Item: TERRAIN USE METRICS AND AVYSCORE IN AVALANCHE AIRBAG USERS: A PILOT STUDY OF GPS TRACKING TO EVALUATE RISK HOMEOSTASIS EFFECTS
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Title: TERRAIN USE METRICS AND AVYSCORE IN AVALANCHE AIRBAG USERS: A PILOT STUDY OF GPS TRACKING TO EVALUATE RISK HOMEOSTASIS EFFECTS
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2023, Bend, Oregon
Authors:
- Patrick Fink [ St Charles Health System, Bend, OR, USA ] [ University of Utah Department of Emergency Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA ]
- Claudine Tobalske [ University of Montana Spatial Analysis Lab, Missoula, MT, USA ]
- Blessing Ofori-Atta [ University of Utah School of Medicine Clinical & Translational Science Institute, Salt Lake City, UT USA ]
- Matthew Ainsley [ University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT USA ]
- Scott McIntosh [ University of Utah Department of Emergency Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA ]
- Graham Brant-Zawadzki [ University of Utah Department of Emergency Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA ]
Date: 2023-10-08
Abstract: The effect of avalanche airbag use on backcountry user behavior is not known. Risk-homeostasis theory predicts that utilization of a new avalanche safety measure may cause users to adjust their behavior in a direction that negates part or all of the effect of the new measure. The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of using user-collected GPS data to evaluate the risk-homeostasis effects of avalanche airbag use on terrain choices in backcountry skiers. Eight backcountry skiers were provided with an avalanche airbag backpack for part of the 2021-22 backcountry season in Salt Lake City, UT. Participants recorded 189 tracks, 76 during and 113 outside the airbag periods. The mean daily forecast hazard (0-10) was lower for airbag compared to no-airbag tracks (3.95 (SD 1.46) vs 5.08 (SD 2.17), p<0.0001). Mean angle of ascent (27.4° (SD 7.0°) vs 25.3° (SD 4.3°), p =0.43) and descent (26.0° (SD 6.4°) vs 24.5° (SD 3.7°), p=0.54) were greater during the airbag periods. 90th percentile slope angle (33.1° (SD 5.8°) vs 31.7° (3.1°), p=0.45) and 95th percentile slope angle (35.8° (6.0°) vs 34.5° (4.0°), p=0.43) were also greater for airbag tracks. No comparisons reached statistical significance. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of using user-collected data to evaluate the risk homeostasis effects of wearing an avalanche airbag backpack on terrain metrics. Further investigation is needed to confirm the presence and degree of any such effects.
Object ID: ISSW2023_P1.37.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: risk homeostasis, terrain choices, avalanche airbags, GPS tracking, AVYscore
Page Number(s): 345 - 350
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