Item: REMOTE SENSING FOR AVALANCHE PRACTICE AND SCIENCE: WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED, AND HOW CAN WE ADDRESS WHAT IS STILL MISSING?
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Title: REMOTE SENSING FOR AVALANCHE PRACTICE AND SCIENCE: WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED, AND HOW CAN WE ADDRESS WHAT IS STILL MISSING?
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Yves Bühler [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ] [ Climate Change, Extremes and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center CERC, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Andreas Stoffel [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ] [ Climate Change, Extremes and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center CERC, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Andrea Manconi [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ] [ Climate Change, Extremes and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center CERC, Davos, Switzerland ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: Over the past 50 years, remote sensing has evolved from a classified tool for military applications into a public and often freely available source of information. This major democratization of remote sensing has also had a significant impact on snow and avalanche research and practice. Today, ground-, drone-, airplane-, and satellite-based mapping of avalanche outlines and snow depth distributions has become an important and well-validated component of the avalanche information puzzle. However, the technical potential, particularly of drones and satellites, would enable a much broader application of these tools, aimed at spatially explicit mapping with high spatial and temporal resolution. Key limiting factors include restrictive drone regulations and the high costs associated with certain satellite and airplane data products. Remote sensing-based information on snowpack stability, on the other hand, is not yet operationally available. Although first attempts using ground-penetrating radar have been undertaken, and some results show potential for practical application, further research and real-condition testing within avalanche release areas remain necessary. Here we outline the development of remote sensing from early satellite imagery and aerial photography to recent drone-based data acquisitions and provide an overview of the achievements and operational implementations accomplished by the avalanche remote sensing community. We compile an overview of the remote sensing-based tools that are successfully applied today in snow and avalanche research and identify the most relevant gaps. Based on this assessment, we outline potential tools and approaches to overcome the identified limitations in the future. Remote sensing still holds considerable potential to further advance avalanche science and practice.
Object ID: ISSW2026_O7.2.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790098647
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Yves Bühler
Keywords: Remote sensing, drones, satellites, photogrammetry, LiDAR, RADAR
Page Number(s): 577 - 584
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