Written by: Birthe Uhlhorn, BOKU

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What will the landscape of the future look like? ᴇNᴀBʟS at the Long Night of Research 2026

How can biodiversity, renewable energy, agriculture, and recreation be considered together within a landscape? These are the key questions addressed by the Austrian Living Lab “Landscapes4Future”.

During the Long Night of Research 2026, these questions were brought to life for visitors through the technologies of the Landscape Innovation Lab (LILA). This new BOKU Core Facility develops innovative methods for the collection, analysis, and visualisation of spatial data, using tools such as Virtual Reality (VR), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and real-time simulation environments.

Through 3D game design and Virtual Reality, visitors were able to explore, design, and visualise different land-use scenarios in real time. The impacts of planning decisions — such as renewable energy expansion, biodiversity enhancement, or landscape restoration measures — became immediately visible. In this way, key questions addressed by the Austrian Living Lab were communicated in an engaging and accessible manner, helping visitors better understand the complex relationships between nature, society, and land use.

Alongside the activity, the ᴇNᴀBʟS BOKU team conducted an evaluation to assess visitors’ impressions of the interactive experience and to explore how the visualisation of land-use conflicts can support understanding of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and sustainable landscape development.

The event demonstrated how digital tools can make complex scientific challenges more accessible, stimulate dialogue on sustainable future scenarios, and bring NBS to life for a broad audience.