Item: Interactive Avalanche Information System (IAIS)
-
-
Title: Interactive Avalanche Information System (IAIS)
Proceedings: Proceedings, 2012 International Snow Science Workshop, Anchorage, Alaska
Authors:
- Richard W Steiner [ Dave Hamre & Associates, Whitefish, Montana, USA ]
- Mark Dundas [ Dave Hamre & Associates, Columbia Falls, Montana, USA ]
- Peter Petri [ Mobile LoGIStics Mapping, Whitefish, Montana, USA ]
Date: 2012
Abstract: In 2010 avalanche forecasters (forecasters) employed by Chugach Adventure Guides (CAG) began developing a web-based avalanche atlas (Atlas) as part of a contracted avalanche safety program (Program) for BNSF Railway. The Program has been in place since January of 2005 and its operational area (Area) is John F. Stevens Canyon located along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park in northwest Montana, USA. Since the early 1900’s the Area has been exposed to chronic natural avalanche activity and numerous railroad related avalanche incidents. The Atlas utilized the GoogleTM Earth (GE) application to provide forecasters, Railway employees, and the public an interactive, 3D mapping tool for the Area. To do this, forecasters developed a relational database which stores, manages, and displays Area specific weather, snowpack, and avalanche information. In 2012 forecasters upgraded the Atlas to an Interactive Avalanche Information System (IAIS), a web application located at AvalancheAlley.com. The main benefit of moving the Atlas data and application to the IAIS platform is that application data entry forms and reports are now a collection of web pages that can be accessed and displayed on a wide variety of internet-capable devices. As such, anywhere forecasters have an Internet connection; they can now enter Program data related to weather, snowpack, and avalanche observations. Meanwhile, users of AvalancheAlley can view the most current Area conditions, Program videos, photos, maps, and historical records.
Object ID: issw-2012-375-380.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): unknown
Keywords: geographic information systems (gis), avalanche atlas, web based avalanche atlas, data, database, database management
Page Number(s): 375-380
Subjects: glacier national park, montana avalanche forecasting
-