AVYX® Avalanche radar

The avalanche radar is an effective technology for reliable automatic avalanche detection. It offers crucial advantages over conventional, local sensor that are installed in a known flow path. Radar works in any weather and at any time of day, has a range of up to 5 km and covers large avalanche slopes with a single device.

Learn more:
⇒ Benefits and features
⇒ Application and reference projects
⇒ Technical data
⇒ Brochure avalanche radar
⇒ Video in the media

Benefits and features

  • up to  5 km range and a coverage of up to 10 km²
  • automatically triggers alerts in case of an avalanche
  • separates different flow paths and shows them on an interactive map
  • all-weather suitability (works in rainfogsnowfall)
  • works day and night
  • quick installation (few hours)
  • cost-effective compared to construction measures
  • easy data control through the Geopraevent online data portal
  • integration with smartphone and tablet
  • easy to combine with other technologies and alarm-functions
  • combination of multiple radars for larger coverage possible

Applications

The avalanche radar is designed to provide an early warning of avalanches and to trigger an alarm. In the event of an avalanche, roads and railway lines are automatically closed within seconds and people in the danger area are reliably alerted. The avalanche radar is also applied for avalanche control works to verify the success of an artificially triggered avalanche. Without radar, this is particularly challenging in darkness or bad weather conditions (fog, snow, rain).

The radar locates the avalanche and tracks it as long as it is within the field of view. At the same time, the radar triggers a system-integrated camera that automatically records images or a video of the event. The station transmits all avalanche data to the online data portal, where the avalanche is displayed on an area map including avalanche characteristics (time, duration, speed, size, etc.) and photos.

A statistical evaluation of the avalanche detections in winter 2017/18 by the avalanche radar in Zermatt showed that more than 80% of the avalanches occurred in poor or no visibility. Click here for the avalanche radar infographics!

A similar radar system can also be used for the detection of rockfall or debris flows and for the detection of people in areas at risk, e.g. associated with artificial avalanche triggering.

Reference projects

To date, we have implemented more than 40 avalanche radar projects on three continents. We currently operate over 20 avalanche radar systems in Switzerland, Norway, Chile and Canada.

Here is a selection of avalanche radar customer projects:

Additional technologies

The following technologies are often combined with the avalanche radar:

 

Technical data

  • Range: up to 5 km
  • Coverage: up to 10 km²
  • Antenna opening angle horizontal: 90°
  • Antenna opening angle vertical: 20° (larger angle possible on request)
  • Weight: approx. 50 kg
  • Dimensions: 25 x 40 x 7 cm
  • Energy consumption: approx. 50 W
  • Power supply: grid power, solar panel, fuel cell
  • Software: avalanche-detection-algorithm, online data portal
  • Integration: online data portal, smartphone, tablet
  • Alarm: automatic alert option, other alarm-functions
  • Installation: quick, few hours

A radar module with smaller range and monitoring area is also available.

Detection of an ice avalanche: An estimated volume of 3,500m³ of ice detached from a hanging glacier at Weissmies, Saas Valley, southern Switzerland. The left video shows photos captured once a second during the event. On the right, the radar measurements are projected onto the digital elevation model. The blue area delimits the radar field of view, while the white box indicates the camera view. 

Discover more technologies!