CABLES (CAve Bats Linked Ecopatological Surveillance) Project

The CABLES project is an interdisciplinary and interregional initiative aimed at long-term monitoring of endangered bat species (particularly Myotis myotis and Myotis blythii) across Austria and Italy. Bats are vital to ecosystems, contributing to pollination, pest control, and seed dispersal. Yet they face growing threats from habitat loss, climate change, and increasing human-wildlife interactions that raise concerns about zoonotic disease transmission.

CABLES seeks to address these challenges by developing a harmonized, cross-border monitoring system that can track bat populations, detect behavioral anomalies, and support conservation and public health efforts.

Picture: Anton Voraurer

The Role of the Institute of Measurement and Sensor Technology

The Institute of Measurement and Sensor Technology at UMIT Tirol is responsible for designing and deploying a multi-sensor platform that integrates:

• RFID Systems for tracking individual bats and monitoring movement patterns
• Imaging to detect bat presence and interaction
• Acoustic Sensors to capture echolocation and social calls and analyze species-specific behavior

A field deployment is planned in 2026.

Principal Investigator (Tyrolean private university UMIT): Fiona von der Straten

Co-operation partner: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Università degli Studi di Padova and Ecotone.

Funded by: Interreg