Item: AADS BEAR PASS: FROM PILOT TO DAILY USE OF THE RADAR-BASED AUTOMATED AVALANCHE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED ROAD MANAGEMENT OF HIGHWAY 37
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Title: AADS BEAR PASS: FROM PILOT TO DAILY USE OF THE RADAR-BASED AUTOMATED AVALANCHE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED ROAD MANAGEMENT OF HIGHWAY 37
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2023, Bend, Oregon
Authors:
- Susanne Wahlen [ Geoprevent part of Hexagon, Zurich, ZH, Switzerland ]
- Ryan Boyle [ Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Stewart, BC, Canada ]
- Lino Schmid [ Geoprevent part of Hexagon, Zurich, ZH, Switzerland ]
Date: 2023-10-08
Abstract: Bear Pass Hwy 37A towards Stewart, BC, is an important link for tourism and transportation of goods to the port. The harsh weather conditions present a major challenge for winter maintenance of Hwy 37A over Bear Pass with its 72 avalanche paths. While the Bear Pass Avalanche Program had a well-established and thorough avalanche forecasting process, it lacked accurate, quantitative data of avalanche events. To improve safety, a radar-based automatic avalanche detection system (AADS) was installed and put into trial operation in 2019. The system was developed for the challenging conditions at Bear Pass and is designed to function fully autonomously in all weather conditions. Since installation, the system has detected and verified more than 6500 avalanche events at two notorious locations, George Copper and Little Bears, each with multiple avalanche tracks. The radar-based AADS has proven to be a reliable and very effective tool in providing timely avalanche information and significantly supporting the avalanche team in their work on to keep Hwy 37A safe.
Object ID: ISSW2023_P3.50.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Susanne Wahlen
Keywords: avalanche detection, monitoring, remote sensing, Doppler radar, long-range
Page Number(s): 1523 - 1527
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