Monava warning system makes mountain environments safer

By measuring vibrations in the ground and connecting to satellites, the start-up Monava has developed a new way to provide early warning of natural disasters in mountain environments. In the spring, the company was accepted into the European Space Agency's Aspire with ESA project, which entails SEK 1.3 million in development capital and cooperation with international actors.

- It feels really great! It's a big step forward. We are in direct contact with researchers and experts at ESA while working with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. I think having these contacts will benefit us greatly in the long term," says Monava founder Alexander Hebbe.

Avalanches and landslides cause major problems along Norwegian mountain roads, which motivates the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to collaborate with Monava and invest 10 percent of the capital.

- "They are very interested in new solutions and have gladly become part of this project to test and see if our warning system works for their needs," says Alexander.

Measuring vibrations in the ground

Alexander Hebbe is a former professional skier and studied acoustics at Chalmers University of Technology. Through his master's degree, he came into contact with the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Switzerland, which united his two interests. The idea of an early warning system based on vibrations began to grow.

- Today's avalanche warning systems use microphones, which is a simpler solution. By measuring vibrations, however, the system can be scaled up and applied to rockfalls and landslides," Alexander explains.

Monava's warning system can be compared to an advanced pedometer, which uses sensors in the ground to detect the movements of various events in mountain environments. AI algorithms are trained to detect, differentiate and evaluate the events, which are then verified using people on the ground, cameras and satellites.

- It's all about creating the highest quality data possible, which we do by using as many sources as possible. The uniqueness of our product is that we combine ground systems with space technology, giving us access to much more interesting data.

Space technology part of the early warning system

Since December 2021, Monava has been part of the ESA-BIC space incubator, which Innovatum Science Park helps to run. During the incubation period, Alexander and his colleague and technical manager Niklas Zeidler have confirmed that satellite data can be used as a validation method for natural disasters.

- Satellite data can automatically validate avalanches in an area, provide interesting information about snow conditions, is independent of visibility and, above all, provides a more comprehensive picture. We can't install cameras everywhere," says Alexander.

One of Monava's goals for the 9 months with Aspire with ESA is to further develop the use of satellite data, and continue to train its AI algorithms by putting the system to practical use. A project with the Swedish Transport Administration is already underway where warning systems have been installed along the Malmbanan, at the height of Abisko, to detect avalanches rolling down the railway and E10 with the risk of accidents and traffic jams.

From avalanches to sick cows

The applications also extend beyond mountain environments. Currently, Monava is involved in a project to monitor the behavior of crosses. Using sensors in collars, the system can detect abnormal animal behavior and provide early warning of disease.

- The system could also measure the strength of bridges and buildings, where vibration data can inform about possible cracks.

Although the focus in the near future is on finding different applications for the warning system, Alexander's heart beats extra hard for skiers. Every year, over 200 people die in avalanches in Europe - a figure that, according to the Mountain Safety Council, is steadily rising as more and more people are attracted to summit tours and off-piste.

- "My dream is still to detect avalanches and create the safest possible mountain environment for skiers. The next big step is down to the Alps, but there is a lot for us to do here in Scandinavia before then," says Alexander.