Vorarlberg hiking signs use location numbers to aid emergency rescues

Hiking trail signs in Vorarlberg, Austria, feature small numbers at the bottom edge known as location numbers that can be critical during emergencies. These numbers allow for the unique identification of every signpost in the region.

A location number is composed of a municipality number and a sequential number assigned to the specific sign within that municipality. For example, a sign in Fraxern might carry the number 28.06. These identifiers are centrally stored with rescue and fire services and are linked to the V-Atlas, the state's geographic information system.

There are more than 6,000 documented signpost locations across the state. Each sign has a corresponding location sheet containing details such as destinations, walking times, and mounting directions. Providing a location number during an emergency call can significantly reduce the time it takes for rescue teams to pinpoint an accident site, especially in dense forests or complex alpine terrain where verbal descriptions of landmarks may be difficult or impossible.