Taroko National Park shuttle operators started receiving rockfall sensor feeds Saturday as a limited trail reopening trial expanded to daytime convoys, according to park headquarters. Drivers get cab audio alerts when seismometers on slopes above Provincial Highway 8 detect debris motion exceeding preset thresholds.
The Central Geological Survey installed mesh fences and tilt meters after September tremors loosened marble blocks. Convoys must keep 200-meter spacing; if sensors trip, buses hold at the nearest wide shoulder until engineers visually clear the lane.
Hikers on the Shakadang trail segment must register at the visitor center; shuttles will not pick up walk-ins without reservations during the trial. Park staff said the goal is to test whether sensor latency stays under 90 seconds before opening longer routes.
Local guesthouses welcomed the feeds but asked for night-halt rules if monsoon rains continue on the Yilan coast. Until the trial ends October 12, travelers should expect delays rather than full closures when alerts fire.