International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: A MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR MAPPING SNOW DISTRIBUTION CHANGES IN AN AVALANCHE RELEASE ZONE

• • Title: A MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR MAPPING SNOW DISTRIBUTION CHANGES IN AN AVALANCHE RELEASE ZONE

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2023, Bend, Oregon

    Authors:

    • Pia Ruttner-Jansen  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]  [ Climate Change, Extremes, and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center CERC, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]  [ Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ]
    • Julia Glaus  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]  [ Climate Change, Extremes, and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center CERC, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]  [ Institute for Geotechnical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ]
    • Andreas Wieser  [ Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ]
    • Yves Bühler  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]  [ Climate Change, Extremes, and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Center CERC, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]

    Date: 2023-10-08

    Abstract: Since people have been living in mountain regions, they are threatened by the danger of snow avalanches. Critical situations may require the closure of traffic routes or the evacuation of settlements as temporary risk mitigation measures. However, the decision-making experts currently have only limited data to base their decision on. A crucial parameter influencing the avalanche situation is the accumulation of wind drifted snow, and the resulting variation of the snow depth and stability across a slope. Herein, we propose a ground-based measurement system which will enable quasi permanent monitoring of the snow depth distribution in avalanche release areas with high spatial and temporal resolution. The system comprises Livox low-cost LiDAR sensors, photo cameras, as well as meteorologic instruments. The setup is designed to operate autonomously, capturing snow depth variations in an avalanche release zone close to the ski resort Jakobshorn in Davos, Switzerland. Using first test datasets, we analyze the specific strengths and weaknesses of the low-cost LiDAR sensors. Drone-based photogrammetry serves as reference for validation. The developed sensor system will serve to build up a snow depth database, which is used in a further step as an input for developing models predicting the snow depth distribution based on meteorological and terrain parameters. All information shall finally be provided to practitioners in a scenario-based platform to aid their decision- making process of traffic route safety measures.

    Object ID: ISSW2023_O10.05.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s): Pia Ruttner-Jansen

    Keywords: LiDAR, monitoring, snow depth, road safety, avalanches

    Page Number(s): 1074 - 1081

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