Item: FROM MILITARY OUTPOST TO MAJOR ALPINE RESORT: OPERATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITALIZATION OF THE PATROL AND RESCUE SERVICE IN THE ANDERMATT–SEDRUN–DISENTIS SKI RESORT
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Title: FROM MILITARY OUTPOST TO MAJOR ALPINE RESORT: OPERATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITALIZATION OF THE PATROL AND RESCUE SERVICE IN THE ANDERMATT–SEDRUN–DISENTIS SKI RESORT
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Carlo Danioth [ Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, Switzerland ]
- Stefanie Cavaletti [ Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, Switzerland ]
- Luc Danioth [ Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, Switzerland ]
- David Monn [ Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, Switzerland ]
- Björn Becker [ Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, Switzerland ]
- Matthias Pleyer [ Wyssen Avalanche Control, Switzerland ]
- Walter Steinkogler [ Wyssen Avalanche Control, Switzerland ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: Over the past two decades, Andermatt has grown from a military-influenced mountain village into one of central Switzerland's most significant winter sports centers. Major investments from 2005 onward in hotels, infrastructure, and ski lifts gradually brought the once-separated ski areas of Andermatt, Sedrun, and Disentis together. Today the resulting resort spans 168 km (104.4 miles) of ski runs at elevations between 1’227 and 2’961 m (4’025–9’715 ft), served by 28 modern lifts, making it the largest ski resort in central Switzerland. This rapid growth made a thorough overhaul and digitalization of internal operations necessary. Using the ski patrol and rescue service team as an example this paper shows how a standardized digital documentation system was developed and rolled out to meet both the company's own documentation needs and its legal obligations. Because the region is located on the precipitation-heavy main alpine ridge, numerous avalanche release areas have to be assessed for the hazard they pose to ski runs and trails. All release areas and remote avalanche control installations are shown digitally on a topographic map, and blasting locations are logged on that map either manually or via GPS from a handheld radio. The platform brings together the key weather and snow data needed for these assessments, supports team communication through a shared journal, and enables digital documentation of ski run inspections. This paper covers the digitalization process itself, how the platform is used day to day, and the challenges of running a patrol and rescue service in a large Swiss alpine ski resort.
Object ID: ISSW2026_O6.5.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790099433
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Walter Steinkogler
Keywords: Avalanche modeling, Transportation corridors, Alaska, Hazard indication mapping, Climate reanalysis.
Page Number(s): 2007 - 2014
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