Item: CABLE CAR-MOUNTED LIDAR SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS SNOW DEPTH ASSESSMENT
-
-
Title: CABLE CAR-MOUNTED LIDAR SYSTEM FOR CONTINUOUS SNOW DEPTH ASSESSMENT
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2024, Tromsø, Norway
Authors:
- Thomas Goelles [ Uni Graz, Virtual Vehilce Research GmbH ]
- Berin Dikic [ Virtual Vehilce Research GmbH ]
- Christoph Gaisberger [ Uni Graz ]
- Birgit Schlager [ Uni Graz, Virtual Vehilce Research GmbH ]
- Stefan Muckenhuber [ Uni Graz, Virtual Vehilce Research GmbH, FH Joanneum ]
- Stefan Wallner [ FH Joanneum ]
Date: 2024-09-23
Abstract: This paper presents a novel approach for continuous snow depth assessment using lidar system mounted on a cable car. Traditional methods for measuring snowpack characteristics in mountainous regions are often limited by high costs, manual labor, and inadequate spatial coverage. By integrating lidar technology with existing cable car infrastructure, we enhance the spatial and temporal monitoring of snow depth, providing high-resolution data crucial for avalanche risk assessment and climatological studies. Our setup combines moving sensors on cable cars, snowmobiles, piste machines, and static-mounted sensors to cover extensive areas like entire mountain slopes. The system collects data to create both reference and current point clouds, which are then processed using Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms, quality control, and georeferencing. The backend system performs these calculations and stores the data in a PostGIS database with the pgPointcloud extension. A user-facing frontend presents the data as maps and statistics, and triggers alerts and messages as needed. Initial results demonstrate the system’s effectiveness in generating high-resolution 3D point clouds with centimeter-level precision, offering a significant advancement in snow monitoring technologies. The integration of real-time data collection and processing enhances early warning systems for avalanches and improves the accuracy of avalanche forecasting models. This study underscores the potential of using lidar technology in enhancing the safety and reliability of snow monitoring in mountainous regions.
Object ID: ISSW2024_P8.18.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Thomas Gölles
Keywords: lidar, cable-car, gondola, SLAM, snow-monitoring
Page Number(s): 1158 - 1161
-