WSL > Research units > Mountain Hydrology > Group Mass Movements

Instrumented Field Sites

Large Instrumented Field Sites

The WSL operates several unique instrumented field sites for mass movements. The researchers can investigate debris flows, rockfall, and debris avalanches (or shallow land slides) at a natural scale. The field sites are equipped with modern sensors, often developed at the WSL, which allow measurement of parameters such as flow speed, impact pressure, or shear stress, during an artificial release or a spontaneous natural event. These data serve to increase our understanding of natural hazards processes. They also are used directly in various models (e.g. RAMMS), which are intended for use by practitioners and researchers for the analysis and evaluation of natural hazards and the production of hazards maps, as well as to support the development of hazard mitigation concepts.

Test facility for rockfall protection measures

The WSL operates a rockfall research field site near Walenstadt where they test not only flexible rockfall protection systems, but also the behavior of various gallery designs.

Available languages: German English

Debris-flow observation station Illgraben Leuk (VS)

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Small-scale laboratory experiments

Not all natural hazards processes can be investigated in the field with sufficient accuracy. For this reason the WSL runs various experiments in the laboratory or at the field sites at a small scale.

Laboratory debris flow channel

The laboratory at the WSL offers the opportunity to study debris flows at a small scale. With this facility flow, erosion, and impact forces for a variety of different natural and artificial materials can be performed and analyzed with a variety of instrumentation.

Available languages: German English French

Former field sites

Testanlage für Hangmuren in Veltheim (AG)

In einem Steinbruch bei Veltheim untersucht die WSL in einer Testanlage künstlich erzeugte Hangrutsche und neu entwickelte Schutznetze.

Available languages: German French

Rockfall in St. Leonard (VS)

A new rockfall test site in Canton Valais, Switzerland, has been constructed to examine the processes during rockfall and to study the behaviour of a new flexible rockfall protection system.

Available languages: German English French