Formalization of the avalanche-prone areas spatial properties to calculate snow avalanches’ dynamic parameters

Geoinformatics

UDC:

528.9:551.587.48

DOI:

10.22389/0016-7126-2025-1026-12-19-28

1 Mikhailova M.V.

2 Sokratov S.A.

3 Tulskaya N.I.

Year:

2025

№:

1026

Pages:

19-28

Autonomous Transport LLC

1,

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU)

2,

3,

Abstract:

The authors present an algorithm for determining the boundaries and profiles of snow avalanches’ paths, required to calculate their dynamic parameters. This data (release areas, inclination of release and transit zones), as well as resulting avalanches’ velocities and run-out distances, obtained through digital elevation models presented by various sources (ArcticDEM, ASTER GDEM, ALOS DEM, FABDEM), are compared with each other and DEM from laser scanning data as well as those constructed with the help of topographic maps and plans.The latter are traditionally used for statistical modeling of avalanche parameters in engineering surveys. The simulation results are verified by the data provided in the passports of the registered avalanche events. The tool for the ArcGIS GIS package was written in Python. The outcome is a text with the required characteristics, as well as a set of the avalanche paths’ individual components vector files. FABDEM was found to be the optimal digital model from the existing ones for such calculations. The best resolution of digital models was found to be 2,5–5 m

Keywords:

ArcGIS tool, avalanche-prone area, Caucasus, DEM, Khibiny, point clouds, relief, snow avalanches, statistical modelling

The study was conducted under the state assignment of Lomonosov Moscow State University (Grant No. 121051400061-9) and (Grant No. 121051300175-4)

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Citation:

Mikhailova M.V.,

Sokratov S.A.,

Tulskaya N.I.,

(2025) Formalization of the avalanche-prone areas spatial properties to calculate snow avalanches’ dynamic parameters. Geodesy and cartography = Geodeziya i Kartografiya, 86(12), pp. 19-28. (In Russian). DOI: 10.22389/0016-7126-2025-1026-12-19-28