RESEARCH DIVERSITY AT THE IMC 2025 IN INNSBRUCK

The International Mountain Conference (IMC) took place in Innsbruck in mid-September 2025. This interdisciplinary conference was held for the third time this year and brought together 1,200 scientists from all over the world in Innsbruck. Under the motto Mountains of Knowledge – Synthesise Knowledge of Mountains, the experts discussed a wide range of developments in the mountain habitat and combined a variety of fields from the natural, social and technical sciences in Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps.

The research team at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol – Helena Gey, MSc, Bernarda Keßler, BSc, Martin Schafferer, MSc, and Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Schmiedinger, PhD – presented results from innovative developments in the fields of nature measurements, material technology solutions for alpine regions, and tourism development.

ALPINE-IOT RESEARCH AREA REPRESENTED BY THREE PROJECTS

The Alpine IoT working group presented three different research projects at the conference, highlighting the diverse aspects of product development for the Alpine region. The team covered a wide range of topics, from the analysis of additively manufactured materials (FDM) and cost-efficient monitoring systems for mass movements to radar development for avalanche monitoring.

The focus was on how modern sensor technologies, digital measurement methods and material innovations can be combined to better record extreme environmental conditions and develop technical solutions for alpine challenges. This interdisciplinary approach opens up new ways to make the alpine region safer, more sustainable and technologically viable for the future. 

Bernarda Keßler presented her research findings on the properties and behaviour of additively manufactured polymers under alpine conditions. She analysed how temperature changes and humidity affect the stability of FDM-printed components. The aim of the research was to identify materials that are suitable for permanent use in high mountain regions, such as housings for measuring instruments.

As a second topic, Thomas Schmiedinger presented a low-cost system for real-time measurement of ground movements, which enables forecasts with centimetre-level accuracy. The technology developed is based on a combination of low-cost components designed to enable continuous monitoring of slope movements or settlement processes. This cost-effective and energy-efficient solution allows early warning systems to be implemented even in areas that are difficult to access, which is particularly important for natural hazard and disaster control.

The third project dealt with radar-based detection of water films under the snow cover. Martin Schafferer's research provides important foundations for understanding sliding processes in snow and contributes to improving safety analyses in alpine winter tourism and avalanche research. The experimental investigations in the laboratory form the basis for the subsequent development of robust sensor systems that can be used directly in the field.

"Developing our own measurement and monitoring methods is crucial for the protection and use of the Alpine region – this is precisely where we come in with our research and development work to design individual solutions for Alpine areas and research," explains Martin Schafferer, research assistant at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol. 

RESILIENT TOURISM: ADAPTABILITY OF ALPINE DESTINATIONS

In her presentation on the fourth project, Resilient Tourism, Helena Gey provided an insight into the Resilience Index for Tourism Destinations, which assesses the regions of Upper Bavaria, Tyrol and Salzburg in terms of their economic, social and ecological resilience and ranks them in comparison with the project area. In the context of climate change adaptation in Alpine tourism destinations, the ecological dimension is particularly relevant. Six indicators were analysed for all tourism associations in the project area in order to map the ecological resilience of the destinations. In addition to exemplary key figures, Helena Gey also addressed the areas of action in which tourism regions can take action in order to operate in a more sustainable and resilient manner in the long term.

Specific recommended measures include promoting sustainable mobility, expanding environmentally friendly tourism offerings, raising awareness among local stakeholders, and strengthening regional cooperation.

The Resilient Tourism project, funded by the EU Interreg Bavaria-Austria programme, is being implemented in close cooperation between the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg, the Austrian Hotel Association and Chiemgau GmbH Tourismus. Among other things, the two universities are jointly investigating how tourism regions in the Alps can become more resilient to the manifold challenges of our time – particularly with regard to climate change, social changes and economic uncertainties.

The project illustrates that resilience in tourism goes far beyond economic indicators. It arises from the interplay of ecological responsibility, social participation and innovative regional strategies – and shows how university research can provide concrete impetus for sustainable development in the Alpine region.

Links: 

• Resilient Tourism | Research project