RAMMS Rapid Mass Movements

Projects

Safe roads

In this project we develop and combine cutting-edge remote sensing technology with snow depth distribution and RAMMS avalanche modelling. With this we want to improve the decision base for road safety in the Dischma valley in Davos.

Dynamics of the rock slope instability "Spitze Stei"

The rock slope instability "Spitze Stei" constitutes a risk for the touristic infrastructure around lake Öschinensee and the village Kandersteg. Our project task will investigate the mechanisms which led to the slope destabilisation and analyse scenarios for slope failures.

CCAMM II: Cascading Processes

The CCAMM cluster "Cascading Processes"develops knowledge and models that can be used to anticipate future cascading events. At "Spitze Stei", Kandersteg BE, we study the cascading processes: rock slope instability, debris flow, rock/snow avalanches and lake outburst floods.

Rock / ice avalanches in India

Modelling destructive rock / ica avalanches in Uttarakhand, India

Kleiner Piz Buin: experimental investigations

In July 2020, the SLF identified a highly fissured and deformed potential rockfall mass with an incipient crest near the summit of Kleiner Piz Buin.

Avalanche hazard indication maps

Large scale avalanche hazard indication maps for Graubünden and Liechtenstein.

Rockfall barrier tests in natural terrain

WSL and its industrial partner GEOBRUGG are testing a new rockfall barrier using large-scale tests in natural terrain.

Larger and more frequent debris flows in future?

This project will combine field monitoring of debris flow sites, laboratory and field experiments, two-phase granular flow mechanics and numerical simulations to assess how debris flow mitigation must evolve in future.

Determining the Insurance Value of Ecosystems

The project expands the scientific bases for insurance services of forests and defines their value from the population’s perspective. In this way we can enhance the awareness of human dependence on natural resources and foster their inclusion in political, economic and individual decision-making.

Avalanche terrain maps

New maps show avalanche terrain and take into account avalanche release and runout.

Rockfall Experiments

The SLF has developed software capable of simulating rockfalls. The computer model is being continuously aligned more closely with reality by way of experiments, such as those recently conducted on Spitsbergen.

EPIC

Snow avalanche interaction with forests is evaluated in three mountains ranges of the world: the Andes (Chile), the Himalayas (Nepal) and the Alps (Switzerland). We aim at better integrating forest effects in existing avalanche dynamics models for risk analyses, as well as deducing adapted strategies for forest management in different mountain ecosystems.

Chilean copper mines

An avalanche simulation model is helping Chilean safety authorities to decide when to close a road that permits access to copper mines.

Rockfall nets

Thanks to a new SLF computer model, industry will be able to design rockfall nets more cost-effectively and efficiently in future.

Forests and avalanches

Trees are capable of slowing down and stopping avalanches before they can endanger settlements and their inhabitants. The SLF is investigating the complex interaction that takes place between forest structure, snow properties and the terrain.

Forests and type of avalanche

A study shows how powder avalanches and wet-snow avalanches have widely differing impacts on trees in avalanche-protection forests.

Rock-shape

A key factor determining the trajectories of rockfalls is rock-shape. But which rock-shapes are the most dangerous? Using rockfall experiments with special motion sensors and a new rockfall model that can simulate real rock-shapes; we are beginning to answer these questions.

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WSL websites

waldwissen.net

Knowhow for forestry experts and all others interested in the forest

lfi.ch

Swiss National Forest Inventory NFI - a forest information service

envidat.ch

Access to environmental monitoring and research data

natural-hazards.ch

Warnings on natural hazards by Swiss federal authorities

slf.ch

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos

Dr. Perry Bartelt	Groupleader, Senior Scientist
Joël Borner	Technical staff member
Marc Christen	System specialist - RAMMS Software
Dr. Olga Gorynina	Scientific staff member
Guillaume Meyrat	Postdoc
Dr. Jessica Munch	Scientific staff member
Dr. Adrian Ringenbach	Postdoc
Gregor Rafael Schmucki	Master student
Yu Zhuang	PhD student guest

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