1st place: COLUMBUS from Stefan Riedel

COLUMBUS is a digital compass for accessible travel. It is a networked platform that combines verified accessibility data with community knowledge. It makes offers for people with disabilities, families, and seniors more visible and creates a dynamic, collaborative ecosystem instead of isolated data islands.

The jury’s assessment: “We see an opportunity here to highlight the accessible and low-barrier facilities that already exist in and around the national park, such as hiking trails, a treetop walk, and information facilities. Of course, the entire vacation region must consider accessibility when making future investments.“

2nd place: Solar – Hotspots from Frank Dobbert

New seating areas with solar roofs are being created in the national park to replace old benches and provide seating in scenic locations. These solar roofs, which are about the size of balcony power plants, provide electricity for self-sufficient use, protection from the sun and rain, and energy for sensors, Wi-Fi hotspots, and digital information boards.

3rd place: Bergwald. Bildet – Experience education in the forest digitally from jessi

“Bergwald.Bildet” is a year-round educational program that takes place in the Bavarian Forest National Park. Guests actively participate in sustainable tourism by exploring the forest on foot or by bike, collecting environmental data, counting insects, observing bats, attending workshops, guiding seniors through the forest of the future, and developing their own climate protection ideas.

Community-Winner Idea: Bergblick – The interactive hiking guide from jo_vetter

Bergblick is an innovative print magazine that combines classic hiking guides with digital features, such as GPS tracks, videos with route guidance, and more. Through high-quality images, it aims to draw attention to the beautiful places in the region while providing everyone with an individualized, digital hiking experience.

1st place: Waldblick 360° – The last bit of freedom monitored from Stefan Fischer

An untouched forest is transformed into a monitored zone with cameras, scanners, and tracking systems that integrate digital control into the nature experience. The focus is not on surveillance but rather on an artistic exploration of transparency within the sanctuary of nature. It is an experiment between reality and fiction, as well as an invitation to reflect on the digital age.

2nd place: Outdoor office pods from Frank Dobbert

Working with a view: Weatherproof, insulated office pods at the mountain stations of the Nordkettenbahnen cable cars provide a space for focused work in an inspiring mountain setting, whether you’re working alone or as part of a team. These are the highest office spaces in the region and can be rented as an alternative to traditional offices or home offices. The pods are planned to be energy self-sufficient through solar and wind power. The development of locally manufactured pods offers additional value creation potential.

3rd place: Rückkehr-App from Frank Dobbert

Rather than creating a new app, this feature can be integrated into existing hiking apps. A digital assistance system warns mountain hikers will in advance about the “point of no return,” which is the moment after which it well no longer be possible to return in daylight or descend into the valley. Similar to a driver assistance system in a car, the app calculates the optimal turning point, takes fitness levels into account, and warns users if they are overexerting themselves. In the mountains, it helps hikers safely navigate difficult terrain.

The jury’s assessment: “A sensible idea for increasing safety in the mountains and reducing the need for rescue operations. It can be implemented in the operation of the Nordkettenbahnen cable cars, as well as in mountain and hiking areas in general.”

Community-Winner Idea: Visitor flow control – heat maps for dynamic pricing from Thomas Gsenger

Heat maps using smart data show the utilization of the Nordkettenbahn cable car. When demand is low, the ticket price drops. The app allows users to filter dynamic prices according to criteria such as utilization or time of day. This feature is available for via ferrata routes and the Alpine Zoo as well. Discounts for traveling sustainably by public transportation or bicycle encourage climate-friendly behavior and strengthen the local infrastructure.