Hexagon AB, a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions, today announced the acquisition of Geopraevent AG, a leading provider of natural hazard monitoring and alarm systems for the early detection and warning of dangerous events such as landslides, rockfalls, and avalanches.
Founded in 2013, Geopraevent provides monitoring and alarm systems that combine proprietary software and hardware with a wide range of sensors and measuring technologies – from very specific radars to webcams and cameras – to detect a variety of natural hazards. Its turnkey, integrated monitoring solutions include system customisation, installation and operation.
Advanced algorithms evaluate data from the various sensing technologies in real time to differentiate between normal and critical trends. In the event of potentially dangerous situations, triggered alarms can not only alert authorities but also automatically close threatened roads and railways as well as warn people in the affected areas within a matter of seconds. All installations include access to an online and interactive data portal, easily reachable via various devices.
“Areas prone to natural hazards can quickly become devastating catastrophes. Natural hazard monitoring improves the safety of roads and railways, especially when traditional constructive measures like tunnels or dams aren’t feasible,” says Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollen. “Geopraevent’s know-how is characterised by a skilled and experienced workforce with geotechnical expertise. By combining this domain knowledge – along with its proven technologies and services – with Hexagon’s global footprint and complementary solutions, we can offer more customers the early detection and warning systems necessary for protecting human lives.”
Building off its strong presence in Switzerland, Geopraevent has close to 100 live systems in operation across the globe today, serving federal and local authorities and private infrastructure operators in markets such as transportation, public safety, tourism, mining and energy. Headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, Geopraevent was acquired on January 1 and will be fully consolidated as of today, operating within Hexagon’s Geosystems division.
In a statement, Geopraevent said: “Seven years ago, Lorenz Meier and Geotest AG founded Geopraevent AG with a mission to use modern technologies in operational projects for natural hazard monitoring. Geopraevent has grown continuously since then. Currently, we employ a team of 20 people and operate over 100 active stations in 10 countries. We have been able to pioneer vital solutions – including avalanche radars with unprecedented coverage, real-time road closure and opening, image processing algorithms for the automatic detection of surface deformations based on high-resolution photos, and radar detection of millimetre deformations over distances of several kilometers in high-alpine environments. Together with our clients and partners, we have been able to break new ground in many areas and for that we are grateful and proud.”
In May 2019, in cooperation with Geobrugg, CEO Lorenz Meier and Head of Customer Solutions Gian Darms visited Brazil. They gave presentations on automated natural hazard monitoring systems for several mining companies in the Minera Gerais region. The Swiss delegation presented how monitoring systems work and explained processing and transmission of geotechnical measurement data.
