27.1.2011: The C-coded version of Rockyfor3D is ready. It is 30 - 100 times faster compared to the matlab version, which is fantastic!

11.11.2011: Rockyfor3D has almost completely been translated into C (~2500 code lines). The first tests show that we can expect a significant increase of the computational speed (at least 30 times faster compared to the matlab code), which is joyful news. We expect being able to deliver the bèta version of the C based Rockyfor3D version to all members in december 2011. In addition, we would like to focus your attention at a new book on rockfall entitled "Rockfall engineering" published by ISTE/John Wiley & Sons. This is an up-to-date, international picture of the state of the art in rockfall engineering. The three basic stages of rockfalls are considered: the triggering stage, the motion stage, and the interaction with a structure stage; along with contributions including structural characterization of cliffs, remote monitoring, stability analysis, boulder propagation, design of protection structures an risk assessment. Academic contributions are illustrated by practical examples, and completed by engineering contributions where practical purposes are thoroughly considered. This title is intended for engineers, students as well as researchers.

01.05.2011: The Research Center of Engineering Geology of the Institute for Geotechnics of Vienna University of Technology is organising the 6th Colloquium "Rock Mechanics - Theory and Practice" on the 22nd and 23rd March 2012 in Vienna, Austria.

20.04.2011: In the beginning of this summer, the first steps will be undertaken to translate the Rockyfor3D code (currently written in Matlab) into C. This will hopefully increase computational speed significantly and solve many installation problems.

18.04.2011: Small changes in Rockyfor3D v4.0: firstly, creating input data for a "with-forest" simulation is more easy since standnr.asc is not required anymore. Secondly, a special soiltype for asphalt roads has been added. Thirdly, a simulation “with rockfall nets” allows collecting detailed data on the rockfall kinematics since the current program allows the nets to act as calculation or control screens.

14.02.2011: The bèta version of Rockyfor3D version 4.0 has been tested by several members during the last three months. Their feedback has led to several improvements and the "official" release of version 4.0. In addition to the barrier effect of trees, this version allows to integrate the effect of rockfall nets in the simulation.

04.01.2011: A large group of ecorisQ members will meet during the Interdisciplinary workshop on Rockfall Protection in Innsbruck-Igls (Austria) from 17-19 May 2011. This workshop will offer a possibility for users of Rockyfor3D to discuss limits and possibilities of a 3D rockfall simulation model for trajectory studies.

29.03.2010: ecorisQ will organise two Rockyfor3D training courses in June 2010 with support of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Stand Montafon Forstfonds and CREALP. During the morning such a course takes place in the field, and during the afternoon in a meeting room. The 16th of June 2010 we will organise a course in Deutsch/English near Gaschurn (Montafon, Austria) and the 23rd of June 2010 a course en français near Sion (Valais, Switzerland). Preliminary costs are 60 Euros p.p. for ecorisQ members and 230 for non-members (inkl. lunch and apéro). This course will also show how opensource GIS packages (QGIS and SAGA GIS) can be used for preparing input data for Rockyfor3D.

11.11.2009: With the start of the carnaval season, the first members of ecorisQ received the stand-alone executable of Rockyfor3D. We are anxious to hear about their first experiences.

16.10.2009: The team of Frederic Berger of Cemagref Grenoble, with support of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), succesfully carried out full-scale rockfall experiments on diagonally cut tree stems in an avalanche couloir in the French Alps. The impressive experiments showed the both the efficacy and limits of such protective measures.

20.08.2009: In cooperation with Umwelt Büro Klagenfurt and Geo7, ecorisQ participates in a pilot study on minimal standards for hazard (indication) maps within the framework of the Interreg project MassMove. For this, ecorisQ will carry out 3D rockfall simulations with and without the protective effect of forests in Carynthia, Austria.