Standardised Avalanche Reports Michael Staudinger, LWZ - Salzburg

Do back country skiers understand the avalanche report in the way the producers intend that? Result: Yes and No !!! 2/3 can reproduce the danger level correctly. but: 2/3 are not able to quote the additional information in the avalanche reports correctly.

Who knows the additional information in the avalanche reports ? ? ? - people with avalanche trainings, - experts in snow and avalanches - using avalanche strategies (50% of the users), - those who consider avalanche reports as important - those who can recognize terrain features

1.A picture says more than 1000 words! The reader translates the report into pictures and compares this with reality > > > source of errors example: ask person about slope exposition – he´ll roll his eyes and talk with his hands and arms

2. First things first! Description of the avalanche situation should be the first topic Information on the snow cover is important, but needs more expert knowledge to be understood. Weather is important, but there are weather reports and readers look for avalanche information first.

3. From the simple to the complex! A user with poor expert knowledge should find those informations he needs the most (exposition, height etc.) on the best place.

The more a user studies the avalanche report, the more possibilities in the mountains he should be offered. This rule would motivate the user to go further into the text and to translate these informations into real terrain. E.g. : danger level 3 Regional danger level e. g. for Silvretta: below 2000m Exposition: North to Southeast danger spots: close to ridges

4. Standardised Layout: Learning new icons needs time They only work if they are : standardised across the Alps! Once reports are standardised, a large synergy potential becomes available (approx factor 10) (example of the European danger scale)

European Weather Warnings

Launch on 23rd March 2007: 12 Mio hits/day !

Science of communication : 3 Rules for the warning of the public:

Science of communication : 3 Rules for the warning of the public: Infos have to be clear and concise - speak like the people (floods: these houses have to be evacuated)

Science of communication : 3 Rules for the warning of the public: Infos have to be clear and concise - speak like the people (floods: these houses have to be evacuated) System has to be consistent as a whole: Warnings - Definitions

Science of communication : 3 Rules for the warning of the public: Infos have to be clear and concise - speak like the people (floods: these houses have to be evacuated) System has to be consistent as a whole: Warnings - Definitions Good symbols concentrate the information, raise the level of attention - (learning phase)

Amount of information > > > > Pyramid of informaton: penetration depth > > >

danger level Texts: 1.Avalanche danger 2.Snow cover 3.Weather user knowledge today: 2/3 1/3 greenhorn

danger level Texts: 1.Avalanche danger 2.Snow cover 3.Weather user knowledge today: 2/3 1/3 greenhornmountain guide commission

3 danger degree Language independent Avalanche danger user knowledge tomorrow: 2/3 1/3 >> 2/3 ¼ >> 2/3 !! greenhorn Texte: 1.Avalanche danger 2. Snow cover 3. Weather 4. Tendency

3 danger degree Texte: 1.Avalanche danger 2. Snow cover 3. Weather 4. Tendency user knowledge tomorrow: „greenhorn“ „Snowslabs on southeastern slopes above 2000m already in the morning“

wet + dry aval. seperately

Bavaria: history of danger level

DAV – Piktogramme (user representatives) all information pictogrammed!

DAV - Symbols

Conclusion: too little remains in the memory of the users of the avalanche reports We should transport more than only danger degrees Recommandations: Standardised contents (and order of the different elements) Standardised graphical concepts

Conclusion of the working group on avalanche reports: Standardised graphical concepts (icons): aspects *** time development *** elevation*** regional danger levels** (decided by regional aval. service

Proposal for standardised report: Change of danger level during the day:

Proposal for standardised report: Change of danger level during the day: Most critical slope aspect:

Proposal for standardised report: Change of danger level during the day: Most critical slope aspect: Most critical height:

Display changes during the day: morning Change of danger level during the day: Most critical slope aspect: Most critical slope height:

Display changes during the day: afternoon Change of danger level during the day: Most critical slope aspect: Most critical slope height:

Web new:

Does it matter if we loose users? Approx. domestic users (all alpine countries) Mio 8 Mio 12 Mio 16 Mio

Does it matter if we loose users? Estimated domestic users (all alpine countries) Users outside the own region Mio 8 Mio 12 Mio 16 Mio

Does it matter if we loose users? Estimated domestic users (all alpine countries) Users outside the own region Mio 8 Mio 12 Mio 16 Mio

Does it matter if we loose users? Estimated domestic users (all alpine countries) Users outside the own region Integrated outside users Mio 8 Mio 12 Mio 16 Mio

Additional users Mio 8 Mio 12 Mio 16 Mio

Additional users Mio Users! 4 Mio 8 Mio 12 Mio 16 Mio

Technical solution: 1. Production in each country 2. production on a single website + deep link

Txs for your attention!!