Mapping avalanches
Chapter 1: Introduction
Author: Monica Miller Rodgers, October 2016
As the main tourist attraction in Switzerland, the Alps average roughly 25 million skiers every year. Known for some of the finest ski resorts and best snow conditions in the world for the sport, the Alps are regularly monitored and researched for indications of potential changes. From snow depths to water consistency in the snow, all factors are considered when talking about one of the country`s greatest economic assets, where tourism accounts for about 8 per cent of the total national GDP.
The Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos, Switzerland is an interdisciplinary hub of research and services, The organisation is part of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). SLF carefully studies snow and its interactions with the atmosphere to provide valuable services, such as avalanche warnings, natural hazard warning systems and consultancy for avalanche protection measures. To produce this potentially life-saving information, SLF uses Leica Geosystems airborne sensor technology.
Explore next chapter: Making informed decisions from airborne imagery
Story: Mapping avalanches
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Making informed decisions from airborne imagery
Chapter 3: More than just avalanches