The complicated path to a properly signposted tourist region

Approximately 6000 signs are located along the hiking trails on Tyrol's high plateau. All of them need to be maintained, replaced in case of damage, and since the Tyrol region launched the new Tyrolean Hiking and Mountain Trail Concept in 2018, standardized. The goal of the new, standardized signs is to enhance the quality and thus the orientation and safety on Tyrol's mountain paths. "Color, sizes, the layout of printed information, fonts, and associated symbols are precisely defined to the millimeter,” explains Josef Faltejsek, responsible for safety, quality, and service of paths and slopes in the TVB Seefeld.

In the TVB, all signs are made in-house; external assignments are not done. "This way we are maximally flexible and fast,” says Faltejsek. "Because if a sign is broken today, it doesn't help if the replacement takes four weeks to deliver." From 2018 to 2023, all signs and panels were milled. This process was relatively cumbersome: each panel had to be processed individually and by hand. For the past year, a laser engraving machine has been in the TVB workshop – a significant advantage. "With it, we are five times faster and meet the regulatory requirements of the country impeccably." Hand milling to the millimeter was a mammoth task.

Since the acquisition of the laser machine, around 900 signs have been renewed. The regions Gaistal, Seefeld Center, Reither Beekeeping Trail, Härmelekopf via Reitherjochalm down to the valley, Leutascher Achweg, Leutascher Runstweg, and the Möserer Center are already up to date. Furthermore, many damaged boards throughout the region have been replaced. However, there are still many challenges with laser engraving, which allows for the production of three signs with three lines from planning to finished print in about 45 minutes.

At the same time, digital documentation of all signs and other maintenance-intensive small infrastructures such as trash bins, benches, bridges, and stair systems has begun to gain a comprehensive overview and to quickly locate the correct site in the event of a damage report. This data collection is done using GPS, and a photo of each location and the associated infrastructure is taken and saved. But even when you know exactly where to go, it is still important to consider the connection to the surroundings with the trail signs. Most boards contain time indications. These must not only be correct on the specific sign but also match with other information in the region and neighboring regions. It is no wonder that the complex border areas of Tyrol's high plateau, like Scharnitz and the Karwendel valleys, still lie ahead of the TVB employees. "Time indications for the next peak or the next hut must match", says Faltejsek. "that is sometimes not so simple and requires quite a bit of planning."

The complete digitization of the region will also help here. Currently, we are at a weak 50%. So there is still a lot of work to be done. But even when all 100% are eventually captured and all signs are brought up to date, it will not become quieter in the construction yard. Because accurate GPS data and printing templates at the click of a button do not automatically mean that every sign will be produced in 45 minutes and set up shortly afterwards. "Sometimes we need 3-4 hours just for the drive,” says Faltejsek. This must also be combined with other activities while considering urgency and sustainability.

Speaking of combining: The new laser engraving machine does not only produce the new Tirol hiking trail signs. It is also used for many other things in the TVB. The construction yards are currently producing new, uniform plaques for the approximately 1,000 benches in the region. Made of brushed stainless steel, they are intended to last a long time. In Mösern, they are already finished and can be admired on the viewing benches. A nice side effect – since the design takes place on the computer, the Möserer landmark, the Peace Bell, could easily be included in the plaques.