Avalanche researchers at the SLF investigate how snow avalanches flow to answer important questions – how fast avalanches flow, how far they flow and what forces they exert on buildings and other objects. Mathematical models are used to calculate velocity, runout distances and impact pressures. SLF researchers have recently proposed a more inclusive mathematical model that can model avalanches of different size and flow type.

Projekte der FE Oekologische Genetik

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Permafrost is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of climate change. The SLF uses a terrestrial laser scanner to monitor surface changes on various types of permafrost landforms, including the rock glacier ‘Foura da l’amd Ursina’ above Pontresina.

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Flexible high energy rockfall protection galleries: An economical and environment-friendly alternative to concrete galleries in mountain regions?

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Remote Sensing instruments on airplanes, helicopters or satellites are getting more and more important for natural hazard research. They can acquire up-to-date, high resolution imagery shortly after a disaster strikes even within poorly accessible areas. We investigate at the SLF how such sensor systems can be applied for future tasks.

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FireLess II is an innovative wireless sensor network developed by EnvEve SA and WSL in collaboration with the University of Turin allowing the acquisition of real time data for monitoring fuel parameters such as litter and humus moisture in specific forest stands.

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Natural hazards have always impacted peoples` lives in Alpine regions. To deal with them, strategies of action and institutional structures have evolved over the course of centuries. ANiK explores gradual and sudden changes in these strategies and how they relate to peoples` interpretations of natural hazards.

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Numerical simulations of natural hazards are based on digital terrain models. We investigate the advantages and disadvantages of different remote sensing based technologies to generate such terrain models for high alpin regions.

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Der Lawinenwarndienst testet ein neues Messinstrument aus der Schneeforschung, das SnowMicroPen (SMP). Das SMP ist eine hochempfindliche und automatische Sonde, die den Eindringwiderstand des Schnees im Mikrometerbereich misst. Forschungsarbeiten im Lawinenwarndienst mit dem SMP untersuchen die kleinräumige Variabilität der Schneedeckeneigenschaften sowie ihre Bedeutung für die Schneedeckenstabilität und die Stabilitätstests.

Available languages: German

Das SLF hat im Rahmen des Jubiläums die neue iPhone Applikation SnowSense entwickelt. Damit wird Tourengängern erstmals ein Tool zur Verfügung stehen, das sie systematisch durch die gesamten Planungs- und Entscheidungsprozesse vor und während einer Tour führt.

Available languages: German