From Risk to Resilience: The future of rockfall safety
Dear esteemed expert
Welcome to the GEO-Summit 2025, taking place from 29 September to 2 October in St. Gallen. The city, with its medieval architecture, cultural treasures, and innovative spirit, offers the perfect setting for an event dedicated to the future of rockfall safety. We are pleased to host the event under the patronage of St. Gallen-Bodensee Tourism, which promotes the St. Gallen and Lake Constance region as a travel destination by highlighting its cultural, natural, and leisure attractions.
Under the theme “From Risk to Resilience: The Future of Rockfall Safety”, this year’s GEO-Summit will address the limitations of traditional testing methods and present the latest research in rockfall protection. Since 2001, a standardized testing procedure for rockfall barriers has been globally recognized. In collaboration with WSL, Geobrugg has now developed a new testing method to enhance the reliability and precision of rockfall protection systems.
English
Einstein St.Gallen
Berneggstrasse 2
9000 St.Gallen
Switzerland
www.einstein.ch/en/
+41 71 227 55 55
Smart casual for conference and dinner. For the site visit, live-test and touristic tour appropriate shoes and clothing are required.
We kindly ask you to wear your name badge throughout the entire event.
Einstein Guest
Welcome@3instein
Breakfast is served daily from 06:30 at the Bistro (Congress Center).
Geobrugg covers hotel accommodation, meals and after-dinner consumption until 23:00, limited to non-alcoholic drinks, beer and selected wines.
When checking out, we kindly ask you to cover expenses such as phone calls, parking fees, laundry service, charges to your room, surcharge for double use, etc.
Ambulance 144
Fire service 118
Police 117
Renowned speakers will provide valuable insights and perspectives, ensuring a multidisciplinary and forward-looking dialogue. In addition, the GEO-Summit will create numerous opportunities to exchange knowledge and connect with experts in an inspiring environment.
On the final day, we invite you to join an optional tour of Appenzell’s charming streets and a scenic
trip to Mount Säntis. This excursion offers stunning views and a taste of Swiss alpine culture,
providing a memorable conclusion to the Summit.
Welcome and enjoy the GEO-Summit!
Day
Individual arrival of all guests and check-in.
Welcome recepion, Hotel Congress Center
Dinner
Start of conference, Congress Center
Welcome and Introduction
Andreas Kunz – St. Gallen-Bodensee Tourism, Switzerland
30 Years of Testing Rochkfall Nets – Results and Findings
Werner Gerber – Former Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Lanscape Research WSL, Switzerland
Shape matters, but size decides how:
insights from large-scale rockfall experiments on scree slopes
Joël Borner – WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Switzerland
Dynamic simulation of ROCCO barrier systems using nonsmooth mechanics
Lisa Eberhardt – Universität Stuttgart, Germany
Coffee break
Conference
Dynamic behaviour of flexible barrier components on the local and global scale
Ali Osairan – Cerema, France
Advancing Rockfall Hazard Assessment Through Fragmentation Modelling
Dr. Davide Guccione – University of Newcastle, Australia
Lunch
Conference
Next Generation Doppler Radar with Multi-hazard Capabilities
Lorenz Meier – Gravimon, Switzerland
Hazard Map and protection structures
Roger Moor – Canton St. Gallen, Switzerland
(German talk, translation into English)
Coffee break
Conference
Digital Transformation in Portective Infrastructure Management
Thierry Moebel – Unit Solutions, Switzerland
Constructing in the mountains
Alexandra Flaum – Gasser Felstechnik, Switzerland
(German talk, translation into English)
Introduction to the site visit
End of conference
Rest Time
Meet for dinner, Hotel lobby
Walk to dinner location Lagerhaus (10min)
Meet for transfer to Bad Ragaz, Hotel lobby
Site Inspection
Introduction to the research live-test
Manuel Eicher and Remo Dudler – geobrugg, Switzerland
Lunch, Seehof Walenstadt
Transfer to Test-Site & Hike ip
Live-Test
Hike down & Shuttles back
Transfer back to hotel
Rest time
Meet for dinner, Hotel lobby
Walk to Klosterbistro (5min), Aperitif
Transfer to dinner location, Festküche - by focacceria
First option for transfer back to the hotel
Second option for transfer back to the hotel
For departing guests
Individual check-out. Please consider that 100 guests check out at the same time
Touristic program
Please remember to check out before the touristic program. Luggage has to be stored at the hotel. It is impossible to take the luggage on the bus.
Meet for touristic tour, Hotel lobby
Transfer to Appenzell
Guided city tour Appenzell
Transfer to Schwägalp and cable car up
Free time at Mount Säntis
Lunch at Mount Säntis
Cable car down
Transfer back to the hotel, St. Gallen
End of the GEO-Summit 2025
Individual departure