Item: DEVELOPMENT OF A SENSOR SYSTEM TO SUPPORT AVALANCHE RISK MANAGEMENT IN ARCTIC NORWAY
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Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A SENSOR SYSTEM TO SUPPORT AVALANCHE RISK MANAGEMENT IN ARCTIC NORWAY
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2023, Bend, Oregon
Authors:
- Holt Hancock [ The Arctic Safety Centre, The University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Svalbard ] [ The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Oslo, Norway ]
- Einar Jenssen [ Telenor Svalbard AS, Longyearbyen, Svalbard ]
- Martin Indreiten [ The Arctic Safety Centre, The University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Svalbard ]
- Eirik Albrechtsen [ Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway ] [ The Arctic Safety Centre, The University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Svalbard ]
Date: 2023-10-08
Abstract: Automated measurements of snow cover properties serve as a key data source for most avalanche forecasting programs. In Longyearbyen, Svalbard, a lack of automated snow depth measurements presented a challenge to daily site-specific avalanche forecasting efforts in the initial seasons following the program's establishment in the aftermath of a fatal avalanche accident in December 2015. This work describes a snow depth sensor system in Longyearbyen as it evolved over five winters from a proof-of-concept test of communication technology to a robust snow measurement program supporting avalanche forecasters in two communities in Arctic Norway. We have focused on developing a low-cost, low-power sensor concept which measures snow depths in avalanche release areas with high temporal resolution and delivers these data to avalanche forecasters in an operational time frame. The resulting system relies on ultrasonic snow depth sensors which transmit data via a Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) communication device to a web interface with data available in quasi real-time. Semi-regular snow depth measurements with a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) serve to help select and iteratively update ultrasonic sensor placement while also contextualizing the ultrasonic measurements within the forecasting area's drainage-scale snow depth variability. In addition to offering an illustrative example of an effective, low-cost snow monitoring sensor concept, we provide suggestions, based on our experiences with measuring snow in Longyearbyen, for a framework by which to develop sensor-based natural hazard monitoring systems.
Object ID: ISSW2023_P3.37.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Holt Hancock
Keywords: sensors, risk management, terrestrial laser scanning, ground-based LiDAR, Arctic
Page Number(s): 1451 - 1458
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