Dealing with the White Death: Avalanche Risk Management for Traffic Routes

Risk Analysis ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph M. Rheinberger ◽  
Michael Bründl ◽  
Jakob Rhyner
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Avalanche Risk Management ◽  
Avalanche Risk

scholarly journals Deriving customized terrain classes for avalanche risk management in mechanized skiing operations from operational terrain assessments

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reto Sterchi ◽  
Pascal Haegeli
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Decision Aids ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Terrain Classification ◽  
Self Organizing Maps ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The Past ◽  
Avalanche Risk Management ◽  
Avalanche Risk

Abstract. An in-depth understanding of the nature of the available terrain and its exposure to avalanche hazard is crucial for making informed risk management decisions when travelling in the backcountry. While the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) is broadly used for providing recreationists with terrain information, this type of terrain classification has so far only seen limited adoption within the professional ski guiding community. We hypothesize that it is the generic nature and small number of terrain classes of ATES and its precursor systems that prevent them from offering professional decision makers meaningful assistance. Working with two mechanized skiing operations in British Columbia, Canada, we present a new approach for deriving terrain classifications from daily terrain assessment records. We used a combination of self-organizing maps and hierarchical clustering to identify groups of ski runs that have been assessed similarly in the past and organized them into operation-specific terrain hierarchies. We then examined the nature of the emerging terrain hierarchies using comprehensive run characterizations from experienced guides. Our approach produces high-resolution terrain hierarchies that offer a more nuanced and meaningful perspective on the available skiing terrain and provide new opportunities for examining professional avalanche risk management practices and developing meaningful decision aids.

scholarly journals A method of deriving operation-specific ski run classes for avalanche risk management decisions in mechanized skiing

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reto Sterchi ◽  
Pascal Haegeli
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Decision Aids ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
Self Organizing Maps ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The Past ◽  
Avalanche Risk Management ◽  
Avalanche Risk

Abstract. An in-depth understanding of the nature of the available terrain and its exposure to avalanche hazard is crucial for making informed risk management decisions when travelling in the backcountry. While the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) is broadly used for providing recreationists with terrain information, this type of terrain classification has so far only seen limited adoption within the professional ski guiding community. We hypothesize that it is the generic nature and small number of terrain classes of ATES and its precursor systems that prevent them from offering meaningful assistance to professional decision makers. Working with two mechanized skiing operations in British Columbia, Canada, we present a new approach for deriving terrain classifications from daily terrain assessment records. We used a combination of self-organizing maps and hierarchical clustering to identify groups of ski runs that have been assessed similarly in the past and organized them into operation-specific ski run hierarchies. We then examined the nature of the emerging ski run hierarchies using comprehensive run characterizations from experienced guides. Our approach produces high-resolution ski run hierarchies that offer a more nuanced and meaningful perspective on the available skiing terrain and provide new opportunities for examining professional avalanche risk management practices and developing meaningful decision aids.

scholarly journals IFKIS - a basis for managing avalanche risk in settlements and on roads in Switzerland

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bründl ◽  
H.-J. Etter ◽  
M. Steiniger ◽  
Ch. Klingler ◽  
J. Rhyner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Avalanche Forecasting ◽  
Federal Institute ◽  
Closing The Gaps ◽  
The One ◽  
Local Safety ◽  
Modular Education ◽  
Avalanche Risk Management ◽  
Avalanche Risk

Abstract. After the avalanche winter of 1999 in Switzerland, which caused 17 deaths and damage of over CHF 600 mill. in buildings and on roads, the project IFKIS, aimed at improving the basics of organizational measures (closure of roads, evacuation etc.) in avalanche risk management, was initiated. The three main parts of the project were the development of a compulsory checklist for avalanche safety services, a modular education and training course program and an information system for safety services. The information system was developed in order to improve both the information flux between the national centre for avalanche forecasting, the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, and the local safety services on the one hand and the communication between avalanche safety services in the communities on the other hand. The results of this project make a valuable contribution to strengthening organizational measures in avalanche risk management and to closing the gaps, which became apparent during the avalanche winter of 1999. They are not restricted to snow avalanches but can also be adapted for dealing with other natural hazard processes and catastrophes.

scholarly journals Development of the damage potential resulting from avalanche risk in the period 1950-2000, case study Galtür

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Keiler
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuations ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Damage Potential ◽  
Probability Of Presence ◽  
Hazard Estimation ◽  
Avalanche Risk

Abstract. The risk resulting from natural hazards can be derived from the combination of parameters of physical processes and the damage potential. Even though the damage potential has been taken into account more frequently, quantifying statements are still missing. This study presents a detailed recording of the damage potential in the study area and describes the development of the damage potential since 1950 in decades. In the community, the increase of the number of buildings and their values is above average of the region. 37% of the existing buildings are located in legally declared avalanche hazard zones. In these areas, the probability of presence of persons increased considerably due to tourism activities and shows substantial seasonal fluctuations. If the analysis of the damage potential and the hazard estimation are performed with the same degree of precision, risk analysis and risk management will be improved significantly.

scholarly journals The EU CADZIE database for extreme and deflected snow avalanches

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Domaas ◽  
C. B. Harbitz ◽  
H. Bakkehøi
Keyword(s):  
Computational Models ◽  
Snow Avalanche ◽  
Snow Avalanches ◽  
Avalanche Hazard ◽  
Hazard Zoning ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Avalanche Risk Management ◽  
Avalanche Risk ◽  
The Eu

Abstract. The EU programme CADZIE (Catastrophic Avalanches: Defence Structures and Zoning in Europe), was established after the catastrophic 1999 avalanche winter in Europe. The overall objective of the programme is improved snow avalanche risk management by: (1) improved avalanche hazard zoning by computational models; and (2) improved understanding of the interaction between defence structures and avalanches.  One contribution to meet the objectives is a database of well-documented extreme or deflected avalanche events in the six countries of the partners of the programme. The database contains observational, topographical and meteorological snow avalanche data with reliability, as well as references, copyrights, etc., all in a convenient framework based on common formats.  The structure, contents, and potential use of the database are described. Example calculations of extreme and deflected events made by the NGI user interface "SKRED", for practical use of avalanche computational models, present applications of the database. Finally, further development of the database and of the computational models to meet the future needs in avalanche hazard zoning is proposed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document