Jan Beutel

Univ.-Prof. Jan Beutel, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Innsbruck. His research focuses on interdisciplinary applications of wireless sensor networks, IoT systems, and cyber-physical systems in environmental monitoring, particularly in mountain permafrost dynamics. He leads projects combining geophysical fieldwork with advanced computational methods to study slope stability, cryospheric processes, and seismic activity in alpine environments.

Research Interests

• Permafrost Dynamics & Cryospheric Monitoring
• Wireless Sensor Networks in Extreme Environments
• IoT Applications for Environmental Sensing
• Real-Time Data Analysis in Geohazards
• Time-Triggered Wireless Protocols (e.g., TTW, BLITZ)

His work involves long-term instrumentation of sites like the Matterhorn Hörnligrat, analyzing thermal, seismic, and kinematic data to understand rockwall stability and climate impacts. Key contributions include developing energy-efficient communication protocols for wireless systems and integrating machine learning for event detection in sensor networks.

Lab/Team

He collaborates with the PermaSense project, deploying multisensor systems for mountain cryosphere research. His group also pioneers testbeds like FlockLab 2 for IoT validation.