The Welder

Notes from WELD's Laboratory

It Saves Lives — Is Avalanche Danger ‘News’ Worth Funding?

March 22, 2012 by Reid Williams

If you’re intrigued by the ideas described here, visit our Knight Foundation News Challenge application and take a few actions described at the end of the post.

A Hard Slab Avalanche

Swings in weather and irregular snowfall patterns made this one of the worst-ever years for avalanche danger in Utah, and conditions were similar in other areas of the country.

There were unfortunately tragic consequences, as well.

As of the writing of this post, there have been 29 avalanche fatalities in the US this winter, from Alaska to Wyoming to California to Utah to Montana to Colorado and Washington. They include some high-profile accidents, such as the November death of professional skier Jamie Pierre in Utah and the death of 3 skiers in one slide in Washington.

These incidents highlight the importance of avalanche danger forecasting and a network for getting that information to backcountry enthusiasts, which include snowshoers, snowboarders and snowmobilers, in addition to skiers. While backcountry recreationalists usually get the headlines, this info is also critical for managers and patrollers of ski resorts and, believe it or not, the government departments that manage highways that run through mountainous areas.

Each state has an avalanche center staffed by dedicated and extremely knowledgeable personnel, and this avalanche warning info is available and broadcast in a variety of ways. However, even those forecasters will concede that it’s difficult to gather as much study as they need, and it’s hard to get their advisories to everyone who should hear them.

Furthermore, although these snow scientists are well aware of new, improved technology and networks that could address this gap in communication, the funding and specific expertise to put it all together is hard to come by.

What would they wish for?

Here are some concepts that describe their vision:

A mobile application could allow forecasters to file reports faster, and more of them. Many already shoot photos and video with their phones, but they have to take pencil notes in the field and hustle out of the backcountry to the office to type everything up, then put it on the website, then send the email, then publish a link via Facebook and Twitter, and then hope that conditions haven’t changed too much in the meantime. A well-designed application and database system could make that reporting and broadcasting a “one-stop” experience and enable it from anywhere the forecaster can get a cell signal.

Sending reports to all these different networks accommodates the users’ preferences for how they like to receive information. It would also enable users to dive deeper through seamless connections — a Twitter follower of an avalanche center could quickly follow a link to a YouTube video or to the website or Facebook post of the advisory, where other mobile users are already adding their observations in response.

Incorporating GPS data into the reporting media would mean even more specific and accurate forecasts. Avalanche danger can change with very subtle differences in altitude or slope aspect. Geo-tagged photos and field reports would give users an extra layer of information to aid their travel decision making.

Travelers could also benefit from such a tool. They, too, could easily submit observations of snow conditions or report avalanche activity. Like many mobile applications, “push notifications” — alerts sent right to their phone without having to request it — could alert them to changers in danger level or incidents in their area.

“Geo-fences” — an invisible boundary that only the mobile device would sense, without the user having to read a map — could be developed that not only let users know they’re in an area of potential danger, but tell them the field report history of that area and link to tips on navigating it.

In an emergency, imagine hitting a button and a backcountry traveler is able to report an accident and, because the mobile device is tracking location, rescuers automatically know where to go.

So, it’s with this vision in mind that we’ve teamed up with the Utah Avalanche Center to apply for a Knight Foundation News Challenge Grant. Each year, the foundation selects numerous projects that are exploring the frontiers of new media technology and journalism.

We’d like to build a platform that makes the above scenarios possible. What’s more, we’d love to develop a platform that every funding-challenged avalanche center everywhere could take advantage of, maybe even standardize this sort of communication.

If you’re intrigued by the ideas described here, and if it’s a news network that would benefit you or people you know, we encourage you to visit our official application and take a few actions:

If you’re a Tumblr user, reblog and favorite the application (look for the icons in pink on the left)
Scroll to the bottom and click “like”
Leave a comment and show your support, or ask a question or add your own idea
If you’re a Twitter user, tweet this: @knightfdn Please consider this #newschallenge entry! http://ow.ly/9ND0S
And please pass on the application to anyone you know who might be interested in it.

Happy to hear your thoughts in the comments here, too. So, does this fit your definition of news?

http://twitter.com/bberwyn Bob Berwyn

Interesting. I know some of the avy centers are working on tools like this. My concern is that people may come to rely too much on technology and broadcast forecasts, when the focus should be on enabling people to evaluate snow safety for themselves, on the slope they plan to ride. In other words, if people start to base their backcountry decisions solely on the forecast danger ratings, it could be a big problem precisely because of the spatial variability (and other factors) that you describe. Technology and communications can help, but we need to make sure people are thinking for themselves and that they have the hands-on skills and tools – digging a snowpit, doing a rutschblock, etc. But that’s all kind of nit-picking. In general, more information is better, and these are some good ideas on getting information out and probably could help save lives.

http://twitter.com/travelinreid Reid Williams

You make an excellent point, Bob: Technology can have an unfortunate side effect of making us a bit complacent, and it’s never a substitute for our own observations and experience in that particular place and moment. One excellent opportunity of a platform like this, I think, is to both encourage people to seek out the proper training and to make use of it, as well as provide step-by-step recommendations for carrying it out in the field. So, if we encourage a user to check in with the app at any point along their travel route, the system could also both remind and instruct on how to dig a pit, or a series of questions to ask yourself before making a descent. Thanks for the feedback!

http://twitter.com/bberwyn Bob Berwyn

I like the idea of an app that acts like a buddy with common sense and good judgment, asking those critical questions.

Chris Tatsuno

My only concern is that if people are carrying and using their mobile devices in the BC, what are the potential dangers associated with that use? I remember a few years ago when the general discussion was around cell phones and transceivers, and the problems created when the two were placed too close together. With transceivers acting up due to cell phone signals, wouldn’t this pose a problem as far as new ‘apps’ for BC usage?

http://twitter.com/travelinreid Reid Williams

This is a great question, Chris, and was the subject of a good bit of conversation in an avy course I took a couple months ago. We’re hearing everything from “don’t mix them” to “just keep them as far from each other as possible.” I’m hoping A) someone can do some definitive testing to see whether there is a conflict or not, B) that there isn’t a problem or it’s able to be mitigated, and C) if there is, there are workarounds. Obviously, this is a major consideration of the project.

Utahrded

I feel like I was in this same course. And that was the first I heard of the interference between cell phones and transceivers. I have started keeping mine in different locations, but still carry my cell phone in case of an emergency (as you can’t get to many places in the Wasatch without service).

I am in the same boat as Reid, maybe some testing and more awareness that there is some interference involved. but the app sounds like a great idea, just another reason I need to break down and get a smart phone.

AndrewAdkins

It’s a good idea!
Scottrode

Reid, I am aware of a GPS/mobile topographical app that is currently android based but will be ready for Apple in several months. Could you direct me to the appropriate contact person?
Scottrode

Who would be the appropriate party to discuss implementation of this app in your solution, that is.