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
Icelandic scientists and engineers from the IMO, the University of Iceland and private
engineering companies. The first collaboration of this kind was consultation of experts from
NGI regarding strengthening and reorganisation of avalanche preparedness in Iceland
immediately after the avalanche in Súðavík in January 1995. This was followed by a
collaborative research project organised by Karstein Lied from NGI and funded by the Nordic
Council of Minsters. It involved studies and capacity building in several fields, including
avalanche warnings, standardisation of work procedures for Icelandic snow observers, hazard
zoning and modelling of Icelandic avalanches. This first project was followed by several bilateral
collaborative projects supported by the Icelandic Avalanche and Landslide Fund, both
research projects and a practical consultation work, where protection measures, hazard zoning
and avalanche warnings were investigated. Several international research projects supported
by the European Commission, in particular SAME, CADZIE and SATSIE, have also been
important in the build-up of expertise in avalanche science in Iceland.
The Avalanche and Landslide Committee decided in 1996 in consultation with municipalities
in avalanche areas to undertake a comprehensive study and preliminary assessment on the
needs for avalanche protection structures in Iceland. The study was performed by national
and international experts. The objective was to assess the needs for protection structures in
Iceland and estimate the cost of preparation, design and construction. This would help to plan
and schedule the work ahead. The study was concluded in October 1996 and showed the
probable extent and cost of necessary actions to insure the safety of people in their residential
dwellings in densely populated areas. The cost at the time was estimated to be of the order of
7 to 14 billion ISK at 1996 price levels and the construction time would be several years,
realistically at least 10 to 15 years. Extensive cooperation was with expert institutes in Norway,
France, Switzerland and Austria during the study.
A pilot experiment on supporting structures in Icelandic conditions was also carried out in
Siglufjörður at early stage of the preparations. This was primarily to study the resilience of
supporting structures in typical Icelandic weather conditions. Important lessons were learned
from this experiment, such as regarding snow load, wind load, corrosion and erection of the
structures. Furthermore, the experience gained was written into an Icelandic annex to be used
together with a Swiss standard when designing supporting structures for Icelandic circumstances.
Due to the extensive task at hand and the different circumstances in the various municipalities
it was necessary to prioritize. An implementation plan was drawn up by the Avalanche and
Landslide Committee in consultation with the municipalities. According to this original plan
the most urgent tasks were to be finished before 2010. The prioritization took into consideration
the wishes of the municipalities, different circumstances, financial capabilities of the
Avalanche and Landslide Fund each year and the various actions needed. The framework plan
was adopted by the Government in 1996 and revised in 1997. Construction has not been fully
according to the framework plan. However, it has proved to be an important tool for organizing
the various tasks and prioritizing between the various municipalities.
4. ACCEPTABLE RISK AND HAZARD ZONING
One of the very first decisions to be taken before permanent protective structures could be
designed for the areas in question was to define an acceptable risk from avalanches and
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