Abstract. To date, in Austria no empirical assessment of absolute damage curves has been realized on the basis of detailed information on flooded buildings due to a dam breach, presumably because of the lack of data. This paper tries to fill this gap by estimating an absolute flood-damage curve, based on data of a recent flood event in Austria in 2006. First, a concise analysis of the case study area is conducted, i.e., the maximum damage potential is identified by using rasterbased GIS. Thereafter, previous literature findings on existing flood-damage functions are considered in order to determine a volume-water damage function that can be used for further flood damage assessment. Finally, the flood damage function is cross validated and applied in prediction of damage potential in the study area. For future development of the estimated flood damage curve, and to aid more general use, we propose verification against field data on damage caused by natural waves in rivers.

This paper refers to the waste management optimisation in hospitals. The goal is to develop the base for selection and implementation of waste prevention measures in hospitals, as well as to take practical action towards the preparation of waste prevention concepts.The application of the input-output analysis enables the identification and quantification of weak spots and waste prevention potentials in hospitals. The input-output analysis is built by considering the consumption (pieces) from the cost control and linking it with the analysis of the most relevant articles in a database: weight, composition and change during consumption and the correct waste disposal fractions are determined. In this way, the path of an article through the hospital can be described, from the purchase to the discharge as waste, and potential weak spots can be identified.Results show which articles are relevant for the contents of individual waste fractions. Waste gets thus a face, i.e. the contribution of each article to the total amount is known and steering measures can be derived and implemented. In this way, the basis is created for an efficient waste or environmental management.The benefits for hospitals include the fact that material flow analysis enables the identification and quantification of weak spots and waste prevention potentials in hospitals. Moreover, the outcome of input-output analysis is a basis for success in terms of efficiency improvements and monetary savings. As long as the database is being continuously updated, annual changes become detectable, and success resulting from implemented measures can be quantified. Identification of specific environmental projects is possible: The projects were developed together with the personnel. The innovation of this project is defined by the direct linking and balancing of purchase data with disposal data in the hospitals.

The main aim of the paper is the estimation of regional and environmental values capitalized in the wine market. By means of hedonic regression analysis, possible premiums attached to nonmarket characteristics such as geographical designations and regional qualities are deferred from the Austrian wine market prices. Moreover, the relation between land values and wine prices is addressed. In the introductory section the main legal changes in the Austrian wine market are pointed out. Afterwards, the variable selection of perceived price signals on the basis of the assumption of homogeneity of wine consumers' preferences of regulations underlying the model is performed. Finally, the hedonic regressions display the consumers 'willingness to pay for various wine characteristics, whereby the relevance of geographical designations and other regional criteria reflected in the land values are investigated. Finally, possible future implications of the results are highlighted.

This paper is motivated by the recent strong energy price increases and investigates the impact of these recent price increases on the demand and the composition of urban transport (public and private). In the first section, the relative price change of private transportation due to fuel prices is estimated for Vienna, whereby the substitutability between public and private transport is investigated. In the second section, changes in consumer behaviour related to the fuel efficiency of cars are discussed. In particular, the paper tries to quantify the Keywords: fuel price increase, urban transport, marginal willingness to pay for car efficiency, hedonic mode, used-car market, car model fashion, SUVs.

This paper investigates the impact of cultural goods on the housing market considering environmental factors related to tourism in an Italian city. In the first section, the willingness to pay for cultural goods is estimated by using the hedonic pricing model for the commercial property (tourism). In this regression, the link between environmental factors and the number of tourists is studied, which in turn quantifies the prospects for 'sustainable' or at least environmentally friendly tourism. On the basis of the results further questions are posed, e.g., whether tourism increases social welfare for local residents -also in conjunction with public policy.