Engineering solutions for the protection of habitats in the Alps
The Alpine region faces enormous challenges from natural hazards. Civil engineers at the Institute of Construction in the Alps are developing innovative solutions to protect settlements and infrastructure in the long term and to make living spaces safe and liveable.
The Alps are a dynamic landscape that has always been characterised by natural hazards such as avalanches, rockfall and debris flows. However, with climate change and rising average temperatures, important parameters such as the snow line and the stability of mountain slopes are changing. These changes threaten the safety and stability of settlement areas and require innovative solutions to protect habitats in the Alps.
Civil engineers as key players
The Institute of Civil Engineering in the Alps plays a central role in the development of protective measures against natural hazards. The training of future civil engineers focusses in particular on the increasing threats posed by climate change. The expertise of specialists from the field is utilised in order to develop practical and effective solutions.
Research and innovation
In its research, the institute concentrates on selected sub-areas in order to develop innovative solutions in a targeted manner. One promising project is the use of wood wool to stabilise slopes and banks. These mats prevent erosion, promote plant growth and decompose into humus after successful growth. This offers both technical and ecological advantages and has already been tested in successful pilot trials.
Wood wool machines
Another area of research is wood wool machines, which are used to stabilise embankments. These bundles of natural materials offer technical and ecological advantages over conventional wooden machines. In collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland, work is being carried out to quantify these advantages in order to create a solid basis for application.
Securing the future through collaboration
Close collaboration between research and practice is crucial in order to meet the challenges in the Alps. With its innovative solutions, the Institute of Construction in the Alps makes an important contribution to safeguarding habitats and to the sustainable development of Alpine regions.