LT 
Last week, an ice monitoring system was installed and tested at the Vilnius TV Tower. The system’s purpose is to monitor ice formation on Lithuania’s tallest structure and provide timely information about the risk level of falling ice.
The ice monitoring system consists of temperature, wind direction, and wind strength sensors installed at various levels of the TV Tower, along with video cameras. A laser gauge, positioned at a height of 260 meters, is used to measure the thickness of the ice layer.
The monitoring system was designed and implemented by engineers from the Lithuanian Radio and Television Center (Telecentras). It integrates data from sensors with weather forecasts provided by the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Center, allowing for more accurate predictions of ice formation and, especially, thawing periods.
“This winter has been relatively mild, but the cold February still provided an opportunity to fully test and fine-tune the system. As a result, we now have an innovative and, at least in the Lithuanian context, unique ice monitoring tool operating at the Vilnius TV Tower. I believe that in the future, it will find broader applications in managing ice-related risks on high-rise structures both in Lithuania and beyond,” said Telecentras CEO Remigijus Seris.
The ice monitoring system was developed in response to the need for more precise and real-time information about ice formation on the upper metal section of the TV Tower. Under certain meteorological conditions, several tons of ice can accumulate on this metal structure. During thawing periods, chunks of ice of various sizes break off and fall from great heights, posing a risk to people, vehicles, and other objects within approximately a 100-meter radius of the tower. The falling ice risk level is classified as low, medium, or high.
“Due to ice formation on the metal section, an underground passage was included in the original TV Tower design to provide safe access during the colder months,” said TV Tower Services Department Director Zaneta Bereznojiene. “However, during strong winds in thawing periods, some ice can be blown beyond the 100-meter safety zone. To protect visitors, we set up warning signs and, in some cases, temporarily restrict access to the TV Tower. The more accurately we can monitor the ice conditions on the metal section, the more efficiently we can implement warning measures and other appropriate risk management actions.”
