Mapping Cold War Civil Defense in Aarhus, Denmark

Abstract This paper addresses the overlooked spatial dimensions of civil defense infrastructure during the Cold War, focusing on Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city. While Cold War military facilities have received considerable attention, urban-scale civil defense systems have been largely neglected in archaeological research. This study bridges that gap by exploring the development and distribution of civilian shelters in Aarhus, managed by the local Civil Defense Commission (CDC) from 1950 to 1989. Using data digitized by the MELICA project from the Aarhus City Archive, extracted from Danish official building datasets, and verified during pedestrian urban survey, the paper analyzes shelter distribution and urban preparedness. Preliminary findings suggest that Aarhus had an equitable shelter network, although gaps in certain areas remain. The spatiotemporal visualizations link civil defense infrastructure to urban development patterns, providing a nuanced understanding of Cold War-era urban resilience strategies. The paper highlights the importance of integrating historical data with modern digital tools, such as geospatial analysis and digitised archives, to advance research on civil defense and inform future urban planning.