Swiss Snow Institute develops laser for avalanche risk assessment

The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) is developing a laser system to better assess the risk of avalanches on traffic routes. The all-terrain lasers are designed to shorten the duration of road and rail closures during challenging snow conditions. + What’s triggering avalanches? The SLF in Davos announced on Tuesday that the results were promising after the first winter of testing. A known avalanche-prone area, a north-facing slope, was monitored using two terrain scanners positioned away from the pistes of the Jakobshorn ski area. The laser scanners provide data directly from potential avalanche starting areas, offering a better basis for assessing whether roads or tracks should be closed due to the risk of avalanches. Until now, such decisions have been based on weather and snow data, the avalanche bulletin, local observations, and the personal experience of those involved. Hourly monitoring The laser scanners now also measure how the snow depths are distributed ...