Item: Risk-Based Avalanche Program Design
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Title: Risk-Based Avalanche Program Design
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA
Authors:
- Grant Statham [ Parks Canada, Banff, AB, Canada ]
- Brian Gould [ Alpine Solutions Avalanche Services, Squamish, BC, Canada ]
Date: 2016-10-02
Abstract: Avalanche safety programs around the world are diverse and varied, challenged to forecast avalanche hazard and manage avalanche risk in a variety of environments, scales and contexts. While each different program comes with its own unique set of objectives and elements-at-risk, the common thread among them all is the underlying, universal components of risk. All risk scenarios are premised upon the concepts of probability and consequence, while avalanche risk specifically combines hazard, exposure and vulnerability. While these factors are often assessed, combined and expressed in different ways for different scenarios, the basic premise of risk is fundamental to the system of avalanche risk management. In this paper we describe how individual decision making can be improved by deconstructing scenarios into risk components, and how the universal nature of risk-based systems makes them a compelling choice upon which to base avalanche education, practice and communication.
Object ID: ISSW16_O5.01.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: risk, hazard, probability, consequence, exposure, vulnerability, education
Page Number(s): 100-103
Subjects: avalanche hazards avalanche risk avalanche education courses
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