Review

Inter-alpine Natural Hazards Conference 2025.

The European Inter-Alpine Natural Hazards Conference (INAC), which deals with current and future challenges relating to natural hazards in the Alpine region, took place for the first time from May 5-7, 2025.

The concept of overlapping INAC and INTERALPIN has led to a unique and intensive exchange of science, infrastructure and technology with industry under the motto “Industry meets Science”. The organization team, consisting of the Austrian Federal Research Centre for Forests (BFW), the Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV) in the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture and the Congress Messe Innsbruck (CMI) would like to thank the international programme committee as well as all speakers, partners, exhibitors and participants. The organizers are looking forward to a successful premiere and the further development of this congress format as a relevant source of inspiration.

Monday, 5th May 2025

01.45 pm-02.00 pm: Congress Opening

Session 2: Gravitational and Hydrological Hazard Processes in a Changing Climate

Chair: R. Hofmann, University of Innsbruck

04.00 pm-5.15 pm

04.00 pm-04.15 pm: Runoff Processes in Alpine Catchments - Characteristics, Triggers and their Changes
G. Meißl, University of Innsbruck
04.15 pm-04.30 pm: New Normative and Digital Instruments in Avalanche Protection
F. Oesterle, Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW)/Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV); M. Granig, Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV
04.30 pm-04.45 pm: Rock Fall and Rock Avalanches in the High Alpine Environment
C. Zangerl, BOKU University
04.45 pm-05.00 pm: Lessons learnt from the Debris Floods that Occured During Storm Alex, 02/10/2020 (French Maritime Alps)
R. Martin, French National Forestry Office (ONF)
05.00 pm-05.15 pm: Marmolada Glacier, July 3, 2022: from the Collapse to the Rescue, from Monitoring for Safety Purposes to the Understanding of the Causes of the Event
M. Gaddo, Office of Forecasting and Planning, Province of Trento

Symposium

05.15 pm-05.40 pm

05.15 pm-05.40 pm: Monitoring Site Ranalt – Flexible Barrier Designed for Catching Avalanches Exposed to an Unexpected Debris Flow Event

Networking Evening

from 6.00 pm

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Tuesday, 6th May 2025

Session 3: Sustainable Protection Measures and Safety Concepts

Chair: W. Gallmetzer, Civil Protection Agency, Province of Bolzano

09.00 am-10.30 am

09.00 am-09.15 am: Climate Risk Assessment Approaches for the Infrastructure Sector: Insights from National and International Projects
J. Schmieder, alpS GmbH; K. Schneeberger, alpS GmbH
09.15 am-09.30 am: Global Change Impacts on Avalanche Protective Forests: What Do We Know and Where Do We Grow from Here?
M. Teich, Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW)
09.30 am-09.45 am: Central Office for Engineering Structures and Georisks: Management of Geohazards on Roads of the Bavarian Road Administration and the Monitoring of Protective Structures Against Alpine Natural Hazards
A. Koch, Zentralstelle Ingenieurbauwerke und Georisiken (ZIG) der Bayerischen Staatsbauverwaltung
09.45 am-10.00 am: Non-Structural Mitigation Measures: the Experience of the Debris Flow Warning in the Boite Valley, Dolomites (Veneto Region, Italy)
M. Cesca, Regional Agency for Environmental Prevention and Protection, Veneto Region
10.00 am-10.15 am: Safety Concepts for Remote Avalanche Control Systems - Example from Switzerland
L. Stoffel, WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF)
10.15 am-10.30 am: Road Protection in Tyrol Using Examples from the Landeck District
R. Zach, Land Tirol

10.30 am-11.15 am: Coffee Break

Session 4: Compound Events and Cascading Process Chains

Chair: S. Wernhart, Disaster Competence Network Austria (DCNA)

11.15 am-12.45 pm

11.15 am-11.30 am: Compound and Cascading Processes – New Challenges Ahead?
N. Salzmann, WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF)
11.30 am-11.45 am: Risk Management in the Field of Weather and Avalanche Warning Services for Railway Infrastructure Providers
C. Rachoy, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG
11.45 am-12.00 pm: Look to Norway – Natural Hazard Problems and Mitigation in a Changing Climate
K. Brattlien, Bane NOR
12.00 pm-12.15 pm: Torrent Processes and Climate Changes - Protective Engineering Adaptation Strategies from Practical Engineering Experience
M. Moser, Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV); L. Puschmann, Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV)
12.15 pm-12.30 pm: Historical Experiences on Avalanche Mitigation in Widespread Settlements in Norway and Demands on Future Development
P. Gauer, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI)
12.30 pm-12.45 pm: Guideline for Reducing the Impact of Forest Roads on Surface Runoff
C. Karnitschar, Amt der Kärntner Landesregierung, Wasserwirtschaft

12.45 pm-03.00 pm: Lunch Break

Session 5: Innovative Solutions for Natural Hazards - Industry Sessions

Chair: S. Hupfau, Congress Messe Innsbruck

15.00 Uhr - 17.30 Uhr: Industry Sessions*
Geführter Messerundgang durch die INTERALPIN mit Stopps bei ausgewählten Ausstellern

19.30 Uhr: Snow Crystal Gala
Eine Abendveranstaltung mit kulinarischen Köstlichkeiten, Live-Band und Artisten

Wednesday, 7th May 2025

11.15 am-12.15 pm: INTERALPIN Inspiration Days*
Focus on Natural Hazards - Discussion: J. Fischer, Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW); G. Walter, Austrian Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control (WLV); R. Klier, Wintersport Tirol AG

11.15 am-11.45 am: Natural Hazard Management in an Adapting Alpine Environment and Compound Events and Cascading Process Chains
M. Keiler, we4DRR/University of Innsbruck/Austrian Academy of Sciences
11.45 am-12.15 pm: Gravitational and Hydrological Hazard Processes in a Changing Climate and Sustainable Protection Measures and Safety Concepts F. De Polo, Civil Protection Agency, Province of Bolzano

12.15 pm-06.00 pm: Open INTERALPIN VISIT*