Avalanche Control for Transport Routes Samuel Wyssen
Content Block A
Introduction
Avalanche Control in the Alps
Block B
Theory on Avalanche Release & Risk Control
Avalanche Detection
Block C
Contracting & Organization of Avalanche control Teams
Reference Projects Vorname Name
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Personal Background • Family
• Hobbies • Education • Experience
• • www.wyssen.com • ch.linkedin.com/in/wyssen
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Company Background
Wyssen
Cableways
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Avalanche Control
Company Background Cableways • 1926 - Sawmill business established by J. Wyssen
• 1928 - First cable way for logging • 1938 - First skyline crane with carriage • 1940 - Production of cable crane components
• Today: Broad variety of products for cable cranes • Exports to more than 40 countries world wide
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Company Background Avalanche Control From manual explosive tramways to remote controlled avalanche towers
• 1974: First explosive tramway in Switzerland Weissfluhjoch, Davos
• 1998: Invention of the avalanche tower Development in cooperation with: - Dr. H.U. Gubler, AlpuG, Davos - Swiss authorities
2000:
First two avalanche towers at service
2013:
over 250 avalanche towers installed ~ 1/3 for the protection of traffic routes
Today
Market leader in Switzerland & Austria
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Range of Services Releasing Avalanche Tower LS12-5 Mini-Tower LS4-5 Explosive Cableway Charge Carrier
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Monitoring Snow depth Snow drift Wind & Temperature Avalanche detection
Consulting Concepts Projects Trainings Contracting
Why Artificial Avalanche Release?
Type of intervention
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permanent temporary
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Effective period
activ Structural: - snow bridges - damms - galleries - tunnels artificial avalanche release
passiv Planning - hazard zone planning
Organisational - closures - evacuations
Why Artificial Avalanche Release?
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• restrained financial resources for structural measures
• big impact in natural environment is less accepted
• economical and politcial pressure to keep transport routes available
• artificial avalanche release can be an econimical and ecological alternative
Requirements for avalanche control using artificial releasing Needs and requirements for the avalanche control team: • optimal safety concept
• optimal organization & communication
• education & experience of staff • high quality data, autom. weather stations
• backing of authorities & politics
Requirements for the releasing system: • •
• • •
• • • • •
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high level of operational reliability
high level of releasing/success ratio
large effective range
fast & weather independent interaction safe and easy handling
simple installation
small impact in nature
small investment & running costs fast acting customer service …
Procedure of avalanche release?
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Procedures Content: • General information about the area
• Objecitves for the avalanche control work • Concept of procedures • Safety procedures • Releasing concept • Documentation Vorname Name
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Content Block A
Introduction
Avalanche Control in the Alps
Block B
Theory on Avalanche Release & Risk Control
Avalanche Detection
Block C
Contracting & Organization of Avalanche control Teams
Reference Projects Vorname Name
Member of
Avalanche Control in the Alps • • • • •
Categories Comparison of artificial release methods Comparison to structural measures Wyssen Avalanche Tower References
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Different Measures Type of intervention permanent temporary
Effective period
activ
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Structural: - snow bridges - damms - galleries - tunnels artificial avalanche release
passiv Planning - hazard zone planning
Organisational - closures - evacuations
Hand Charges Criteria
Pos. /Neg.
Staff‘s safety
--
Effectiveness
--
Weather independence
Time independence
--
Time delay
--
Low running costs
Low investment
Picture from: Serafin Siegele, Head of Skipatrols, Ischgl Austria
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Explosives Cableway Criteria
Pos. /Neg.
Staff‘s safety
Effectiveness
Weather independence
Time independence
Time delay
--
Low running costs
Low investment
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Pictures from: Joseph Probst, Head of Skipatrols, St. Anton, Austria
Heli Bombing Criteria
Pos. /Neg.
Staff‘s safety
Effectiveness
--
Weather independence
--
Time independence
--
Time delay
--
Low running costs
Low investment
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Pictures from: Serafin Siegele, Head of Skipatrols, Ischgl Austria & www.gore-ljudje.net
Gas Exploders Criteria
Pos. /Neg.
Staff‘s safety
Effectiveness
Weather independence
Time independence
Time delay
Low running costs
Low investment
--
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Pictures from: Serafin Siegele, Head of Skipatrols, Ischgl Austria
Canons Criteria
Pos. /Neg.
Staff‘s safety
Effectiveness
-
Weather independence
Time independence
Time delay
--
Low running costs
--
Low investment
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Picture from: Serafin Siegele, Head of Skipatrols, Ischgl Austria
Avalanche Tower Criteria Staff‘s safety Effectiveness Weather independence Time independence Time delay Low running costs Low investment Vorname Name
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Pos. /Neg.
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Comparison of artificial release Methods
«manual operations»
Method Hand charges
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Explosive cableway
Heli bombing Canons
«fix installed remote controlled»
Effect
Staff’s Safety
Gas Exploders
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Weather and time indep.
Time delay
Running costs
Investment
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--
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Each Situation requires thorough Assessment
Remote avalanche starting zones?
Size of starting zone?
People or objects to be protected?
Acceptable residual risk?
Time sensitivity?
Importance of clearance?
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Avalanche Control in the Alps • • • • •
Categories Comparison of artificial release methods Comparison to structural measures Wyssen Avalanche Tower References
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Economical Aspects (appr. figures for Switzerland) System
Size / Effective Range
Tunnels, Galleries
Snow Bridges
100 m x 100 m
Artificial release System appr. 200 m diameter Vorname Name
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Investment Appr.
Running cost/y: Operation Maintenance Depreciation Interest
> EUR 1 Mio.
> EUR 45’000 /y
~ EUR 850’000
> EUR 30‘000 /y
~ EUR 180‘000
EUR 10’ … 18‘000 /y
Potential Risk
Picture from: Stefan Margreth, WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF , Switzerland
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Impact in Nature
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Visibility in Nature
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Review
Artificial avalanche releasing is suitable for many situations…….. ….. but each location needs thorough assessment.
Traffic routes -> temporary measures Settlements Vorname Name
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-> permanent measures can be combined with temporary measures
Advantages of artificial avalanche release + Avalanche at controlled time period + early release to release small portions of snow -> smaller avalanches -> less damage + shorter closures of transport routes
+ no risk for staff + releasing independently of weather during day- or nighttime
+ small investment and running costs Vorname Name
+ environmentally friendly & reconstruction possible Member of
Avalanche Control in the Alps • • • • •
Categories Comparison of artificial release methods Comparison to structural measures Wyssen Avalanche Tower References
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Wyssen Avalanche Tower
Command Station
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Anchorage
1m2 Vorname Name
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Construction off season
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Placement of charge magazine
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Charge deployment
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Explosive effect
130m / 5kg
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Effective range
Avalanche Tower / Explosive Cableway 5 kg Airblast (Expl. above snow) = 120-130 m
Manually deployed charge 2,5 kg charge on snow
= 35-40 m
Heli bombing 2,5 kg charge in snow
= 25 m
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Review • Residual risk can be brought to acceptable level by artifical avalanche control • Artificial avalanche control is an attractive solution in terms of investment & running costs • More than 250 Avalanche Towers installed by 2013 • 1/3 of them for protection of traffic routes Vorname Name
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Outlook • New design of Avalanche Tower with 24 instead of 12 charges • Research tests with different explosives • Avalanche radar approval • Developement infrasound detection to operational status • Offer contracting services Vorname Name
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Avalanche Control in the Alps • • • • •
Categories Comparison of artificial release methods Comparison to structural measures Wyssen Avalanche Tower References
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Ischgl, ski resort, 18 Towers 7 Towers for unprotected areas in between snow bridges
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Ischgl, Piz Val Gronda
New ski slope
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Bernina Pass
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Zermatt Skiresort 35 Towers
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Railways Jungraujoch & Wengen • 3 Avalanche Towers
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Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe
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3’500 m. above sea
Road and Railway Sedrun
• 3 Avalanche Towers • 1 Avalanche Radar Vorname Name
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Silvretta Area: Ischgl, Galtür, Samnaun, Serfaus
Total 100 Avalanche Towers
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45 Towers for roads and settlements
42 Towers in ski resorts
3
Towers at power plant construction site
1
Radar for avalanche detection
1
Infrasound system for avalanche detection
Ryggfonn og Stryn NGI Testcenter
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Tyin og Årdal Testinstallation for statens vegvesen
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Content Block A
Introduction
Avalanche Control in the Alps
Block B
Theory on Avalanche Release & Risk Control
Avalanche Detection
Block C
Contracting & Organization of Avalanche control Teams
Reference Projects Vorname Name
Member of
Break
Questions?
Samuel Wyssen
