This document describes a method for reconstructing the dynamic riverscape of the Danube River in Vienna under human influence over time. The method uses a regressive-iterative approach in a GIS to georeference historical maps and sources backwards in time from the present, while allowing revisions moving forward. Key information from historical landmarks, bridges, boundaries, and maps is integrated into the reconstruction. This approach provides a better understanding of past fluvial processes and human interventions over time, though an exact reconstruction is not possible.

1. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 1
Two steps back, one step forward:
Reconstructing the dynamic Danube
riverscape under human influence in Vienna
Severin Hohensinner
8th Water History Conference
International Water History Association
Montpellier, June 25-29, 2013
Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management (IHG)
University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU) &
Centre for Environmental History Vienna (ZUG)

2. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 2
Contents
 Integration of historical information into the GIS reconstruction
(examples from 16th century)
 Using historical landmarks and data on bridges
 Georeferencing historical maps and plans
 Regressive-iterative reconstruction method (GIS)

3. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 3
Nußdorf
2010
Current situation
City
B. Lager & S. Hohensinner (2012)

4. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner
Austrian Science Fund
Project „ENVIEDAN“, Grant No. P22265-G18
Project leader:
Verena Winiwarter
ZUG – Centre for Environmental History
Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt
ENVIEDAN –
„Envirionmental History of the
Viennese Danube 1500–1890“
B. Lager & S. Hohensinner (2012)

5. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 5
Historical sources
Ostendorfer &
Formschneider (1539):
Heerschau 1532
Reconstructing the dynamic riverscape
Main components
Fluvial forms & processes
Hydraulic
constructions

6. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 6
Integration of historical sources into the
reconstruction: Niclas Meldeman (1530) – Landmarks in 1529
City wall/towers „Schlagbrücke“
„Taborbrücke“
„Nußdorf“
?

7. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 7
Accreting bank
Cut banks
in older
river terrace
Backwater
?
Cut bank
Integration of historical sources into the
reconstruction:
Niclas Meldeman (1530) – Fluvial structures in 1529

8. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 8
Short
bridge
„Schlagbrücke“
„Taborbrücke“
„Nußdorf“
?
„Wolfsbrücke“
W. Schmeltzl
Distance
in 1547/48:
ca. 3900 – 4000 m
Integration of historical sources into the reconstruction:
C. Stainhofer & H. Mayr (1566) – Landmarks in 1563

9. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 9
Useful landmarks:
 Archaeological
findings of bridge
remains
 Historical
descriptions:
lenghts & locations
of bridges
Wolfgang Schmeltzl (1548)
Distance in 1547/48:
c. 3900 – 4000 m
„Schlagbrücke“
„Nußdorf“
Reconstructing
the dynamic
riverscape

10. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 10
Useful landmarks:
 Historical property
borders (location,
dating)
 Administrative/
jurisdiction borders
(“Burgfriedsgrenze”)
 Dating / location of
boundary markers
(Source: Opll et al., 1984)
Reconstructing
the dynamic
riverscape

11. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 11
Overlay map:
L. Anguissola &
J.J. Marinoni 1704/06
Octavio Waldegara (1577)
Longitudinal section through „Untere Werd“
O. Waldegara (1577)
„Schlagbrücke“
„Taborbrücke“
1704

12. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 12
Overlay map:
L. Anguissola &
J.J. Marinoni 1704/06
Base map:
Reconstruction 1570
Octavio Waldegara (1577)
Longitudinal section through „Untere Werd“
O. Waldegara (1577)
„Schlagbrücke“
„Taborbrücke“
„Augarten park“
1704

13. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 13
lengths of bridges:
=> measure for flow capacity
of river channels
bridge length = bankfull width of channel =
ca. 1-year flood at Danube in Vienna
Main bridges
Tabor bridge
Wolf bridge
Reconstructing the dynamic riverscape
Using bridge lengths

14. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 14
Reconstructing the dynamic riverscape
Locations of bridges

15. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 15
Using historical
landmarks
Vienna c. 1570
Reconstructing
the dynamic
riverscape

16. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 16
Clausniez, T. (1601), Oesta/FHKA F 245
Nußdorf
Tabor arm
Reconstructing the dynamic riverscape
Interpreting and georeferencing old maps
Historical cartographer mapped the Danube
how they perceived the importance of the individual channels
=> not always correct in the geographical / topographical sense

17. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 17
Reconstructing the dynamic riverscape
Georeferencing

18. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 18
Kreuzung
• absolute Referenzpunkte
(langfristig stabil)
• relative Referenzpunkte
(kurzfristig zw. zwei
historischen Situationen)
Georeferencing
historical maps
Clausniez, T. (1601),
Oesta/FHKA F 245
Bridges &
road in 1601
„Schwarze Lacke“

19. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 19
Reconstructing the dynamic riverscape
Georeferencing

20. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 20
1. Georeferencing
of scanned maps starting from the current situation
=> going backwards in time step by step
2. Vectorization (GIS)
starting from the current situation
=> going backwards in time (regressive approach)
3. Revision (GIS) of vectorized younger time situations
based on new information gained from the older time
situations (iterative approach)
Regressive-iterative GIS-reconstruction
From a point in time to a time series

21. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner
2010
1849
1726
Start
regressive:
step by step
backwards in time
24.06.2013 21
Regressive-iterative GIS-reconstruction

22. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner
2010
1849
1726
Start
1632
regressive:
step by step
backwards in time
iterative revision
forwards in time
24.06.2013 22
Regressive-iterative GIS-reconstruction

23. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner24.06.2013 23
Synthesis
 Regressive-iterative reconstruction method enables:
(1) a better evaluation of historical spatial information in respect of
geographical positioning and of the content
(2) a better identification of fluvial processes and human interferences
 Integration of river morphological considerations enables:
(1) additional conclusions on historical riverscape transformation not shown by the sources
(2) conclusions on potential consequences of hydraulic measures on fluvial dynamics
 Reconstruction of the historical riverscape:
true-to-life reconstruction can not be achieved
=> „best approximation“ of a historical state of the riverscape

24. University of Natural Resources &
Life Sciences Vienna
Department of Water, Atmosphere & Environment I Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management I Severin Hohensinner 24
Severin Hohensinner
Institute of Hydrobiology & Aquatic Ecosystem Management (IHG)
University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU) &
Centre for Environmental History Vienna (ZUG)
Austrian Science Fund
Project „ENVIEDAN“
Project-No. P 22265-G18
Project leader:
Verena Winiwarter,
ZUG – Centre for
Environmental History,
Alpen-Adria-University
KlagenfurtVirtual flight to Vienna around 1570 A.D.