The advancing climate change is visibly affecting the glaciers on Dachstein – over the past 100 years, half of the Hallstatt Glacier has melted away. In the newly opened visitor center of the Dachstein Glacier Cable Car, visitors are made aware of the causes and dramatic impacts of global warming.
Three interactive stations by Ars Electronica Solutions intuitively convey the central importance of climate for nature and, consequently, for us humans. After nearly nine months of renovation of the mountain station, the Dachstein Glacier Cable Car resumes operation today, May 24, 2024.
Climate in Transition:
Global – Regional – Local
An initial eye-catcher can be found at the valley station with the Half Dome Globe: Ars Electronica Solutions presents a depiction of the globe that illustrates global phenomena of climate and global warming through atmospheric data, land surface information, and ocean data provided by the ESA. The “Half Dome Globe” illustrates on a global level that climate change does not only affect individual regions but the entire world. It is crucial to understand the interconnections and recognize how everything is linked together. By viewing the issue from a global perspective, we can comprehend the overall impacts of climate change and develop an understanding that we are all affected by it.
At the mountain station, located at an altitude of 2,700 meters, two installations were developed with funding from the state of Upper Austria:bAn interactive touchscreen visualizes data and facts about climate-related changes in the Dachstein region, sourced from the APPtauen Dachstein Glacier app (Land Oberösterreich) – specifically expanded for large-scale display on the touchscreen. The presentation of “APPtauen Dachsteingletscher” focuses on the specific region of Dachstein. This perspective makes climate change and its consequences more tangible and understandable. It illustrates that climate change is not just an abstract concept but has real impacts on the places where we are located.
In the glacier restaurant, the Digital Telescope can be tried out: The view of the real mountain landscape is enhanced by a digital overlay that changes and provides information depending on the movement of the telescope. Visitors gain a completely new perspective on the mountain range, the impressive 850-meter-high Dachstein south face, or the melting of the glacier at Rosmarie tunnel. The view through the “Digital Telescope” at the mountain ascent creates an immediate local connection. This makes the glacier melt tangible and comprehensible, as the dramatic disappearance of the eternal ice can be directly experienced.
When alpine skiing operations on the Dachstein Glacier were permanently ceased in 2023, followed by the dismantling of the T-bar lifts, it marked the beginning of a realignment. As a first and pioneering step, the mountain station of the Dachstein Glacier Cable Car was completely renovated and modernized. A new glacier restaurant with a 1,000 square meter glass facade and a spacious rooftop terrace was created, equipped with a high-performance photovoltaic system. Future visitors can look forward to additional viewing platforms, photo hotspots, and interactive installations by Ars Electronica Solutions.
image: Peter Mayr
image: Isabel Schölmbauer
image: Harald Steiner
image: Isabel Schölmbauer
“With the installation in the new visitor centre of the Dachstein Glacier Lift, Ars Electronica Solutions shows what is technically possible. The Half Dome Globe is an eye-catcher in the valley station, while there are two installations in the mountain station – all three provide impressive insights. They not only show the changes in the climate, but also that Upper Austria is not only a land of labour and business, but also a land of technology and innovation.”
Thomas Stelzer- Governor of Upper Austria
“With the two installations, we are drawing attention to the greatest challenge in human history – climate change – and raising awareness of this issue directly at the place where the climate crisis has already left visible traces. We have been researching the retreat of the Hallstatt Glacier on the Dachstein for almost 20 years and it is frightening to see the speed at which we have lost and will continue to lose the eternal ice.”
Stefan Kaineder– Upper Austrian Environmental and Climate Councilor
“Ars Electronica Solutions opens up a unique view of the highest peak in Upper Austria and visualises the beauty but also the fragility of nature. Interactive stations present scientific facts about climate change in an understandable way and show what this means in concrete terms using the Dachstein glacier as an example.”
Doris Lang-Mayerhofer- City Councillor for Culture & Chairwoman of the Ars Electronica Advisory Board
Project Credits
Team
Chris Bruckmayr, Florian Cossee, Dominik Trichlin, Yvonne Metnitzer, Harald Moser, Markus Wipplinger, My Thrinh Müller- Gardiner
Extern
ESA, idee Concept & Exhibition Engineering GmbH, Peak Impact, Smesh OG
