The Institute for Applied Remote Sensing was established in 2006, following an initiative taken jointly by the provincial government of South Tyrol together with the European Academy of Bolzano. The Institute's overall objective is the development of remote sensing applications for the Alps and other mountainous regions. Our activities are grouped into a number of major research fields. For all these fields Earth Observation (EO) data represents one amongst a number of additional information layers, for example data originating from in-situ measurements, questionnaires, maps or cadastres. The combined analysis of these various datasets requires knowledge and skills beyond a simple understanding of remote sensing technology. Hence, our philosophy is grounded in the development of applications based on "Remote Sensing Plus", with the challenge of following integrated approaches and providing expertise, which goes beyond merely the interpretation of images. 

The data supply of our own receiving station on the high mountain plateau of Ritten will enable the Institute to process and analyse satellite images in near-real-time. Near-real-time applications are in high demand from users relying on all those services that deal with monitoring and rapid response activities in relation to natural hazards and risk management.  

We work hard but we don't neglect the beauty of the environment we are working in. Our latest group mountain trip took us to the roof of the Zillertaler Alps, the Hochfeiler (Gran Pilastro). The photo below shows the group close to the Kreuzkofeljoch, where new colleagues from the flatter areas in Europe were introduced to mountaineering and snowshoeing.