Yves Buehler
Scientific Staff Member
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Switzerland

Biography
Yves B?hlerreceived the M.S. (2004) and Ph.D. (2009) degrees in Geography and RemoteSensingfrom the University of Zurich, Switzerland, for hisstudies on remotesensing of snow and avalanches. From 2004 to 2005 hewasteacher for geography and informaticsat the Highschool of Rychenberg in Winterthur, Switzerland. He has been with SLF since 2009, whereheisresponsible for the remotesensingactivities and is as a member of the RAMMS core team responsible for numerical simulations of alpine naturalhazardssuch as snow avalanches, debrisflows and rock falls.

Abstract


mproved Alpine Avalanche Forecast Service AAF Snow avalanches kill people and damage infrastructure in mountainousregionsworldwide. Avalanche warning services base theirproductsmainly on numericalweatherprediction outputs, networks of automatic stations and observers in the field. PresentlymanyEuropean networks are not dense enough and observations by people in the field are hindered by badweather conditions or high avalanche danger. Satellite technology has the potential to close existing information gaps by acquiring data automaticallyeven over remote areas. The Improved Alpine Avalanche Forecast Service (AAF) feasibilitystudyinvestigates how existing satellite technologycanbecombinedwithterrestrial information into a service tailored for the needs of avalanche warning centers, road administrations and ski resortoperators.

Study/ Project Objectives:

Avalanche warning service providers neednear real time information on parameterssuch as avalanche activity, snowfallamounts, driftingsnow, snow surface characteristics, temperature etc. The main goals of the AAF project are:

a) Collecting the users' needs and identifying the most relevant information gaps of today's avalanche warning including information processing and transmission to the general public.
b) Listing the available technologies to measuresnow-relatedparameters and includingtheirstrengths and weaknesses relevant for avalanche warning.
c) Identifying the mostpromisingintegrated solution and outliningpotential services.
d) Evaluating the identified service outlineswith regard to technical and economicfeasibility.
e) Collectingrecommendations for follow-up studies and developing a roadmap.