Munich Alpine Hazards and Mitigation Cluster (AlpHaz)

The AlpHaz Cluster aims at cooperating research and teaching on Alpine Hazards and related risks and mitigation.

Alpine hazards are typically triggered by the downhill movement of water, snow, ice, debris and rocks (UNDRO, 1991), but we also include indirect hazards in mountains and forelands conditioned by high mountain areas. The vulnerability to alpine hazards is controlled by confined space for settlement and economic activities, concentrated assets and infrastructure nearby water bodies and risky areas, missing possibility for redundant structures and for the substitution of lifelines, transit and a high variability of residents (Pfurtscheller & Thieken 2012). Such specific patterns of alpine risks can be found in all mountain systems worldwide and are highly susceptible to global change in its natural and social dimension.

The AlpHaz Cluster seeks to coordinate different kinds of expertise in teaching and research. The platform is based at the TUM-BGU with strong cooperations to academic, governmental and private partners as well as cooperating research institutes. AlpHaz is understood as dynamic cluster that aims at developing enhanced cooperation, fostering scientific and applied research and identifying synergies and future research needs in the field of Alpine Hazards and Risks.