Head: Dr. Jürg Schweizer

This research unit investigates the formation and dynamics of avalanches in order to improve the forecasting of when and where avalanche events are likely to occur and their effects. It engages in process modelling based on laboratory experiments and field investigations.

On behalf of the government, it also operates the Swiss avalanche warning service. The avalanche bulletin provides information concerning the current avalanche situation and warns the public about the avalanche danger. The data underlying the service is delivered by an extensive network of observers and automatic measuring stations. The avalanches and prevention unit develops warning and information systems for public authorities and local emergency services.

Among other key duties, the unit provides advice on practical aspects of avalanche protection, and develops methods for the risk-based management of natural hazards. The latest research and development findings are continuously being translated into practice and used in the unit's intensive teaching and training activities.

It works closely together with other SLF research units and partners in Switzerland and abroad. These include national and international research establishments, cantonal and federal authorities, as well as industry, associations, and agencies responsible for public safety and tourism.

Research groups

Snow Avalanches and Prevention

Topics

Avalanche bulletin

In its avalanche bulletins, the SLF provides information about the current avalanche situation. Its content is designed as an informed warning.

RAMMS

RAMMS is a software package that allows natural hazard processes to be evaluated and facilitates an assessment of the influences of protective...

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Integrated risk and resources management

This project contributes to a better understanding of the social and institutional barriers of an integrated management as strategy to climate-change related problems in Alpine regions.

WebSnow

Integration of Webcam data for deriving Snow cover and snow depth from Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 and Pléiades data

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

Neue Karten zeigen lawinenrelevantes Gelände auf und berücksichtigen die Lawinenauslösung und den Auslauf.

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.

Snowpack stability

For the very first time, scientists have been able to causally link patterns of snowpack characteristic variations to certain weather scenarios. Their findings could pave the way for forecasts which not only specify the general avalanche danger level, but reflect local variations as well.

Model avalanche release

A recently developed model describes the principal factors contributing to the release of a slab avalanche.

Drones

The latest results prove it: snow depths can be captured efficiently and inexpensively in the mountains by using drones. This technology opens new doors in the field of snow research.

Modeling of avalanche release processes

Models can help us to better understand the driving parameters of avalanche release. We use two main kinds of models: Continuous models based on the finite element method and discontinuous models based on the discrete element method.

Rock slope failure Piz Kesch

A recently published study shows that the occurrence of a major rock slope failure, such as the one that took place on Piz Kesch in February 2014, depends not only on the conditions prevailing at the time, but also on the long term interaction of geology and climate over millennia.

RAMMS::RISK

RAMMS::RISK berechnet und visualisiert die räumliche Verteilung von Risiken für Naturgefahren.

Satellite data

A feasibility study overseen by the SLF has demonstrated the ability of data captured in space to further improve avalanche forecasting. At present, however, the cost of implementation is too high.

Shear apparatus

In the laboratory, researchers are investigating the process which causes snow to fracture. They are endeavoring to establish whether acoustic signals could serve as an early warning.

Seismic avalanche detection

SLF is working on detecting avalanches with seismic sensors - as is usally done for earthquakes.

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.

Projekt Schneefräse

Für die Simulation der Vorgänge in einer Schneefräse, muss zum einen das Fliessverhalten von Schnee mathematisch beschrieben werden. Zum anderen muss die Computersimulation mit Messwerten aus realen Versuchen verglichen werden, um die Richtigkeit des Modells zu überprüfen.

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.

Temperature in avalanches

Experiments with artificially triggered avalanches and a concrete mixer show the importance of the snow temperature for avalanche dynamics.

Prevent-Building

In collaboration with several engineering offices, the SLF has developed a software product for examining the cost-effectiveness of building protection measures.

Fracture propagation

Before a snow slab avalanche releases, a buried weak snowpack layer has to fracture (break) over a large area. For a long time now it has been known that slab avalanches only release on steep slopes, that is on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

Climate risk analysis

The project develops a method to analyze and assess risks (and chances) related to climate change. The method is tested and applied to a regional case study in the Canton of Aargau. The method development and the assessment of climate risks are key elements of the Swiss national climate adaptation strategy.

REWARN

Warn- und Alarmsysteme sind Teil eines integrativen Risikomanagements-Konzepts, welches Massnahmen zur Risikominimierung vor Naturgefahren bietet. Um diese Systeme als feste Komponenten in das integrale Risikomanagement einbinden zu können, muss deren Zuverlässigkeit quantifizierbar sein.

Lawinenanrissgebiete

Thanks to a new model, the size and reach of avalanche starting zones can now be more accurately estimated. The relationship between terrain roughness and amount of deposited snow is the key.

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.

Snow Depth Mapping

Information on large scale snow depths is still mainly based on interpolated point measurements. New developments in sensor – and software technology for digital photogrammetry in the last two decades offer new possibilities to derive high resolution, digital surface models (DSM) even over snow covered high-alpine regions.

CapHaz-Net

CapHaz-Net is a unique collaboration project that brings together social scientists from various European countries. Funded by the European Community it reviews how institutions and people in Europe cope with and adapt to natural hazards.

CLISP

Climate change and its related impacts are strongly affecting land use and land use development. But what potential lies within spatial planning? How can we better adapt to climate change risks? Are our instruments sufficient? How can we improve our existing instruments?

Codelco's Andina copper mine

In collaboration with two Swiss engineering companies, the SLF has proposed mitigation measures against avalanches, debris flows and rockfalls in order to protect the access road to the Andina copper mine operated by Codelco. The proposal encompasses a combination of temporary and structural protective measures.

Solaranlagen

The idea of installing solar panels on snow supporting structures has been growing in popularity in recent years. When planning such solar power plants, it is essential that the functional integrity of the avalanche defence structure is not impaired. In conjunction with the Expert Commission on Avalanches and Rockfall (EKLS), the SLF has formulated a set of recommendations containing specifications and criteria to be considered for the installation of solar panels on avalanche barriers.

DEMalpine

We investigate the advantages and disadvantages of different remote sensing based technologies to generate such terrain models for high alpin regions.

EconoMe

When planning to protect a specific section of road or a settlement against avalanches, a decision has to be taken on which of the options – barriers or a snow shed – is the most suitable means of defence. A variety of online tools are now available to facilitate an assessment of the risk posed by natural hazards, and to examine the effectiveness and economy of different protective measures.

High Resolution Radar

Obtaining a thorough understanding of the dynamics of snow avalanches is crucial for both the design of defensive structures and the drawing of hazard maps. Until now there has been no way of accurately tracking the dynamics of large avalanches at high spatial and temporal resolutions. Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave phased array radar will image the dense layer through the powder cloud at a Vallée de la Sionne test site.

Avalanche defence Sochi

The next Winter Olympic Games will be hosted by the Russian city of Sochi in 2014. The alpine skiing events are to be held in the Rosa Khutor resort. The SLF was commissioned by the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee to evaluate the planned avalanche mitigation measures.

Risk concept

Residents and visitors are likely to be exposed to avalanches, rockfalls, floods and landslides. For decades, safety experts have been seeking to prevent such natural hazards with civil engineering works, but the focus of their strategy is now shifting towards minimising risk.

Remote Sensing

More precise data on natural hazards such as avalanches and rockfalls can now be collected thanks to remote sensing devices mounted on drones, aeroplanes, helicopters or satellites.

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Staff

Snow Avalanches and Prevention

Avalanche Formation

Dr. Alec van Herwijnen	teamleader
Dr. Sascha Bellaire	scientific staff member
Bastian Bergfeld	PhD student
Grégoire Bobillier	PhD student
Dr. Achille Capelli	Postdoc
Dr. Johan Gaume	visiting scientist
Cyrill Hänni	civil service employee
Stephan Harvey	technical staff member
Stephanie Isabelle Mayer	PhD student
Dr. Benjamin Reuter	temporary employee
Bettina Richter	PhD student
Christine Seupel	Wiss. Aushilfe

Warning and Information Systems

Matthias Gerber	teamleader
Michel Bovey	system specialist
Edwin Cox	software developer
Andreas Egloff	software developer
Stephan Estermann	software developer
Julian Fisch	software developer
Karl-Heinz Gärtner	software developer
David Liechti	system specialist
Renata Müller	software developer
Ulrich Niederer	software developer
Marc Ruesch	software developer
Andreas Stoffel	system specialist
Csilla Szántó	software developer
Gerd Weiss	software developer

Avalanche Dynamics and Risk Management

Dr. Michael Bründl	teamleader
Dr. Yves Bühler	scientific staff member
Janic Cathomen	bachelor student
Lucie Anne Eberhard	PhD student
Elisabeth Hafner	temporary employee
Dr. Pierre Huguenin	technical staff member
Michael Lukas Kyburz	PhD student
Camille Ligneau	PhD student
Gregor Ortner	PhD student
Samuel Schiess	temporary employee
Dr. Betty Sovilla	scientific staff member
Linda Zaugg-Ettlin	technical staff member

RAMMS

Dr. Perry Bartelt	senior scientist, teamleader
Dr. Andrin Caviezel	scientific staff member
Marc Christen	IT specialist
Dr. Guang Lu	scientific staff member
Guillaume Meyrat	PhD student
Adrian Ringenbach	PhD student
Miguel Angel Sanchez Moreno	PhD student

Avalanche Warning

Thomas Stucki	teamleader
Lukas Dürr	technical staff member
Veronika Feicht	temporary employee
Célia Lucas	technical staff member
Dr. Christine Pielmeier	scientific staff member
Frank Techel	PhD student
Dr. Kurt Winkler	technical staff member
Dr. Benjamin Zweifel	technical staff member