Are You Beeping? Sensor Networks in the Backcountry for Targeted Avalanche Awareness
International Snow Science Workshop · Banff, Alberta, Canada · 2014
Abstract
With the increase in media attention around local avalanche accidents in the Pacific Northwest in the 2011-2012 winter season, the “Are You Beeping?” awareness campaign was launched. The results from the initial avalanche beacon check station deployment were published in the ISSW 2012 poster/paper “New Public Avalanche Awareness Opportunities – Are You Beeping?” In cooperation with King County Search and Rescue, Northwest Avalanche Center, US Forest Service, and local ski resorts, the third season of the “Are You Beeping?” avalanche beacon check station deployments was expanded with updated technologies.
In the 2013-2014 winter season, the focus of the project was expansion into more backcountry entrances as well as the use in local ski resorts. This not only required a tight relationship with the USFS, but close partnership with local ski resorts in an effort to engage the public as they left the resort boundaries. The goal from our partners was common messaging and the ability to gather usage statistics no matter how the public accessed the backcountry.
To enable the gathering of real-time statistics, the health of each check station, and the presentation of local avalanche forecasts directly to a display at the station, cellular data capabilities were added. Also, by partnering with avalanche safety manufacturers like BCA™ additional sensor capabilities were tested. Improvements in the power systems, sensors, monitoring, solar efficiency, and flexible mounting systems were also implemented. The results were more than 10 signs deployed and monitored in the Pacific Northwest backcountry with thousands of activities recorded.
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What this means for your team
- Consistent messaging inside and outside ski-area boundaries matters as much as the hardware on the sign.
- Remote health monitoring and stronger power systems keep seasonal deployments reliable across storm cycles.
- Usage statistics from the stations help partners justify further awareness investment.
Cite this paper
Formatted citation
Scott R. Waller (2014) Are You Beeping? Sensor Networks in the Backcountry for Targeted Avalanche Awareness. International Snow Science Workshop, Banff, Alberta, Canada. pp. 1234-1237.
BibTeX
@inproceedings{waller2014beeping,
title={Are You Beeping? Sensor Networks in the Backcountry for Targeted Avalanche Awareness},
author={Waller, Scott R.},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Snow Science Workshop},
year={2014},
address={Banff, Alberta, Canada},
pages={1234--1237}
}Authors
This research underpins SPART’s ongoing Are You Beeping? outreach program. See also the 2012 paper.