International Symposium on Mitigative Measures against Snow ...

<strong>International</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> on Mitigative Measures against Snow Avalanches
Egilsstaðir, Iceland, March 11–14, 2008
• the weather conditions at the shelter such as temperature, wind direction and
velocity, solar radiation ...
• the amount of gases stored and the battery voltage. The battery is recharged both
using a solar panel and a small wind turbine.
Confirmation of the explosion and the avalanche is shown on the screen as a graphic after
each shot from a seismometer placed on the ground near the shelter. Evolution of the software
allows to import weather data automatically to the NIVOLOG software, to sort and stock the
firing data. The control unit and computer are mostly stationery, but it is possible to have a
mobile control unit in a vehicle.
To optimize the system, all the components of the ignition box have been duplicated, when
sunlight is not sufficient, solar panels and batteries are also doubled.
3. CONCLUSION
Today, nearly 1600 exploders have been installed worldwide to protect ski slopes, skilifts,
roads and highways, mining installations and villages mainly in Europe (about 800 in France,
250 in Austria), South and North America. New markets are mainly countries of the former
USSR.
TAS, the manufacturer of Gazex®, is constantly looking at technical innovation for avalanche
release system. Further developments will consist in a large study about the Gazex®
behaviour, the detonation characteristics depending of gas mixture parameters and fatigue
consequences. In parallel, the new Daisy Bell® device offers an alternative to the use of
explosives in helicopter bombing.
REFERENCES
Binger, C., J. Nelsen and K. A. Olson. 2006. Explosive shock wave compression in snow:
effects of explosive orientation and snowpack compression. In Proceedings of the
<strong>International</strong> Snow Science Workshop, Telluride, Co, October 2006, 592–597.
Chernouss, P., Y. Fedorenko, N. Barashev and E. Mokrov. 2006. A study of blasting induced
snow instabilities and avalanche releases. In Proceedings of the <strong>International</strong> Snow
Science Workshop, Telluride, Co, October 2006, 598–606.
Schippers, J. 1992. Gaz-Ex avalanche control system. In Proceedings of the <strong>International</strong>
Snow Science Workshop, Breckenridge, Colorado, October 1992, 72–79.
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