This article describes the development of an avalanche detection system on a hillside road in Iceland. Threats to traffic on such roads also include debris flow and rock-fall. These events cause wave motion in the ground which can be monitored to detect an event. An automatic detection and alerting system can provide information for snow clearing work, to indicate avalanche threat at similar sites, and to research avalanches. The first measurement system consisted of a data acquisition unit and an accelerometer; later upgrades added geophones. The measurements recorded are classified into five groups: heavy traffic, rock fall, debris flow, snow avalanche and earthquake. Each event is compared to others in the database by mathematical modelling of proportional error. The results are published on the internet and an e-mail alert message is sent to key personnel.
Abstract