Robert Hofmann, Professor for Geotechnics at the University of Innsbruck, deals with geotechnics and natural hazards as well as protective structures against natural hazards, impacts of gravitational mass movements on protective structures, rock avalanches/granular flow, landslides, flood protection levees and focuses here on the expected extreme weather events in the context of climate change. The retreat of permafrost is increasingly leading to gravitational mass movements that require mitigation measures. The design of protective structures and the effects are a current area of research.

A further scope of expertise is catastrophe protection in aspects of protective structures. The evaluation and stabilization of slow and rapid moving landslides is a focal point of the work in practice and in research. Sustainable and reliable protective structures against rockfall, both embankments and the foundations of nets, are an essential focus of research in climate change.

Focus: Geotechnics and natural hazards, landslides, flood protection levees, sustainable mitigation measures in the context of climate change, impacts of gravitational mass movements on protective structures, rock avalanches/granular flow, stabilization of slow and rapid moving landslides.