INGLAS expands real-time geohazard monitoring with SSL slope sensor

INGLAS has introduced the SSL, a compact slope-monitoring sensor intended to extend real-time geohazard monitoring beyond rockfall barriers. The device targets slopes, embankments and banks where early detection of movement is critical for rail infrastructure operators. It was designed to work in remote and difficult-to-access environments where conventional communications and power infrastructure are limited.

Climate-driven factors—more intense rainfall, freeze-thaw cycles and thawing permafrost—are increasing slope instability in places such as Alpine corridors. The American Geophysical Union's Eos reported 91 fatal landslides globally in January–February 2026, above long-term averages and recent high years. For rail asset owners, earlier and faster warnings can allow trains to be stopped, lines closed or safety systems engaged before incidents escalate.

The SSL is designed for flexible mounting. It can be installed on a series of metal poles across a monitored area and does not require an existing fence or barrier. Sensors communicate with a local gateway using low-power sub-GHz radio, which supports long-range links and reduces sensor power use. This approach removes reliance on mobile coverage. From the gateway, onward communication methods are chosen to suit site needs, enabling integration in remote, rugged or hard-to-access locations.

SSL can be used as a standalone monitoring solution or combined with ImpactSentinel to create a hybrid early warning system. It uses the same communication pathways and gateway infrastructure as ImpactSentinel, simplifying integration for operators already using INGLAS products.

The SSL's sensing core is not new: it is the same core that has operated in ImpactSentinel systems on the Gotthard corridor since 2010 and remained in service through severe events such as the 2024 Axenstrasse storm. For operators, that operating history supports confidence that the technology has been tested in demanding, real-world conditions.

Practical considerations for operators

• Site selection: SSL is suited to slopes, embankments and tunnel approaches where early detection matters.

• Power and maintenance: low-power radio reduces energy needs, supporting deployments in remote areas where frequent maintenance is difficult.

INGLAS's SSL repackages a proven sensing core into a slope-optimized form factor and communication approach that removes dependence on mobile networks. For rail infrastructure managers operating in climatically stressed corridors, it offers a way to add continuous, real-time slope movement data to inspection and asset-management programmes.