This project will develop a novel avalanche monitoring system to automatically provide remote temperature and snowpack movement information to assess roadside avalanche risk and monitor avalanche activities. Drones will deploy the monitoring units into hazardous avalanche release zones and, at the end of the season, retrieve them. Stage 1 work will focus on developing and validating the basic functions and performance of the selected hardware and material, conducting simulation and small-scale real-life experiments, and making any necessary adjustments to the fundamental factors of the designed system.
Optimal temperature sensor, GNSS (location) sensor, accelerometer, antennas, motherboard, and batteries will be selected to ensure compatibility and functionality of all components of the system. Each component's operations will be activated and integrated into the motherboard to optimize weight, performance, and reliability. An avalanche monitoring unit shell will be designed. The shell design will accommodate a drone delivery/retrieval mechanism. A weatherproof robust base station will be designed and constructed for positioning near the avalanche slopes of interest. The base station will receive data from multiple avalanche monitoring units, compile this information into a data log, and facilitate remote access of this data via an Internet connection. Simulations will be carried out in laboratory and outdoor settings to test the system under varied conditions and the collected data will be analyzed to guide enhancement of system. In Stage 2, the system will be refined in terms of design, robustness, and effectiveness based Stage 1 work. A full-scale experiment to evaluate the performance of the revised system will be conducted at Snoqualmie Pass above Interstate-90 in the Cascade Mountains. The system may go through several improvement and refinement iterations before it is deemed complete and fully operational. After system improvements, comprehensive real-life testing will be carried out in the Cascade Mountains. The testing may include multiple "test-revise" cycles, allowing for further refinement of the system based on real-world feedback and performance metrics. The final report will provide all relevant data, methods, and conclusions along with guidance on how to use the developed system.