Item: UTILIZING ACCELEROMETERS FOR AVALANCHE DEBRIS DETECTION ON THE BNSF RAIL GRADE
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Title: UTILIZING ACCELEROMETERS FOR AVALANCHE DEBRIS DETECTION ON THE BNSF RAIL GRADE
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2023, Bend, Oregon
Authors:
- Richard W Steiner [ David Hamre & Associates LLC, Anchorage, AK. USA ]
- Mitch Beard [ BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, TX. USA ]
- Adam Clark [ David Hamre & Associates LLC, Anchorage, AK. USA ]
- Ross Sterling [ BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, TX. USA ]
Date: 2023-10-08
Abstract: Since 2005 BNSF Railway (BNSF) has operated an avalanche safety program (Program) in John F. Stevens Canyon (JFS) of northwestern Montana, USA. The Program is comprised of BNSF personnel and avalanche safety specialists employed by David Hamre & Associates LLC. A key attribute utilized for avalanche forecasting are "slide fences." Slide fences are binary detection hardware comprised of horizontal wiring strung between posts installed on the uphill side of the rail grade in geohazard areas. If one or more of the slide fence wires is broken, an indication alerts BNSF crews that hazardous debris may be present at that location. In February 2017 a widespread avalanche cycle occurred in JFS Canyon. During this cycle, a natural, Destructive Size 3, dry slab avalanche buried the rail at a location now called Path 1183. When this avalanche occurred, Path 1183 was not included in the Program forecast area nor did it have slide fencing installed. BNSF Signal Department (Signal), a department committed to development and maintenance of rail detection systems, including slide fence, was tasked with creating and installing avalanche detection at this site. Instead of wired slide fence, Signal decided to use an array of L.B. Foster accelerometer tilt sensors with a Human Machine Interface (HMI). This is the first time BNSF has utilized accelerometers instead of wired slide fence for avalanche detection. Advantages of this new system include site-specific wireless detection, simplified maintenance, reduced false alarms, and an HMI outside of the path.
Object ID: ISSW2023_P3.48.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Richard W Steiner
Keywords: BNSF Railway, accelerometer, slide fence, avalanche detection
Page Number(s): 1512 - 1517
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