In 2013 he was appointed Professor of Building and Environment with a focus on architecture and engineering. He has been working at Danube University Krems since 2007. He developed and supervised the successful study programme "Refurbishment and Revitalisation" (which focused on complex practical and theoretical aspects of revitalising buildings and cities). Since 2007, he has been responsible for organising annual summer schools focusing on the research and restoration of historic buildings, sites and monuments with a special emphasis on technical, cultural, social, economic, ecological and sustainable aspects. He has also been responsible for several national and international research projects.
Hanus developed a number of implementation concepts for the reconstruction of historic cities destroyed by earthquakes and coordinates the Scuola di Ricostruzione in Accumoli. Hanus conducts Heritage Impact Assessments on behalf of the Austrian Federal Chancellery on behalf of UNESCO and leads international advisory commissions for World Heritage Sites in Austria (e.g. Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg, Cultural Landscape Wachau, Cultural Landscape Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut). Hanus' research also focuses on the utilisation of historic buildings, with a particular emphasis on the building physics and energy efficiency of historic buildings as well as the overall economic and ecological balancing over defined periods of time (LCA).
Hanus is the founder of the "Centre for Architectural Heritage" (2010) and the "Centre for Cultural Property Protection" (2015). In both institutions he initiated international research and teaching programmes. He is the founder (2023) and scientific director of the Sustainable Cultural Heritage Research Lab at Danube University Krems.
He focuses on the nomination, further development, promotion and management of (future) World Heritage Sites. Prof. Hanus develops seminars and workshops on the implementation of the regulatory framework of cultural property protection at "designated cultural sites" (e.g. cultural routes, world heritage sites) in close cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces, relevant ministries, universities, academies of sciences and international experts.
Hanus is a specialist book author, member of numerous scientific committees in Austria and abroad and lecturer at several European universities.
