Photo: Martin Edlinger
Disaster Competence Network Austria (DCNA) acts as a link between scientific research and practitioners in crisis and disaster management. Through knowledge and technology transfer, findings from basic research are implemented and directed to those interested in security and disaster research in Austria and beyond.
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DCNA has expanded its mobile research laboratory with a state-of-the-art quadruped robot: the Unitree GO2-W. Compact, agile, and robust, this legged robot complements the existing equipment consisting of a laboratory bus, pick-up vehicle, drone, and the Mercator robotic platform, opening up new perspectives for research and deployment in realistic crisis and disaster environments.
Avalanches are rare but potentially devastating natural hazards in alpine regions. In Austria, decades of experience with historical disaster events have led to the development of a dense and internationally recognised system of prevention, warning, and protection mechanisms. How these structures interact today—and why their continuous evolution is essential—is examined in the article “Between Risk and Resilience – Avalanche Hazard in the Alps,” published in the Blaulicht magazine (January 2026).
What new developments and insights are emerging in avalanche and glacier research? These and other questions will be addressed in a DRR Stammtisch webinar hosted by DCNA on February 25, 2026. The event is aimed at researchers, emergency responders, and mountain rescue professionals, and will feature two keynote presentations by Andrea Fischer (Austrian Academy of Sciences) and Jan-Thomas Fischer (Austrian Research Centre for Forests), followed by a Q&A session.