CAIROS" project

Greek god connects avalanche commissions

The training takes place realistically in the field.(Bild: zVg)

The starting signal for the cross-border project "CAIROS" was given in Bolzano. The aim is to standardize the work of the avalanche commissions of Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino.

What Rudi Mair started with the "ALBINA" project of the avalanche warning services of the European region is now being continued by Harald Riedl, Head of Training of the Tyrolean avalanche commissions. He and the Tyrolean avalanche forecasters Norbert Lanzanasto and Christoph Mitterer came up with the idea of harmonizing the work processes of the avalanche commissions across borders. The avalanche commissions of Salzburg and Carinthia are also on board.

The Euregio project "CAIROS", named after a Greek deity who stands for the favorable timing of a decision, was launched and submitted in April of last year. The project will run for two years and is funded by the Italy-Austria Interreg program.

A common path to success
"The Euregio is setting another exclamation mark with regard to cross-border civil protection," emphasizes Tyrol's Governor Anton Mattle. "The CAIROS project aims to strengthen cooperation between the avalanche commissions in the future and thus significantly improve avalanche protection once again. The example of the avalanche report and the close cooperation between the Euregio avalanche warning services has shown impressively in recent years that the joint approach is an absolute success," continued Mattle.

The example of the avalanche report and the close cooperation between the Euregio avalanche warning services has shown impressively in recent years that the joint approach is an absolute success.

Tirols Landeshauptmann Anton Mattle

"Why should a person from Trentino decide on the avalanche danger on a different basis than a person from South Tyrol or Tyrol?" says Harald Riedl, head of training for the Tyrolean avalanche commissions. He recently took part in the "CAIROS" kick-off event in Bolzano on behalf of Tyrol.

Standard training across borders
In addition to the general harmonization of work processes, the definition of uniform skills and training content is another goal. In future, there will also be a standard training concept in the regions. The software is also to be standardized across borders.

While we have planned regular training measures in Tyrol, these do not exist to the same extent in the other regions.

Harald Riedl, Ausbildungsleiter der Tiroler Lawinenkommissionen

The total costs for the pioneering "CAIROS" project amount to around 730,000 euros. 500,000 of this is being funded by the EU.

By pooling resources in all regions, avalanche protection is to be further improved.