Recap: Stakeholder Exchange and Excursion within FROST.INI

Science Meets Practice – Exchange on Permafrost Stability in High-Altitude Regions

On April 3–4, 2025, a two-day stakeholder meeting took place in Kaprun (Salzburg) as part of the Interreg project FROST.INI – “PermaFROST Degradation and INstability of High-Alpine Infrastructure.” The goal of the event was to foster in-depth exchange between project partners, researchers, public authorities, and other experts on the pressing challenges posed by thawing permafrost in the Alpine region.

Day 1: Expert Presentations and Stakeholder Workshop

The event began with a welcome by Ingo Hartmeyer (GEORESEARCH), followed by engaging presentations from leading experts from Austria, Germany, Italy, and South Tyrol. The focus was on the latest research findings, risk assessments, and innovative models of permafrost distribution in the Alps.

In an interactive workshop, participants discussed key challenges such as:

• Data accessibility and visualization

• Practical tools for risk management

• Collaboration and knowledge transfer between research and infrastructure operators

A special highlight was the presentation of a solar-powered cooling system designed to stabilize permafrost zones in infrastructure areas, presented by Mario Vascellari (Tofana Srl).

Day 2: Excursion to the Kitzsteinhorn Open-Air Lab

On the second day, the group visited the Kitzsteinhorn Open-Air Lab – one of Europe's leading alpine permafrost observation sites. At over 3,000 meters above sea level, participants were introduced to state-of-the-art monitoring technologies used to track ground temperatures, rock movement, and meteorological data in real time.