Walter Seher

Walter Seher is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Spatial Planning, Environmental Planning and Land Rearrangement, Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He has been actively involved in research and academic leadership since the 1990s, serving as Deputy Head and former Head of his institute, and contributing extensively to spatial planning, land policy, and climate risk management.

• Education: Master Degree (1994), Doctoral Degree (1998) – both from BOKU.
• Career Milestones: University Assistant (1994), Assistant Professor (2004), Head of Institute (2012–2016), Deputy Head (2016–2024).

His research focuses on spatial planning in natural hazard risk management and climate change adaptation, with special emphasis on land rearrangement, flood risk, and land policy. He investigates how spatial interventions can reduce vulnerability in flood-prone areas and support equitable land use. His work integrates policy analysis, governance, and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in mountainous and urban regions.

His recent publications (2022–2025) demonstrate a strong trend toward integrated flood risk management, residual risk mitigation (e.g., the levee effect), policy coordination across sectors, and land policy for affordable housing. These works often employ case studies from Austria and involve collaboration with environmental scientists, engineers, and policymakers.

Scientific awards:

• No specific awards listed in the provided text.

Walter Seher has supervised multiple research projects and contributes to advising through collaborative academic work. He has led projects funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), European Commission, and federal ministries. His work often involves interdisciplinary teams across institutes at BOKU and international partners.

He is involved in key research initiatives such as the UniNetz - Life on Land (SDG 15) and the GREENET project, and has contributed to policy-relevant outputs including planning guidelines and evaluation reports. He frequently presents at international conferences such as AESOP, IAHR, and EGU, and engages in public knowledge transfer through media appearances and popular science publications.