CUSTODI Standardised sediment monitoring in Austria and South Tyrol: the basis for forward-looking, cross-regional management in the context of climate change and its impacts

The cross-border project CUSTODI (where 'Custodi' is derived from the Latin word for 'guardian') is dedicated to the strengthening of the resilience of the Alpine region to the increasing natural hazards resulting from climate change, with a particular emphasis on the transport of sediments. The primary objective of the present study is the development of standardised, interregional sediment monitoring in Austria and South Tyrol, with a view to establishing a basis for forward-looking, cross-regional risk management. In close cooperation, Austrian and Italian partners (including universities and hydrological services) are standardising their measurement and evaluation methods for bedload and suspended solids transport. The scientific basis for recognising climate-related trends, identifying activated sediment sources and deriving preventive protective measures is formed by data from a total of twelve automated measuring stations and remote sensing. The results of these exercises are collated and disseminated via workshops and training courses. CUSTODI serves as a paradigm of interregional climate adaptation, promoting the transfer of knowledge, strengthening cross-border cooperation, and enabling the development of transferable protection strategies for Alpine catchment areas, adopting a sustainable approach to the challenges posed by climate change.