United States Department of Transportation
i
Assessing Gazex Avalanche Control Effectiveness with Terrestrial Laser Scanning
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2019-02-01
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[PDF-12.70 MB]
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Edition:Final Report
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Abstract:This 2-year project used a ground-based laser scanner to map avalanche path snow depths to support an effectiveness assessment of recently-installed Gazex avalanche control systems in the Loveland Pass (Seven Sisters) and Berthoud Pass (Stanley) highway corridors. Scans were collected during snow-free conditions for a baseline, and then prior to and post-storm event and post control operations, as weather and logistics allowed. Snow depth and snow depth change maps were derived from the laser scans, informing an assessment of specific controlled avalanche events and the general performance of the Gazex exploders in the individual starting zones. Good results were obtained from 27 scans at the Seven Sisters site. While a good snow-free data set was collected at the Stanley site, conditions and site geometry prohibited snow-on collection at Stanley with the laser instrument available. Results indicate that the exploders in Sisters 3 and 4 reliably remove snow accumulations from their starting zones, likely due to the focusing effect of the concave starting zone geometries. The 1Low exploder was buried in both seasons of the study, and cross-sections indicate that this exploder location is likely suboptimal. Some evidence of work-hardening exists near the 2Low and 5.5 exploders, warranting future observation and perhaps modification of explorer use timing. The snow depth maps generated in this project provide an unprecedented look at snow accumulation and avalanche dynamics at this site. This rich data set will continue to support future investigations when combined with observations of weather and control activity.
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