Sensors sharpen Alpine rockfall forecasts

High-precision sensors attached to rock faces can make forecasts of rockfalls more informative by continuously measuring tiny movements, high-mountain researcher Jan Beutel told ORF.

Recent rockfalls have occurred in and around Tyrol, including at the Weißseespitze, near Cortina and in the Zugspitz massif. Beutel, of the University of Innsbruck, monitors rock movements using data from sensors fixed to the rock.

One area of particular interest is the western Ötztal Alps around the Kaunertal, which Beutel described as a historic hotspot for large mass movements and rockfalls. Such events began before the reservoir and glacier ski area were built and continue today. Other locations with significant ground movement include parts of the Ötztal Alps.

The data help researchers build knowledge to support decisions and advise stakeholders, from reinsurers to local councils, Beutel said. They also help explain developments to the public. Authorities use the scientific findings to draw up hazard-zone maps, and authorities around the world regularly request the data.