Dr. Michael Bründl

Function

Groupleader

Snow Avalanches and Prevention

Risk and Resilience

Contact

bruendl(at)slfto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 81 417 01 72+41 81 417 01 72

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Flüelastrasse 11
7260 Davos Dorf

Site

Davos Da A 2 15

Continuing Education

2022: Systemic Organisational Development according to Trigon and SySt®, Abano Terme

2021: Facilitation Training, Abano Terme

2019: Systemic Structural Constellations (SySt®), Abano Terme

2017 - 2018: Certified Business and Private Coach, Konstanz

Academic Education

1999: Post-graduate course "Spatial information systems", ETH Zurich

1997: Dr. sc. nat., ETH Zurich, Institute for Terrestrial Ecology

1992: Diplom-Geographer (Univ.), Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich

Professional Experience

since 2021: Head of Research Group "Risk and Resilience"

since 2020: Head of Research Programme "Climate Change Impacts on Alpine Mass Movements" (CCAMM)

2012 – 2021: Head of Research Group "Avalanche Dynamics and Risk Management"

2006 – 2011: Head of Research Group "Risk Management", SLF

2001 – 2005: Team leader "Risk Management", SLF

1994 - 2000: scientific collaborator, SLF

Research Interests

Climate Change Impacts; Alpine Mass Movements; Hazard- and Risk Analysis; Risk Evaluation; Risk Management; Warning- and Information Systems; Dealing of the Society with Natural Hazards and Risks.

Teaching

since 2009: Risk Management of Natural Hazards at School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Zollikofen, Switzerland.

2009 – 2010: Risk Management of Natural Hazards, Post-Diploma Course "Protection Systems in Alpine Areas", University of Innsbruck.

2001, 2004, 2009: Natural Hazards, CAS ETH Zürich "Risk and Safety".

Fellowships

2011: Fellow "Centre for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF)", Research Group "Communicating Disaster", University of Bielefeld, Germany.

2009: Visiting Scientist at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway.

1995: Visiting Scientist at the National Hydrological Research Center NHRI, Saskatoon, Canada.

Memberships

European Geosciences Union

Swiss Snow, Ice and Permafrost Society

Professionals Natural Hazard Switzerland (FAN)

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

FORISK - Risikohinweiskarte Davos

Auf Basis der Gefahrenhinweiskarte Lawinen des Kantons Graubünden wird für zwei Gebiete in der Landschaft Davos eine Risikohinweiskarte erarbeitet.

Prospective Management Natural Hazards SBB

Development of a method and a tool for risk indication mapping of mass movements along the railway network of SBB.

Sicher Wandern 2040

Auch in Zukunft sollen die knapp 65'000km des Schweizer Wanderwegnetzes möglichst gefahrlos begangen werden können. Eine Literatursynthese soll die für das Wanderwegwesen relevanten Naturgefahren identifiziert und Auswirkungen einer Klimaveränderung abschätzen.

Snow avalanche flow regime transitions

The aim of this project is to understand how increased temperature and precipitations will affect avalanche flow behavior, in particular flow transitions, and assess consequences for hazard mapping. For this purpose, we use experimental data from Vallée de la Sionne test site and DEM modeling.

Multi-hazard risk assessment framework

The goal is to develop a multi-hazard risk assessment framework which is able to deal with several conjoint or cascading hazards as they can be expected as consequence of climate change in high mountain regions.

SLFPro – the platform on snow and avalanches

SLFPro is the feedback and information platform for SLF observers and local safety authorities. It is used to enter and visualize data in the area of snow and avalanches.

Lawinendruck auf Hindernisse

Lawinen stellen in Bergregionen stets eine erhebliche Gefahr für Menschen und Infrastruktur dar. Wir erarbeiten ein grundlegendes physikalisches Verständnis der Lawinenaufprallkräfte, um Gestaltungsrichtlinien weiter zu entwickeln, damit Strukturen effizient und standhaft gebaut werden können.

EconoMe

When planning to protect a specific section of road or a settlement against avalanches, a decision has to be taken on which of the options – barriers or a snow shed – is the most suitable means of defence. A variety of online tools are now available to facilitate an assessment of the risk posed by natural hazards, and to examine the effectiveness and economy of different protective measures.

RAMMS::RISK

RAMMS::RISK berechnet und visualisiert die räumliche Verteilung von Risiken für Naturgefahren.

Prevent-Building

In collaboration with several engineering offices, the SLF has developed a software product for examining the cost-effectiveness of building protection measures.

Climate risk analysis

The project develops a method to analyze and assess risks (and chances) related to climate change. The method is tested and applied to a regional case study in the Canton of Aargau. The method development and the assessment of climate risks are key elements of the Swiss national climate adaptation strategy.

REWARN

Warning and alarm systems are part of an integrated risk management approach to reduce the risk against natural hazard. Integrating these systems into an integrated risk management approach, requires to quantify their effectiveness.

CapHaz-Net

CapHaz-Net is a unique collaboration project that brings together social scientists from various European countries. Funded by the European Community it reviews how institutions and people in Europe cope with and adapt to natural hazards.

CLISP

Climate change and its related impacts are strongly affecting land use and land use development. But what potential lies within spatial planning? How can we better adapt to climate change risks? Are our instruments sufficient? How can we improve our existing instruments?

Risk concept

Residents and visitors are likely to be exposed to avalanches, rockfalls, floods and landslides. For decades, safety experts have been seeking to prevent such natural hazards with civil engineering works, but the focus of their strategy is now shifting towards minimising risk.

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Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Bründl, M.; Hafner, E.; Bebi, P.; Bühler, Y.; Margreth, S.; Marty, C.; Schaer, M.; Stoffel, L.; Techel, F.; Winkler, K.; Zweifel, B.; Schweizer, J., 2021: Evaluation of the extraordinary avalanche situation in January 2018 in Switzerland. In: Beyer Portner, N. (eds), 2021: 14th Congress INTERPRAEVENT 2021. May 31st to June 2nd 2021. Virtual Congress, Norway. Conference Proceedings. 14th congress INTERPRAEVENT 2021, Norway. 17-23.

Bründl, M.; Margreth, S., 2021: Integrative risk management: the example of snow avalanches. In: Haeberli, W.; Whiteman, C. (eds), 2021: Snow and ice-related hazards, risks, and disasters. Amsterdam; Oxford, Elsevier. 259-296. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-817129-5.00002-0

Eriksen, C.; Simon, G.L.; Roth, F.; Lakhina, S.J.; Wisner, B.; Adler, C.; Thomalla, F.; Scolobig, A.; Brady, K.; Bründl, M.; Neisser, F.; Grenfell, M.; Maduz, L.; Prior, T., 2020: Rethinking the interplay between affluence and vulnerability to aid climate change adaptive capacity. Climatic Change, 162: 25-39. doi: 10.1007/s10584-020-02819-x

Brönnimann, S.; Stucki, P.; Zischg, A., 2019: Simulation des Hochwassers von 1868 und Lehren für die Zukunft. In: Bründl, M.; Schweizer, J. (eds), 2019: Lernen aus Extremereignissen. Forum für Wissen 2019: Lernen aus Extremereignissen, Davos. 13-20.

Eberli, J., 2019: Umgang mit Hochwasserereignissen und die Lehren aus Sicht eines Kantons und des Bundes. In: Bründl, M.; Schweizer, J. (eds), 2019: Lernen aus Extremereignissen. Forum für Wissen 2019: Lernen aus Extremereignissen, Davos, Switzerland. 67-73.

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Further scientific publications

Zaugg-Ettlin, L.; Bründl, M.; Gertsch-Gautschi, E.; Pfammatter, C., 2022: Ist diese Schutzmaßnahme wirtschaftlich? - Neue Entwicklungen in EconoMe. Wildbach- und Lawinenverbau, 86, 189: 260-268.

Sicher Wandern 2040. Mögliche Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf das Wanderwegwesen - eine Literatursynthese

Mögliche Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf das Wanderwegwesen - eine Literatursynthese

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Bründl, M.; Zaugg, L., 2019: Risk management of gravitational driven processes in Switzerland. In: 2019: International Symposium on Mitigative Measures against Snow Avalanches and Other Rapid Gravity Mass Flows. International Symposium on Mitigative Measures against Snow Avalanches and Other Rapid Gravity Mass Flows, Siglufjörður, Iceland. 31-38.

Analyse des évènements de la situation avalancheuse de janvier 2018

Pour la première fois depuis 20 ans, le degré de danger le plus élevé était annoncé en janvier 2018 dans de grandes parties des Alpes suisses. Même si 150 avalanches ont provoqué des dommages, on ne déplore aucun décès dans les zones habitées et les domaines sécurisés. Les mesures introduites après l’hiver avalancheux de 1999 ont fait leurs preuves. C’est ce que révèle l’analyse des événements de janvier 2018 effectuée par le SLF à la demande de l’OFEV.

WSL Berichte 80

2019

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Andres, N.; Badoux, A., 2019: Hochwasserschäden: Entwicklung und Trends. In: Bründl, M.; Schweizer, J. (eds), 2019: Lernen aus Extremereignissen. Forum für Wissen 2019: Lernen aus Extremereignissen, Davos, Switzerland. 31-37.

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Magazine article and brochures

Bast, A.; Phillips, M.; Bründl, M.; Stähli, M.; Bartelt, P.; Ortner, G.; Schweizer, J., 2020: Die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf alpine Massenbewegungen: das WSL Forschungsprogramm CCAMM. FAN Agenda, Fachleute Naturgefahren Schweiz, 15-17.

Keiler, M.; Fuchs, S.; Bründl, M., 2018: Risikobeurteilung und Risikomanagement im Alpenraum. Geographische Rundschau, 14-19.

Bründl, M., 2015: Praxishilfe - Frühwarnsysteme für gravitative Naturgefahren. Bündnerwald, 68, 6: 35-38.

Bründl, M., 2015: Umsetzung des Risikokonzepts in die Praxis. FAN Agenda, Fachleute Naturgefahren Schweiz, 15-16.

Spichtig, S.; Bründl, M., 2008: Verletzlichkeit durch Naturgefahren. FAN Agenda, Fachleute Naturgefahren Schweiz, 24-26.

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WSL websites

waldwissen.net

Knowhow for forestry experts and all others interested in the forest

lfi.ch

Swiss National Forest Inventory NFI - a forest information service

envidat.ch

Access to environmental monitoring and research data

natural-hazards.ch

Warnings on natural hazards by Swiss federal authorities

slf.ch

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos

Main menu

Main menu

Dr. Michael Bründl

Continuing Education

Academic Education

Professional Experience

Research Interests

Teaching

Fellowships

Memberships

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

FORISK - Risikohinweiskarte Davos

Prospective Management Natural Hazards SBB

Sicher Wandern 2040

Snow avalanche flow regime transitions

Multi-hazard risk assessment framework

SLFPro – the platform on snow and avalanches

Lawinendruck auf Hindernisse

EconoMe

RAMMS::RISK

Prevent-Building

Climate risk analysis

REWARN

CapHaz-Net

CLISP

Risk concept

Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Further scientific publications

Magazine article and brochures

Navigation mit Access Keys

Main menu

Main menu

Dr. Michael Bründl

Continuing Education

Academic Education

Professional Experience

Research Interests

Teaching

Fellowships

Memberships