Seite - 3 - in Analogue Meets Digital - History and Present IT Augmentation of Europe’s Largest Landscape Relief Model in Villach, Austria

MultimodalTechnol. Interact.2019, 3, 44 3of12 Multimodal Technol. Interact. 2019, 3, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 12 Figure 1. Entry about Ernst Pliwa into the Book of Honorary Citizens of Villach conducted from 1938 to 1941. For explanation, see text above. As a cartographic basis for the generation of the physical relief model, the original surveys of the k. und k. Militärgeographisches Institut (Imperial Military Geographic Institute in Vienna) at a scale of 1:25,000 were used, which cover Carinthia and its surroundings in 63 map sheets. With the aid of a pantograph, the 100 m contour lines were then transferred onto cardboard at a scale of 1:25,000. Subsequently, these thin layers were in their correct geoposition mounted upon “bridges” of fine- planed wooden bars and discs, then fixed over each other in layers, and eventually, the remaining intermediate spaces were filled with pug, thereby carefully elaborating the characteristic relief features of the terrain [1]. At this point, it may be worthwhile to mention that for a scale of 1:10,000 nominally, each 10 m elevation contour—the usual equidistance at scales of 1:10,000 (cf. [2])—would, with an exaggeration factor of 2, have corresponded to a plank thickness of 2 mm. These “slices” were subsequently supposed to be cut out from panels. From all the individual wood-clay models, casting molds out of gypsum were made, which were then grouted with white cement. Thanks to a significant financial support by the Savings Bank of Villach (Villacher Zeitung, 4.9.1910, p. 5) in autumn 1892, the basement construction was completed, and under the guidance of College Fachlehrer (German for: specialist subject teacher) Dominik Haubner, the assembling and mounting of all the Reliefsektionen began. A remarkable fact is that for this work, according exactly to the four cardinal directions, the curvature of the earth was taken into consideration. This amounted in a maximum height difference of 35 mm in cross direction and 70 mm lengthways [1]. The basement was a concrete foundation especially prepared for the landscape relief model in the park beside the college, the Schillerpark in Villach downtown. During these works, a provisional low-level roof was supposed to protect the growing landscape relief model from rain and snow. It was, however, anything but waterproof and, thus, the condition Figure1. Entry aboutErnst Pliwa into the Book ofHonorary Citizens of Villach conducted from1938 to1941. Forexplanation, see textabove. 2.2. ProductionofLandscapeR liefModel andConstructionofShelterHall In 1890, the total presumptive production time was still optimistically estimated to be three to four years at the maximum. After lengthy discussions, eventually a horizontal scale of 1:10,000 and a vertical scale of 1:5000 were chosen, implying a twofold height exaggeration. This vertical super elevation was meant to result in a more realistic accentuation of the pronounced relief in the Alps,whichbettercorrespondsto thecommon“bottom-up”viewinghabits,althoughtheslopesof the mountains, thus, do not reflect their true inclination. For the entire depicted region, a size of 19.5×9.35m2 was eventually selected, for the sake of easier production by breaking it down into portions of 1.8×1.4 m2, measures that correspond to the size of the magnified 1:25,000 map sheets [1]. As a cartographic basis for the generation of the physical relief model, the original surveys of the k. und k. Militärgeographisches Institut (Imperial Military Geographic Institute in Vienna) at a scaleof1:25,000wereused,whichcoverCarinthiaanditssurroundings in63mapsheets. With the aid of a pantograph, the 100 m contour lines were then transferred onto cardboard at a scale of 1:25,000. Subsequently, these thin layers were in their correct geoposition mounted upon “bridges” of fine-planed wooden bars and discs, then fixed over each other in layers, and eventually, the remaining intermediate spaces were filled with pug, thereby carefully elaborating the characteristic relief features of the terrain [1]. At thispoint, itmaybeworthwhile tomentionthat forascaleof1:10,000nominally,each10m elevationcontour—theusualequidistanceatscalesof1:10,000 (cf. [2])—would,withanexaggeration factor of 2, have corresponded to a plank thickness of 2 mm. These “slices” were subsequently supposedtobecutout frompanels.