A Comprehensive Technology Assessment for Highway Avalanche Hazard Management : Choosing the Right Tool for the Job

2017PDFTech ReportWYDOT WY-18/03FRS06-211AvalanchesCase studiesHazard analysisTechnology assessmentState departments of transportationWyomingWYDOTTechnologyAssessmentAvalancheAvalanche ControlActive ControlTraffic DelayCostsHighwayState Route 22Teton PassUS Route 189/191Hoback CanyonUS Route 89Snake River CanyonSnow ShedSnow GallerySnow BridgesSnow Rake, Hand Charge, Heli-bombing,Military WeaponHowitzerAvalanche GuardWyomingWyoming. Dept. of TransportationDecker, RandWyoming. Dept. of TransportationWyoming. Dept. of Transportation. Research CenterUS Transportation CollectionThere are a dozen different technologies that can be naturally sub-divided into two very different avalanche control and defense paradigms that can be used to manage avalanche hazards on mountain highways: active avalanche control and passive/constructed avalanche defense. The Wyoming Department of Transportation\u2019s (WYDOT) avalanche control and defense program in and around Jackson, Wyoming, utilizes five different active avalanche control technologies and one passive/constructed deployment of snow supporting structures. In this report, metrics of cost for these avalanche control and defense technologies are analyzed