Item: AVALANCHEALLEY.COM A PROGRAM DATABASE & RISK COMMUNICATION TOOL
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Title: AVALANCHEALLEY.COM A PROGRAM DATABASE & RISK COMMUNICATION TOOL
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Richard W. Steiner, Jr. [ Snowslip LLC, Whitefish, MT, USA ]
- Adam M. Clark [ Snowslip LLC, Whitefish, MT, USA ]
- Calvin Hill [ Allied Computing, Kalispell, MT, USA ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: In 2010 avalanche forecasters with the BNSF Avalanche Safety Program (Program) began developing the Interactive Avalanche Information System (IAIS). BNSF Avalanche Safety was founded in January 2005 to assist the Railway with reducing avalanche risk. Its operational area is along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park, John F. Stevens Canyon, located in northwest Montana, USA. The IAIS was originally developed as an in-house, computer-based avalanche atlas and database where forecasters could enter and manage data. An oral presentation explaining the initial development of the IAIS was given at the 2012 International Snow Science Workshop in Anchorage, Alaska. The proceedings paper can be found at https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/item.php?id=1703. Program staff transitioned away from the IAIS beginning in 2012 and began developing a user-interactive, web-based platform (website), www.avalanchealley.com. This transition allowed forecasters to manage data remotely on various electronic devices while also utilizing the website for risk communication. Development of the website had three main objectives: (1) to allow forecasters to electronically record industry standard avalanche, snowpack, and weather data, (2) display these data, free of charge, for online viewer dissemination, (3) to integrate these data with a user-interactive, web-based avalanche atlas. Now, 15 years later, the Avalanche Alley website continues to operate efficiently and has become a robust Program risk communication tool. Keeping the website running has required enduring software glitches, programming issues, a web developer switch, and a completely new platform for managing both the website and database.
Object ID: ISSW2026_P3.36.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790099451
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Richard (Ted) Steiner
Keywords: Avalanche Alley, IAIS, Data, Data Management, Web Atlas.
Page Number(s): 1551 - 1557
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