A Canadian company is utilizing drones for avalanche control instead of traditional methods like firing artillery weapons or using helicopters to drop explosives. Last year, Aerial Vehicle Safety Solutions Inc. (AVSS) received approval from the federal government to test its SnowDart system for avalanche control. This winter, AVSS tested the technology in Jasper National Park by flying a drone with explosives up a mountain and dropping them onto the slope for remote detonation.
AVSS co-founder Josh Ogden mentioned that drones provide an additional tool for avalanche control, complementing historical practices in Canada, such as using 105 mm howitzer guns for triggering avalanches. Parks Canada also uses helicopters and remote trigger stations strategically for avalanche control. Ogden highlighted the advantages of drones in accessing areas inaccessible to artillery guns or lacking remote trigger stations, as well as being a cost-effective alternative to helicopters.
Winter in Western Canada has seen increased avalanche control activities due to severe weather conditions. For instance, in British Columbia’s Glacier National Park, the threat of avalanches on a 43-kilometre stretch of Highway 1 led to extended closures for control operations. The surge in closure hours this winter was attributed to record-breaking snowfall in December and adverse weather patterns in March.
The potential of drone technology for avalanche control has garnered interest from various industries. Ogden emphasized the growing integration of drones into different sectors, including emergency response and delivery services. While acknowledging drones’ potential in managing avalanche risks, Parks Canada’s visitor safety specialist, Deryl Kelly, highlighted the technology’s dependency on favorable weather conditions. AVSS plans to continue testing the drone technology next winter and anticipates its adoption in other mountainous regions across Canada.
Brian Rode, vice-president of Marmot Basin ski resort in Jasper National Park, expressed optimism about the use of drones for avalanche control. He mentioned that the ski resort will monitor the technology’s advancements and potential market availability, while continuing to rely on traditional explosive charges for avalanche mitigation in the interim.