Permafrost and his change can affect heavenly infrastructures like streets and buildings in mountain areas above 2.500m a.s.l. To secure existing structures, and provide clues to build and maintain new ones in permafrost affected terrain, exchange of knowledge and experience about the permafrost issue between countries is essential. 
The now presented “PermaNet – Permafrost Long-term Monitoring Network for the Alpine Space” is planned to provide a platform for permafrost research exchange for at least the next three years. It can be seen as “international version” of a more regional project, ProAlp, that was concluded in July of this year.