10TH CONFERENCE SMART PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS: NATURAL HAZARD PREVENTION

The development of smart technologies has picked up speed rapidly in recent years, particularly as a result of the Internet of Things (IoT). The extent to which these technologies also offer added value in the field of natural hazard prevention and whether they are already in use were two of the aspects discussed by the participants at the symposium.

ALPINE-IOT WORKING GROUP

After the welcome address by Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Schmiedinger, PhD, the Alpine-IoT working group, which is working on IoT systems for alpine applications as part of research projects, introduced itself. In the course of this, current projects were also briefly discussed: among other things, the working group is currently researching a monitoring system in the Intelligent Ski Slope project in order to be able to record the condition of a ski slope. In another project, the researchers are using a system that can determine the position of objects in the centimetre range.

ALPINE WINTER RISKS: TECHNOLOGICAL ANSWERS

The first session, moderated by Martin Schafferer MSc. MSc., focussed on natural hazards in winter. In his keynote speech, Dr Jan Thomas Fischer (Institute for Natural Hazards, Federal Research Centre for Forests) presented findings relating to the recording of particle movement paths in an avalanche. This movement data can be used to verify avalanche simulation models, which can significantly increase the accuracy of the simulations. It became apparent that the measurement environment poses a challenge for the sensor units: At the same time, this data can be used to gain valuable insights into the behaviour of avalanches. Stefan Ortner (Managing Director at LO.LA alpine safety management) presented the processes involved in determining the local avalanche warning level. A major challenge in this area is communication with the various users. The integration of digital technologies into the decision-making process was also discussed - in particular the aspect of accountability. Dr Markus Keuschnig (Georesearch Forschungsgesellschaft mbH) spoke about projects with a focus on the Kitzsteinhorn Open Air Lab. In this unique high-alpine test environment, his team develops and evaluates new technologies and methods.

The topic of sliding snow problems on ski slopes came up during the open discussion. Last winter season, a deep crack appeared in a ski piste due to the homogeneous subsoil. This shows how strongly the individual areas in the high alpine region interact with each other. Participants and experts also talked about the discrepancy between the measurable parameters and the significance of the parameters. It is often not yet clear whether the measurable parameters are really decisive or whether additional measurement methods are needed to record relevant parameters. The energy supply is and remains decisive for all applications. Especially in areas that are difficult to access, a stable and reliable power supply is necessary to maintain the operation of the measuring units. At the same time, new approaches in the field of sensor networks offer opportunities to set up redundant measuring systems.

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS: SMART THROUGH THE SUMMER​

After a break in the community area, the second session on natural hazards in summer began. Meteorologist Judith Käfer from the start-up Monitorius presented the current data on climate change and outlined the effects on the Alpine region. Heavy precipitation is expected to increase and intensify in the future. These are likely to be interrupted by longer periods of drought. This will probably lead to an increase in mudflows, landslides, rockfall and also to a possible acceleration or reactivation of deep slope deformations. Dr Marc Ostermann (GeoSphere Austria) then answered the question of whether the number of gravitational mass movements has increased in recent years with a clear yes. In addition to immediately recognisable events such as rockfall, there are also slow and large-scale mass movements that can affect entire sections of terrain.

Thanks to the availability of measurement technologies, it is now also possible to detect and quantify movements. In his keynote speech, Rainer Krammer (AVT Airborne Sensing GmbH) showed which sensor technologies can be used for flying platforms. Aerial surveys in particular can generate valuable information with a high spatial resolution. This can be used to identify heat and cold islands in urban areas, for example: These are of great importance for spatial planning in terms of quality of life and health. Finally, Johannes Branke (Institute of Infrastructure, Department of Geotechnics, University of Innsbruck) presented his research activities in the field of recording gravitational slope deformation using the example of Mount Reissenschuh. He clearly demonstrated that there is often a lack of temporal resolution in measurements. A time series provides more information to better understand the underlying processes. In the open discussion that followed, the focus was on climate change and its impact on natural hazards. The participants also worked together to identify the needs in the area of monitoring.

OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE

The collection of data in alpine areas will play an important role in the future in terms of natural hazard prevention. The combination of inexpensive and miniaturised sensors will also make it possible to survey large areas, whereby proportionality in terms of sustainability must not be disregarded. This requires different skills, ranging from communication, geology and meteorology to technology. "The symposium showed where the development in the field of monitoring can go and how diverse this environment is," says Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Schmiedinger, PhD, summarising the event. "The experts summarised their knowledge in the keynote speeches and the joint discussion provided exciting insights and numerous new ideas for future projects. With our Alpine IoT working group, we are very well positioned and look forward to the coming years."