Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology (CEDIM) is an interdisciplinary research centre at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), dedicated to understanding, detecting earlier, and managing natural and human‑made risks across disasters, threats and security domains. It fosters collaboration among natural sciences, social sciences, economics and engineering faculties at KIT, aiming to strengthen societal resilience and safety.
Founded in 2002 as a joint initiative between GFZ Potsdam and the University of Karlsruhe, CEDIM became solely under KIT’s responsibility in 2016 following institutional merger and evolving partnerships. Governance is provided by an executive board, comprising a spokesman, deputy spokesmen and coordinating committee, which oversees both conceptual strategy and personnel planning.
CEDIM’s core activities include modelling hazards, mapping risks, and developing interactive tools such as the CEDIM Risk Explorer Germany, now integrated into the CEDIM/Risklayer Explorer. This mapping platform visualises hazard, vulnerability, asset and risk data—originally focused on earthquakes, storms and floods across Germany—facilitating spatial risk assessment for planning and response.
A significant focus is Forensic Disaster Analysis (FDA), which conducts near‑real‑time assessments of disasters—tracking effects, temporal development and key risk factors, producing reports within days to weeks of events. Recent research emphasises the societal, economic and ecological impacts of droughts and heatwaves in Central Europe.
CEDIM also engages in applied projects, such as studying flood‑retention reservoirs that could double as water reserves during droughts—demonstrating practical, climate‑adaptive risk management solutions.
Through its advanced modelling tools, near-real-time analyses and mapping platforms, CEDIM contributes valuable resources for policymakers, emergency planners and researchers, supporting disaster preparedness, sustainable infrastructure planning and risk-informed decision-making.
CEDIM Mission
CEDIM is…
…an interdisciplinary research center at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in the field of disasters, risks and security in social requirement areas.
CEDIM conducts research…
…in causes, management, and prevention of natural and technical risks.
CEDIM develops…
…models and concepts to strengthen security and resilience of our rapidly changing society and environment.
CEDIM connects…
…scientific research in the fields of natural sciences, social sciences, economics, and engineering at KIT.
