Project “Cairos” improves avalanche safety

The municipal avalanche commissions from Tyrol, South Tyrol, and Trentino were introduced to the Euregio project “Cairos” in Bolzano.

In the Euregio regions of Tyrol, South Tyrol, and Trentino, over 2000 members are currently active in 346 avalanche commissions. These mostly voluntary workers significantly contribute to the safety of their communities. Their main task is to assess avalanche risk and advise mayors, who act as the highest civil protection authority at the municipal level. To improve this risk assessment throughout the Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino, representatives of the municipal avalanche commissions from all three regions met on Friday, October 18, at the Euregio headquarters in Bolzano.

The event provided a platform for exchange and networking between experts and volunteers. The Euregio project “Cairos,” running until spring 2026, aims to harmonize the workflows of the avalanche commissions. In recent months, a team of experts developed solutions in the two selected cross-border pilot regions, Brenner and Sella Pass, and presented them to the municipal avalanche commissions on October 18 to integrate their feedback.

An important next step is the development of multilingual software that supports documentation, information, and communication. The citizens of the Euregio will indirectly experience the positive impacts of the “Cairos” project. The project’s results will primarily support the work of the avalanche commissions and the various institutions in Tyrol, South Tyrol, and Trentino. Thanks to improved collaboration, modern tools, and tailored training of the members, measures can be implemented more precisely and reliably during increased avalanche risk. A concrete example of the benefits of improved collaboration and modernized resources is the implementation of road closures. During elevated avalanche risk, these closures can now be carried out more precisely and safely, and communicated more clearly. This significantly contributes to the safety of the population and reduces the risk of accidents.