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As natural hazards in the Alpine region become increasingly incalculable, new answers are needed: Interconnected thinking, science from two perspectives—and technology that turns data into real safety. Find out here how we are now using Monitorius to create AI-based, predictive prevention from raw data.

The ground beneath our feet seems stable, but in reality it is constantly moving. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Alpine region, where slopes are creeping, rocks are breaking, and global warming is rewriting the rules of nature. Every year, gravitational mass movements such as rockfalls, landslides and debris flows cause enormous damage. In a world facing this growing threat, it is no longer enough to simply react to natural disasters. It is time to think ahead. This was the reason behind the foundation of Monitorius – not just to collect data, but to use it to generate knowledge.

Growing natural hazards that get under your skin

The Alps are a sensitive ecosystem. Rising temperatures are causing the permafrost in high alpine areas to thaw, which holds many rock faces together like glue. At the same time, extreme weather events are on the rise. As a result, the risks from alpine natural hazards are increasing. Studies – such as the current overview by ETH Zurich and WSL (Jacquemart & Weber et al., 2024) – show that, especially in high mountain regions, there is much to prove that rockfall activity, for example, has increased.

Traditionelle Überwachungsmethoden stoßen hier natürlich oft an ihre Grenzen. Sie sind teuer, oft personalintensiv und liefern häufig nur punktuelle Momentaufnahmen. Ein isolierter Messwert kann einen drohenden Felssturz kaum von den Vibrationen einer vorbeiziehenden Kuhherde unterscheiden. Diese Datensilos erzeugen ein unvollständiges Bild und lassen Entscheidungsträger:innen im entscheidenden Moment im Ungewissen. Genau hier sehen wir die Notwendigkeit für einen radikal neuen Ansatz.

Two perspectives, one mission: Rethinking geomonitoring

Our vision for Monitorius was born at the intersection of two specialized worlds: Geology and meteorology. We have combined our expertise from both disciplines to understand the slow but powerful processes beneath the Earth’s surface and the atmospheric triggers above it—factors such as heavy rain or rapid snowmelt that can suddenly turn a latent danger into an acute disaster.

We realized that these two perspectives cannot be viewed separately. A stable slope can become a deadly landslide due to heavy rainfall. A melting glacier can expose rock masses and their instability only becomes apparent years later. Our mission was clear: We had to develop a technological monitoring system that combines knowledge of the subsurface with atmospheric conditions and extreme weather events. A system that not only measures, but also detects complex correlations at an early stage.

The vision: From reactive measurement to a progressive and proactive early warning system

Our vision goes far beyond mere data collection through monitoring. We want to redefine the standard for risk analysis. Instead of countless individual sensors whose data must be laboriously interpreted, we rely on an intelligent, interconnected early warning system for natural hazards.

Imagine our sensors as a fine nervous system that covers a vulnerable slope and monitors it continuously. This system is so intelligent that it recognizes patterns. It learns to distinguish the subtle vibrations of a creeping slope from the everyday noises of the environment. It knows whether a few stones are rolling down or whether a massive rock face is shifting.

This data flows in real time into our analysis platform, where it is combined with meteorological forecasts using artificial intelligence and smart data science. This creates a dynamic risk picture that gives you clear, actionable insights. Instead of raw data, we deliver relevant results and enable preventive protective measures to be taken long before it is too late.

Our plan: Prevention and safety for an uncertain future

With Monitorius, we want to help shape a future in which critical decisions to protect people, infrastructure and budgets are no longer made reactively, but proactively. Thanks to LoRa WAN, our flexible, modular and energy-self-sufficient system can be installed and used even in the most remote areas without the need for expensive infrastructure.

We replace uncertainty with knowledge and create a basis for informed, innovation-driven risk management. Especially now, when environmental conditions are changing rapidly, the ability to forecast is the most valuable resource of all. We founded Monitorius to make this possible. Join us on this journey!