Automatic detection of avalanches: evaluation of three different approaches

Abstract

Automated detection of snow avalanches is an important tool for avalanche forecasting and for assessing the effectiveness of avalanche control measures at bad visibility. Avalanche detection systems are usually based on infrasound, seismic, or radar signals. Within this study, we compared three different types of avalanche detection systems: one avalanche radar, one infrasound array system consisting of four infrasound sensors, and a newly developed single sensor infrasound system. A special focus is given to the new single sensor system, which is a low cost, easy to install system, originally designed for the detection of debris flows and debris floods. Within this work, we analysed how this single sensor system could be adapted to detect also snow avalanches. All three systems were installed close to a road near Ischgl (Tyrol, Austria) at the avalanche-exposed Paznaun Valley. The valley is endangered by two avalanche paths which are controlled by several avalanche towers. The radar system detected avalanches accurately and reliably but was limited to the particular avalanche path towards which the radar beam was directed. The infrasound array could detect avalanches from all surrounding avalanche paths, however, with a higher effort for installation. The newly tested single infrasound sensor system was significantly cheaper and easier to install than the other two systems. It could also detect avalanches form all directions, although without information about the direction. In summary, each of the three different systems was able to successfully detect avalanches and had its particular strengths and weaknesses, which should be considered according to the specific requirements of a particular practical application.

Seismic and acoustic signatures of surficial mass movements at volcanoes

“…Infrasound array techniques, on the other hand, have more commonly been applied in volcanic settings for tracking moving and flowing distributed sources (e.g., Yamasato, 1997;Scott et al, 2007;Ulivieri et al, 2011;Havens et al, 2014;Marchetti et al, 2015;Schimmel et al, 2017). A single infrasound array can provide directional information (backazimuth), giving information on relative locations and velocities of moving sources with respect to the array (e.g., Matoza et al, 2007).…”

Automatic Identification of Alpine Mass Movements by a Combination of Seismic and Infrasound Sensors

“…The basic setup of a combination of one seismic and one infrasound sensor together with a microcontroller has not been modified, but the detection algorithm has been updated and new sensors has been tested. As already mentioned in [ 23 , 24 ], this system is low cost and easy to install, so that it can be extended to a warning system for different applications: safeguarding of traffic routes by controlling traffic lights, protection of construction sites inside torrents (e.g., for cleaning up a basin after an event), or at sites where the necessary funding for expensive torrent and avalanche barriers is not available.…”

Characteristics of seismic and acoustic signals of rock falls: an experimental study

“…Beside seismic signals, acoustic signals have also been found to be useful to corelate with the processes of landslides. Schimmel et al (2017) used acoustic (infrasound) sensors to detect snow avalanches and mass movement. They compared the effectiveness of an infrasound array system and a single infrasound sensor system.…”