Austria has repeatedly been affected by severe flooding and high water in the past decades. Due to the climate crisis, the probability of these events is increasing even more. Immediately after 2002, when an immense flood affected the country, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management (BML) and the Austrian Insurance Association VVO launched the project HORA (Flood Risk Zoning Austria,"Hochwasserrisikozonierung Austria") in order to better record and assess damage potentials in the future. The digital hazard map HORA has been available since June 2006. It is intended to increase the population's risk awareness for natural hazards and to encourage people to take independent precautions for their safety.
From HORA to HORA 3D with simulations and modeling
From now on, HORA can also present data three-dimensionally on the basis of online simulations of various events or also the effects of individual prevention measures. This addition was technically implemented with the flood simulation software Visdom from the VRVis Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization. The basis for this is flood modeling by the TU Wien, under the direction of Prof. Günter Blöschl. With HORA 3D, flood risks throughout Austria can be depicted within a few seconds in interactive and very detailed 3D scenarios in an easily understandable way. Everyone can thus carry out a personalized risk assessment for flood events and take appropriate precautions.
Vienna, June 1st 2023