Item: New Insights on a Sensor Network based Measurement Platform for Avalanche Dynamics
-
-
Title: New Insights on a Sensor Network based Measurement Platform for Avalanche Dynamics
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria
Authors:
- Felix Erlacher [ Heinz Nixdorf Institute and Department of Computer Science, Paderborn University, Germany ]
- Jan-Thomas Fischer [ Department of Natural Hazards, Austrian Research Centre for Forests ]
- Falko Dressler [ Heinz Nixdorf Institute and Department of Computer Science, Paderborn University, Germany ]
Date: 2018-10-07
Abstract: We present the core concepts of our AvaRange system, a measurement based experimentation framework for studying the internal dynamics of avalanches. Snow avalanches are an ever-present reality in alpine regions, which may cause substantial damage to settlements and infrastructure elements. Even though avalanches have been studied for a long time, current modeling techniques of avalanche dynamics lack a precise description of their internal dynamics. This also holds for recent simulation models and techniques. The core problem is that the mechanics of important physical effects, such as particle-size segregation and phase separation inside the flowing avalanche, are currently invisible to us. In this work, we present selected new results of our AvaRange system. AvaRange is based on radio ranging techniques, which we previously successfully applied to a variety of sensor network applications, to track particles that move with the avalanche. The idea is to place sensor nodes in rugged spheres of varying shape, size, and density; and to deploy them in an avalanche release area. After (artificially) triggering the avalanche, the sensor nodes move with the avalanche and continuously obtain ranging data to determine their relative position. The obtained data allows to gain insights into particle trajectories and local properties. In this paper, we evaluate the most promising radio based ranging techniques, namely Received Signal Strength (RSS) and Time of Flight (ToF).
Object ID: ISSW2018_P01.3.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Avalanche trajectories, avalanche dynamics, radio-based ranging, sensor networks, received signal strength, time of flight.
Page Number(s): 31-34
-