many fundamental aspects of atmospheric physics, chemistry and biology relevant to environmental protection. ISAC has a strong multidisciplinary portfolio with links to high level national and international research groups. The ISAC research team involved in STRENCH aims to assess, predict and manage the impact of natural, environmental and anthropogenic hazards on built heritage and cultural landscapes, including the effects of extreme events:
- Investigation of interactions between cultural heritage and the environment;
- Modelling and experimental activities to develop tools (risk indicators and maps, damage functions) for quantitative assessment of the impact of climate change and multiple hazards on cultural heritage;
- Vulnerability and risk assessments of natural and cultural heritage and definition of strategies for its protection and conservation (prevention, emergency, restoration).
Project Partners
Center for Cultural Property Protection – University for Continuing Education Krems (UWK), Austria
The University for Continuing Education Krems is a public university for academic continuing education with a research focus on current and future societal challenges. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape of Wachau, it attaches great importance to the respectful and sustainable treatment of cultural heritage. With its Center for Cultural Property Protection, it has special expertise and extensive experience in the protection of cultural heritage from (climate-related) natural disasters and in cost-effective precautionary measures for movable and immovable cultural property. The Center takes a holistic approach, collaborating with high-level professors, institutions and educators in the field of risk management and cultural property protection, and drawing on a broad network of emergency responders for the protection of cultural heritage. There is close cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces and with national and international, governmental and non-governmental institutions in the field of cultural heritage protection, such as UNESCO, ICCROM and ICOMOS. In addition to its extensive teaching programme, the Center also conducts prototype exercises for the recovery of cultural property.
Ústav teoretické a aplikované mechaniky Akademie věd České republiky | Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ITAM CAS), Czech Republic
ITAM conducts scientific research in the field of solid mechanics, in particular micromechanics, biomechanics of solids, statistical dynamics of systems and media, nonlinear system mechanics, failure processes of materials, mechanics of multifunctional materials, mechanics of particulate media, and computational and numerical mechanics. Further research focuses on the economic evaluation of structures and buildings, including the development of proposals for new methods for special buildings and structures, and the evaluation of environmental and territorial impacts, especially in the preservation and evaluation of historical buildings and settlements.
In order to preserve the architectural and built heritage, broader interdisciplinary research on historic materials, structures and sites has been developed in recent years. This includes the development of methods for diagnosing, monitoring and analysing damage, particularly to timber and masonry structures, as well as methods for surveying, examining, documenting, consolidating and conserving them.
Fondazione Villa Ghigi | Villa Ghigi Foundation (FVG), Italy
Founded in 2001 as a joint initiative of the City, the Province and the University of Bologna, the FVG is the successor to the former Centro Villa Ghigi (founded in 1980). Its mission is to preserve and manage the 30-hectare Villa Ghigi public park, located near the city and set in Bologna's unique hilly landscape, as well as other public parks in the Bologna area. FVG's main focus is on the careful planning and management of public green spaces, which must combine sustainable management with the preservation of the ecological and historical aspects of the site. FVG is strongly committed to promoting environmental and nature awareness among schools, citizens and tourists by organising outdoor educational activities, training courses and indoor laboratories, as well as public initiatives and events. Other activities include publications on parks, nature trails and nature sites, and health care through garden therapy programmes.
SISTEMA GmbH (SISTEMA), Austria
SISTEMA GmbH is a privately owned company founded in Vienna in 2009. SISTEMA offers a wide range of products and services based on remote sensing analysis techniques and IT applications. Thematic services include meteorological, environmental and special applications/services.
SISTEMA has many years of experience in thematic projects supporting atmospheric research, forestry, cultural heritage protection, climate change resilience and emergency support for NGOs.
Balatoni Integrációs Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft | Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency (LBDCA), Hungary
LBDCA is a non-profit organisation established by the Balaton Development Council in 2000. The Agency carries out professional and operational tasks to promote the development of the Balaton Recreation Area in connection with the activities of the Council. One of the main activities of the Agency is to participate in the preparation and implementation of regional development programmes. LBDCA participates in several international projects in order to promote the development of the region and to make cooperation more effective. The Agency aims to protect the natural values of Lake Balaton and to strengthen the competitiveness of the region on an international level by learning and adopting best practices from abroad.
Urbanistični inštitut Republike Slovenije | Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (UIRS), Slovenia
Founded more than 50 years ago, UIRS is the most important national urban research institute in Slovenia. It researches open spaces, architectural sites and cultural heritage and develops innovative methods and tools. UIRS researchers are an interdisciplinary group of experts from various fields and disciplines, including architecture, landscape planning, surveying, agronomy, geography, sociology, urban economics, art history and urban planning. The Institute of Urban Planning has been involved in several EU and national projects dealing with the sustainable management of historic urban areas in terms of heritage conservation, climate change issues and the development and application of ICT tools.
Landkreis Forchheim | District Council Forchheim (LRA FO), Germany
The District Council Forchheim is a local authority of the administrative district Forchheim. It provides public services and infrastructure, e.g. public transport and roads, social services, landscape and climate protection, agricultural services, especially fruit growing. The typical cultural landscape with fruit growing (especially cherries) and half-timbered houses in the valleys must be protected from the challenges of climate change.
Općine Dugopolje | Municipality of Dugopolje (MoD), Croatia
The Municipality of Dugopolje is a local public authority in the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The Municipality carries out activities of local importance that directly address the needs of citizens, as well as activities related to the protection and improvement of the natural environment and cultural heritage at the local level. The vision of the Municipality of Dugopolje is to unite its own geographical, natural, spatial and cultural resources in order to become an example of successful local development based on the preservation of valuable cultural and natural heritage, tourism and innovative entrepreneurship.
ASSOCIATED PARTNERS OF UNIVERSITY FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION KREMS
As a federal ministry, the BMKOES is one of Austria's highest authorities and is responsible, among other things, for the Department of Art and Culture, which includes the UNESCO Department. It supervises the politically subordinate departments and administers the public funds for this area. Unit IV/B/4/a - UNESCO is responsible for UNESCO World Heritage affairs, national coordination of the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, department-specific technical issues in the fields of architecture, building and ground monument conservation and cultural landscapes, as well as international heritage conservation affairs.
Denkmalwerkstatt im Holzingerhaus | Monument workshop in the Holzingerhaus, Austria
The original medieval buildings of the Holzingerhaus in the city of Krems were extended in 1599 by Christoph Holzinger, who gave the building its current name. From 2016 to 2018, a general renovation was carried out, which was urgently needed due to structural damage. The building was carefully repaired and the artistic furnishings, especially the rich original stucco, were renewed. In 2018, the Monument workshop moved into its premises in this building. It offers advice, documents the history of historic buildings and demonstrates how conservation works.
The Office of the Lower Austrian Government Department of Art and Culture is committed to implementing innovative strategies in line with the Sendai Framework at the regional level and is involved in the planned summer school in Austria and in dissemination activities.
Österreichische UNESCO-Kommission | Austrian Commission for UNESCO (ÖUK), Austria
The ÖUK is the national coordinating and liaison body of UNESCO. It was founded on 14 September 1949, following Austria's accession to UNESCO in 1948. Its task is to advise the federal government, the provincial governments and other competent bodies on all questions arising from Austria's membership in UNESCO, to assist in the implementation of programmes, to inform the public about the work of UNESCO and to bring institutions, specialised organisations and experts into contact with the organisation. It ensures the presence of UNESCO in Austria and represents UNESCO in Austria as the holder of the name and logo.
