Elucidating Snow Heights for Avalanche Assessment Through Automated Data Processing From UAS and Augmented Winter Hazards Station Data [supporting dataset]

Abstract of the final report is stated below for reference: Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and a streamlined photogrammetry process intertwined with an advanced road weather information system (ARWIS) can provide continuous data and information about avalanche precursor conditions. A test case in Atigun Pass, Alaska, above the Arctic Circle, is presented. Wind events that generate large blowing snow quantities are believed to be a significant contributor to avalanches there. RPAS coupled with photogrammetry has been shown to have the potential to improve avalanche risk management. We streamlined the photogrammetry and data processing steps, thereby taking a step forward in unleashing this potential. From an operational and science standpoint, the ARWIS is informative during storms when RPAS cannot fly. Linking RPAS surveys and ARWIS data significantly improves tackling avalanche monitoring challenges. We showed that the ARWIS can monitor blowing snow events and has the potential to serve as a snowdrift monitoring system. Our findings revealed that RPAS surveys can tease out even small changes in snow cover, as well as capture cornice growth and collapse. By coupling RPAS surveys and ARWIS data, we compared two similarly significant blowing snow events; however, only one contributed to significant cornice growth. A comparison of measured temperatures and winds and visual inspection of the snowpack surface showed that extremely cold temperatures and scarred sastrugi surfaces might hinder cornice growth. We also showed that sizeable blowing snow events measured by the ARWIS correlated well with reported avalanches and snowdrifts on the Dalton Highway. Overall, this is the first insight into avalanche precursor conditions in Atigun Pass using an RPAS operated by a ADOT&PF and M&O avalanche forecaster.

• Dataset URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/RKPPIE
• Record URL:
  • https://hdl.handle.net/1773/51616
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/79643
• Supplemental Notes:
  • The dataset supports report: Elucidating Snow Height for Avalanche Assessment Through Automated Data Processing From a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System and Augmented With an Advanced Road Weather Information System, available at the URL above. This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Alaska, Fairbanks

  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99701

  Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium

  University of Washington
  More Hall Room 112
  Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Connor, Billy
  • 0000-0002-4289-2620
• Publication Date: 2024-8-23

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Dataset
• Dataset: Version: 1.0 Integrity Hash:
• Dataset publisher:

  Harvard Dataverse

  ,    

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Avalanches; Data; Drones; Height; Photogrammetry; Road weather information systems; Snow
• Geographic Terms: Alaska
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01946168
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 69A355174110
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 18 2025 10:45AM