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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.
Analogue Meets Digital
History and Present IT Augmentation of Europe’s Largest Landscape Relief Model in Villach, Austria
- Title
- Analogue Meets Digital
- Subtitle
- History and Present IT Augmentation of Europe’s Largest Landscape Relief Model in Villach, Austria
- Author
- Manfred F. Buchroithner
- Location
- Dresden
- Date
- 2019
- Language
- English
- License
- CC BY 4.0
- Size
- 21.0 x 29.7 cm
- Pages
- 12
- Categories
- Dokumente IT & Technologie
- International