Block C - Contracting - Organization of Avalanche Control Service - Reference Projects Samuel Wyssen
Contracting wyssen risk solutions We take care of avalanche problems.
Contracting wyssen risk solutions Service Modules: 1. avalanche control concept (planning, consulting) 2. deliver and install necessary equipment 3. service & maintenance 4. operation of equipment 5. operation of avalanche control team 6. financing of investments
Contracting wyssen risk solutions Your advantages: less closures = smaller economical losses no extra organisation no investment acceptable residual risk
Organization of Avalanche Control Service A) Avalanche Safety Concept (organisation) B) Avalanche Control Concept (procedures)
Organization of Avalanche Control Service A) Avalanche Safety Concept (organisation) - assesement of risk situation - comparison of possible mitigation measures - calculation of cost effectiveness - calculate residual risk
Organization of Avalanche Control Service B) Avalanche Control Concept (procedures) - procedures - staff - communication - protocol
Requirements for avalanche control using artificial releasing Needs and requirements for the avalanche control team: optimal safety concept optimal prodedures & communication education & experience of staff high quality data, autom. weather stations backing of authorities & politics Requirements for the releasing system: high level of operational reliability high level of releasing/success ratio large effective range fast & weather independent interaction safe and easy handling simple installation small impact in nature small investment & running costs fast acting customer service
Content Block A Introduction Avalanche Control in the Alps Block B Theory on Avalanche Release & Risk Control Avalanche Detection Block C Contracting & Organization of Avalanche control Teams Reference Projects
Content 1. Gonda Avalanche, Switzerland 2. Zermatt Valley 3. Ischgl, Austria 4. Other places
Case Study Gonda Avalanche Engadin 8 Wyssen Avalanche Towers Main road protection between Austria upper Engadin for state road + railway Arlberg Innsbruck AUSTRIA SWITZERLAND St. Moritz
Gonda Avalanche/Case Study Piz Chapisun, 2930 m walking trail Lavin, 1390 m cross country track road railway Information from: Jörg Kindschi, Ftan, Switzerland
Gonda Avalanche/Case Study February 2nd, 1970 Information from: Jörg Kindschi, Ftan, Switzerland
Gonda Avalanche/Case Study 1975: 12 cm Mortar Information from: Jörg Kindschi, Ftan, Switzerland
Gonda Avalanche/Case Study February 2nd, 1999 Information from: Jörg Kindschi, Ftan, Switzerland
Gonda Avalanche/Case Study Developement of releasing concept Until 1999: Mortar at new snow > ca 70 cm in valley 2000/01: Mortar at fresh snow > 50 cm 2001/03: Avalanche Tower at fresh snow > 30 cm in valley, 50 cm at appr. 2 200m After Feb. 03: Avalanche Tower at small amounts fresh snow and snow drift at max. 50 cm of new snow accumulation Information from: Jörg Kindschi, Ftan, Switzerland
Gonda Avalanche/Case Study Releasing statistics Winter Tower A ** Tower B ** Tower C Re- Re- Re- Positive Positive leasing leasing leasing Positive 2001/2002 5 4 6 5 5 4 2002/2003 3 2 5* 2 2 1 2003/2004 7 5 8 6 8 8 Total 15 11 19 13 15 13 Success ratio brutto 73% 76% 87% Success ratio corr. 87% 88% 87% * incl. 2 duds **Tower A and B have been released 2 times after C has cleared the whole area before Information from: Jörg Kindschi, Ftan, Switzerland
Gonda Avalanche/Case Study Overall Costs Comparison Type of measure Inv.-Costs [Mio CHF/year] Closures days/winter Residual Risk [fataliies/y] Total Costs [Mio CHF / year] Gallery 1.71 0 0 1.71 12 cm Mortar 0.0171 1.67 0.025 0.359 3 Avalanche Towers & mortar 8 Avalanche Towers & detection system 0.043 1 0.013 0.227 0.095 0.4 0.007 0.188 Information from: Jörg Kindschi, Ftan, Switzerland
Gonda Avalanche/Case Study Improvement 2009: Wyssen, ARFANG, IMIS F D C B A E G H Lavin, 1390 m Information from: Jörg Kindschi, Ftan, Switzerland
Procedures Content: General information about the area Objecitves for the avalanche control work Concept of procedures Safety procedures Releasing concept Documentation
Content 1. Gonda Avalanche, Switzerland 2. Zermatt Valley 3. Ischgl, Austria 4. Other places
Avalanche Control Mattervalley - Zermatt Bruno Jelk Chief of avalanche control organization Zermatt Chief of rescue organization Zermatt Board member of IKAR - Int. comm. for mountain emergency medicine Board member of REGA - Swiss rescue organization
Zermatt 116 hotels 35 cable cars 25 000 beds up to 30 000 guests per day 1.3 Mil. overnight stays per year
Matterhorn Gotthard Railway Visp-Täsch, every hour a train in both directions Täsch-Zermatt, every 15 minutes a train in both directions Every Saturday big depature and arriving of guests A lot of special trains
Road to the valley of Zermatt Second connection to the valley of Zermatt Visp - Täsch in high season thousends of cars arriving in Täsch Täsch Zermatt, about 600 taxis and cars every day bringing guests to Zermatt On Saturdays big change of guests 15000 arriving and 15000 departing
Avalanche 04.01.1966
Avalanches 04.02.2003
Organisation Mattertal Summer and Winter
The avalanche commission obliged the Kantonal department STAAT WALLIS Department of highways, construction and environment Department of forest, landscapes and natural hazard
32 Avalanche paths Mattertal
Automated facilities 4 IMIS stations Triftchumme, Gornergrat, Schwarzsee, Stelligletscher 3 Weather stations Kl.Matterhorn, Zermatt, Testa-Grigia Wind indicator on most pylons of the mountain cable ways
Observations start at the first snowfall and we get active after following critical incident Winds and new snow over 20-30 cm Temperature increase at a rapid pace Special conditions; like avalanche occurrence indicated by the avalanche warning facilities
Action for assessment Weather at the moment and forecast Check up of the info box Wind, directions, intensity Total height of snow Total new snow amount Temperature: Air, surface, layers National and regional avalanche bulletin Satellite images Radar images Terrain, avalanche paths and drainage basin Own decision Assessment with the professional accountable Decision making
Protocols All decisions are in a consultative capacity Assessment protocol Deciding-log of the Kantons road Deciding-log of the train Deciding-log of the local municipal Blasting protocol
All decision data needs to be filed Info box data, satellite images, weather forecast On emergency meetings all actions is documented Decisions are made by avalanche professionals, action committee or crisis staff
Procedure for blasting Info to: Road foreman for the Kantons road Train foreman for the Matterhorn Gotthardtrain To the district council for the community roads, walking trails, doorways and for possible evacuation Information service Mattertal
Additional actions Closure of the road Täsch - Zermatt Closure of the road and train Herbriggen - Täsch for blasting in Randa Posting of 2 safety guards on both sides of the danger zone as observers In Randa fireman crew Fly over the endangered zone Blasting at the moment by helicopter (except Randa, Schoph - and Mettelzug) In Vorname Randa Name and Täsch with the Wyssen towers
Avalanche blasting
Avalanche blasting with Wyssen Avalanche Towers
Mettelzug
Mettelzug run out zone
Schopfzug
Schopfzug run out zones
Regional problems with automatic blasting range by daytime The train needs to be stopped The road Täsch - Zermatt needs to be closed (if not closed already) The area needs to be checked by air (Helicopter flight) or on terrestrial way (from Täsch with snowmobile to the tunnel Täschwang) Safety guards need to be posted
Proceedings by blasting Blasting per new snow loading and amount of new snow Appr. by 20-30 cm new snow Demand time period by train personal Call for blasting specialist Call out for safety personal
Blasting Train foreman confirms the blasting The road is closed In the night, the danger zone will have Supralux lights to control the area The blasting will be carried out
After the blasting Blasting foreman confirms the blasting Train foreman dismisses the train closure Road foreman dismisses the road closure The safety team will be conscripted Vorname Blasting Name will be recorded
Content 1. Gonda Avalanche, Switzerland 2. Zermatt Valley 3. Ischgl, Austria 4. Other places
Overview Ischgl, Austria State road B188 Community road Cross country track Winter hiking trail > 5000 cars/d Galtür, Mathon
History-Problems The Austrian State Road B188 is located in the avalanche exposed Paznaun Valley Several sections of the road have to be closed regularly The road is the main transport link in the valley, especially for winter tourism 1994 avalanche reached the open road
History-Solutions Possible solutions: 1.) Installation of snow bridges -> too expensive due to wide open area -> big impact on environment and landscape 2.) Construction of snow shed -> too expensive -> would only protect the state road 3.) Heli Bombing -> good experiences, but weather dependent 4.) Wyssen Avalanche Towers -> economical and ecological alternative, build 2011
Grosstal Avalanche
Grosstal-Avalanche
Grosstal Avalanche
Hoher Zug Avalanche
Avalanche Radar
Conclusions Good experiences No road closure since installation of towers Avalanche radar delivers important information about artificially released and spontaneous avalanche activity Further projects planned in the valley and in Austria
Content 1. Gonda Avalanche, Switzerland 2. Zermatt Valley 3. Ischgl, Austria 4. Other places
Kaunertal, Austria 1 Tower for road protection, installed in 2012
Illwerke, Austria For hydro power plant construction work Google Earth
Railways Jungraujoch & Wengen 3 Avalanche Towers
Road and Railway Sedrun 3 Avalanche Towers 1 Avalanche Radar
Content Block A Introduction Avalanche Control in the Alps Block B Theory on Avalanche Release & Risk Control Avalanche Detection Block C Contracting & Organization of Avalanche control Teams Reference Projects
Thank you Questions? Samuel Wyssen