Geography ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-14-2022

Abstract

With backcountry winter travel increasing in popularity, the importance of accessible avalanche safety information is crucial. Widely accessible avalanche backcountry maps use slope shading to show where avalanches are likely to start. Instead of focusing on the hazard of an avalanche starting in a specific location, this project shifted the cartographic emphasis of avalanche susceptibility maps to show risk to a human traveling in the terrain. I developed a methodology to incorporate possible avalanche runouts, terrain traps, and connected slopes while reducing false certainty of the visualization. To provide a more comprehensive representation of susceptible terrain, I integrated aspect, distance to ridges, and vector ruggedness in addition to slope for start zone susceptibility using high resolution one-meter Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Avoiding the use of discrete susceptibility categories, I applied continuous gradient shading. This proof of concept sets a new precedent for the future of backcountry avalanche susceptibility maps.

Degree Name

Geography

Department Name

Geography

Level of Degree

Masters

First Committee Member (Chair)

Yolanda Lin

Second Committee Member

Chris Lippitt

Third Committee Member

Ryan Webb

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Keywords

Avalanche risk, cartographic emphasis, avalanche modelling, backcountry skiing, visualizing risk

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