Study Areas

This chapter discusses the study areas located in Lower Austria, specifically in the Austrian Alpine Foreland region, which lies between the northern foothills of the Alps and the Danube River. Characterized by gentle to hilly terrains, these areas are composed of soft, non-consolidated sediments, making them highly suitable for agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development. The region’s geological makeup is significant, being part of the molasse zone, a sequence of detrital sediments from the Late Eocene to Middle Miocene, indicative of the erosion of the nearby Alps. This geological context, combined with the region’s natural conditions, presents specific challenges and opportunities for understanding and managing landslide risks. The chapter emphasizes the importance of the study areas’ unique geological and environmental characteristics, which are crucial for the effective analysis of landslide processes and the development of hazard maps.