Blaž Komac, PhD
Head of the Department of Natural Hazards
+ 386 30 485 554
blaz.komac@zrc-sazu.si
Research interests
Education
B. Sc. in Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 2000
M. Sc. in Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 2003
Ph. D. in Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 2005
Research fields
Climate Change and natural disasters impact on landscape, Water resources and Alpine environment, Geographical hazards and risk Assessment, Geospatial analysis and GIS, and Sustainable urban and regional development.
Other activities
- Member of the European Science & Technology Advisory Group (E-STAG) at the United Nations International Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN DRR) (Since 29. 3. 2018)
- Vice-president of the Institute's Scientific Council,
- Editor-in-chief of the Acta geographica Slovenica/Geografski zbornik SCI-E journal (2004–),
- Editor-in-chief of the Ujma journal, issued by the Administration of Civil protection and disaster relief of the Republic of Slovenia,
- Lecturer at the Faculty of humanities, University of Primorska, Koper (until 2015),
- Co-organizer of the Bojan Ušeničnik day – triennal symposium Natural hazards of Slovenia,
- Co-editor of the Natural hazards book series,
- Member of the IGU Hazard and Risk Commision,
- Secretary of the Geomorphological Society of Slovenia (2001–2011),
- Lectures commisioner at the Ljubljana Geographical Society (2001–2005),
- A member of The Natural Disaster Commission appointed by the Government of Slovenia (November 2000 – January 2001) at the occasion of the Log pod Mangartom debris flow
Recognitions and awards
The University of Ljubljana Prešeren Award for students, University of Ljubljana, 2001
The distinction of the Association of the Geographical Societies of Slovenia, Association of the Geographical Societies of Slovenia, 2004
Selected publications
ARTICLES
- Large forest fires in Slovenia. Komac, B. Geografski vestnik 94-2. 2022.
- Barriers Everyone: A New Method for Multiscale Analysis of Barriers Using the Barrier Index. Kušar, D., Komac, B. Moravian geographical reports 29. 2021.
- Management of small retention ponds and their impact on flood hazard prevention in the Slovenske Gorice Hills. Ferk, M., Ciglič, R., Komac, B., Lóczy, D. Acta geographica Slovenica 60-1, 2020.
- Subglacial carbonate deposits as a potential proxy for glacier's existence. Lipar, M., Martín-Pérez, A., Tičar, J., Pavšek, M., Gabrovec, M., Hrvatin, M., Komac, B., Zorn, M., Zupan Hajna, N., Zhao, J., Ferk, M. The cryosphere discussions, 2020.
- Remapping fictional worlds : a comparative reconstruction of fictional maps. Gašperič, P., Komac, B. The Cartographic journal 57-1, 2020.
- A geographical and architectural perspective on Alpine hay meadow abandonment in Bohinj, Slovenia. Kušar, D., Komac, B. Eco.mont 11-1, 2019.
- Novodobna poselitev hudourniških vršajev in nevarnost drobirskih tokov : primer Zgornjesavske doline. Breg Valjavec, M., Komac, B. Pokrajina v visoki ločljivosti. Ljubljana, 2018.
- Prožna mesta - trajnostni razvoj in naravne nesreče. [Resilient cities – sustainable development and natural hazards] Komac, B. Trajnostni razvoj mest in naravne nesreče. Naravne nesreče 4, 2017.
- Škoda zaradi naravnih nesreč v Sloveniji in svetu med letoma 1995 in 2010 [Damage caused by natural disasters in Slovenia and globally between 1995 and 2010]. Zorn, M., Komac, B. Acta geographica Slovenica 51-1, 2012.
- Perspectives on social capacity building for natural hazards: outlining an emerging field of research and practice in Europe. Kuhlicke, C., Komac, B., Zorn, M. et al. Environment science & policy 14- 7, 2011.
REPORTS
- Evolving risk of wildfires in Europe: the changing nature of wildfire risk calls for a shift in policy focus from suppression to prevention. Komac, B., Migliorini, M., Schwarze, R., Sigmund, Z., Awad, C., Chatelon, F. J., Goldammer, J. G., Marcelli, T., Morvan, D., Simeoni, A., Thiebes, B. In: Rossi, J.-L. (Ed.). UNDRR, Brussels, 2020.
- Socioeconomic and data challenges: Disaster risk reduction in Europe. Altshuler, A., Amaratunga, D., Arefyeva, E., Dolce, M., Sjastad Hagen, J., Komac, B., Migliorini, M., Mihaljević, J., Mysiak, J., Fra Paleo, U., Pelling, M., Rossi, J.-L., Siegmund, A., Sigmund, Z., Sparf, J., Alonso Vicario, S. UNDRR, Brussels, 2019.
BOOKS
- The geography of Slovenia: small but diverse: Natural hazards in Slovenia, Landforms in Slovenia, Climate and weather in Slovenia, Soils of Slovenia. Komac, B., Breg Valjavec, M., Ferk, M., Hrvatin, M.Lipar, M., Pipan, P., Tičar, J., Pavšek, M., Topole, M., Volk Bahun, M., Zorn, M. Springer, Dordrecht, 2020.
- Triglavski ledenik [The Triglav Glacier] Geografija Slovenije 30, Gabrovec, M., Pavšek, M., Topole, M., Triglav Čekada, M., Zorn, M. Založba ZRC, Ljubljana, 2014
- Izobraževanje o naravnih nesrečah v Evropi [Education on natural hazards in Europe], Georitem 18, Komac, B., Zorn, M., Ciglič, R. Založba ZRC, Ljubljana, 2011.
- Geografski vidiki poplav v Sloveniji [Geographical aspects of floods in Slovenia], Geografija Slovenije 20, Komac, B., Natek, K., Zorn, M. Založba ZRC, Ljubljana, 2008.
- Zemeljski plazovi v Sloveniji [Landslides in Slovenia], Georitem 8, Zorn, M., Komac, B. Založba ZRC, Ljubljana, 2008.
- Pobočni procesi in človek [Slope processes and man], Geografija Slovenije 15, Komac, B., Zorn, M.. Založba ZRC, Ljubljana, 2007.
- Dolec kot značilna oblika dolomitnega površja [A dell as a characteristic landform], Geografija Slovenije 13, Komac, B. Založba ZRC, Ljubljana, 2006.
Selected projects
Geography of Slovenia - national research programme (research programme • January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2021)
Climate natural disasters and response of the protection, rescue and relief system in the Republic of Slovenia (target research project • October 1, 2021 - March 31, 2023)
The impact of climate change on avalanches in Slovenia (research project • October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2025)
CapHaz-Net (framework program • June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2012)
OTREMED (applied project • September 1, 2010 - August 31, 2013)
Slovenian Exonyms (applied project • February 1, 2008 - January 31, 2011)
Terraced Landscapes (applied project • December 1, 2004 - December 31, 2007)
Advancement of computationally intensive methods for efficient modern general-purpose statistical analysis and inference (applied project • March 1, 2016 - February 28, 2019)
Possible ecological control of flood hazard in the hill regions of Hungary and Slovenia (international research project • November 1, 2017 - October 31, 2020)
Natural disasters (bilateral project • January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2012)
Climate natural disasters and response of the protection, rescue and relief system in the Republic of Slovenia (target research project • October 1, 2021 - March 31, 2023)
The impact of climate change on avalanches in Slovenia (research project • October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2025)
CapHaz-Net (framework program • June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2012)
OTREMED (applied project • September 1, 2010 - August 31, 2013)
Slovenian Exonyms (applied project • February 1, 2008 - January 31, 2011)
Terraced Landscapes (applied project • December 1, 2004 - December 31, 2007)
Advancement of computationally intensive methods for efficient modern general-purpose statistical analysis and inference (applied project • March 1, 2016 - February 28, 2019)
Possible ecological control of flood hazard in the hill regions of Hungary and Slovenia (international research project • November 1, 2017 - October 31, 2020)
Natural disasters (bilateral project • January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2012)