Switzerland is periodically affected by events or developments that threaten the general population and its livelihood or at least impose significant constraints on everyday life. Dealing with catastrophes and emergencies is currently the greatest challenge in protecting the general public, in particular because the damage caused by such events is growing incrementally due to the increasingly networked nature of modern societies, the growing vulnerability of infrastructures, and the high value density. In order to be able to counter these hazards in a suitable manner, they and the resulting risks must be known.