Skip to main content

Development and Calibration of a Preliminary Cellular Automata Model for Snow Avalanches

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 6350))

Abstract

Numerical modelling is a major challenge in the prevention of risks related to the occurrence of catastrophic phenomena. A Cellular Automata methodology was developed for modelling large scale (extended for kilometres) dangerous surface flows of different nature such as lava flows, pyroclastic flows, debris flows, rock avalanches, etc. This paper presents VALANCA, a first version of a Cellular Automata model, developed for the simulations of dense snow avalanches. VALANCA is largely based on SCIDDICA-SS2, the most advanced model of the SCIDDICA family developed for flow-like landslides. VALANCA adopts several of its innovations: outflows characterized by their mass centre position and explicit velocity. First simulations of real past snow avalanches occurred in Switzerland in 2006 show a satisfying agreement, concerning avalanche path, snow cover erosion depth and deposit thickness and areal distribution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Issler, D., Gauer, P., Schaer, M., Keller, S.: Staublawinenereignisse im Winter 1995: Seewis (GR), Adelboden (BE) und Col du Pillon (VD). SLF Internal Report 694. Eidg. Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung, Davos, Switzerland (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Schaerer, P.A., Salway, A.A.: Seismic and impact-pressure monitoring of flowing avalanches. J. Glaciol. 26(94), 179–187 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Issler, D., Errera, A., Priano, S., Gubler, H., Teufen, B., Krummenacher, B.: Inferences on flow mechanims from snow avalanche deposits. Annals of Glaciology 49, 187–192 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Issler, D., Gauer, P.: Exploring the significance of the fluidised flow regime for avalanche hazard mapping. Annals of Glaciology 49, 193–198 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Harbitz, K.: A survey of computational models for snow avalanche motion. Tech. Rep. Fourth European Framework Programme (ENV4-CT96-0258) Avalanche Mapping, Model Validation and Warning Systems (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Perla, R.I., Cheng, T.T., McClung, D.M.: A two parameter model of snow avalanche motion. J. Glaciol. 26(94), 197–202 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Eglit, M.E.: Mathematical and physical modelling of powder snow avalanches in Russia. Annals of Glaciology 26, 281–284 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Pudasaini, S.P., Hutter, K.: Avalanche Dynamics: Dynamics of Rapid Flows of Dense Granular Avalanches. Springer, Berlin (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ancey, C.: Snow Avalanches. In: Balmforth, N.J., Provenzalle, A. (eds.) Geomorphological Fluid Mechanics: Selected Topics in Geological and Geomorphological Fluid Mechanics, pp. 319–338. Springer, New York (2001)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Barpi, F., Borri-Brunetto, M., Delli Veneri, L.: Cellular-Automata Model for Dense-Snow Avalanches. Journal of Cold Regions Engineering 21(4), 121–140 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Kronholm, K., Birkeland, K.W.: Integrating spatial patterns into a snow avalanche cellular automata model. Geophysical. Research Letters 32, L19504, 4pages (2005), doi:10.1029/2005GL024373

    Google Scholar 

  12. Di Gregorio, S., Serra, R.: An empirical method for modelling and simulating some complex macroscopic phenomena by cellular automata. FGCS 16, 259–271 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Avolio, M.V.: Esplicitazione della velocità per la modellizzazione e simulazione di flussi di superficie macroscopici con automi cellulari ed applicazioni alle colate di lava di tipo etneo. Ph. D. Thesis. Dept. of Mathematics, University of Calabria (2004) (in Italian)

    Google Scholar 

  14. D’Ambrosio, D., Di Gregorio, S., Gabriele, S., Gaudio, R.: A Cellular Automata Model for Soil Erosion by Water. Phys. Chem. Earth (B) 26(1), 33–39 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Avolio, M.V., Lupiano, V., Mazzanti, P., Di Gregorio, S.: Modelling combined subaerial-subaqueous flow-like landslides by Cellular Automata. In: Umeo, H., Morishita, S., Nishinari, K., Komatsuzaki, T., Bandini, S. (eds.) ACRI 2008. LNCS, vol. 5191, pp. 329–336. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Avolio, M.V., Lupiano, V., Mazzanti, P., Di Gregorio, S.: A Cellular Automata Model for Flow-like Landslides with Numerical Simulations of Subaerial and Subaqueous Cases. In: Wohlgemuth, V., Page, B., Voigt, K. (eds.) EnviroInfo 2009, vol. 1, pp. 131–140. Shaker Verlag GmbH, Aachen (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Avolio, M.V., Crisci, G.M., D’Ambrosio, D., Di Gregorio, S., Iovine, G., Rongo, R., Spataro, W.: An extended notion of cellular automata for surface flows modelling. WSEAS Trans. Circuits Syst. 2, 1080–1085 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  18. D’Ambrosio, D., Di Gregorio, S., Iovine, G.: Simulating debris flows through a hexagonal cellular automata model: SCIDDICA S3-hex. NHESS 3, 545–559 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Errera, A.: Analisi dei processi fisici nelle valanghe di neve e conseguenze sulla pianificazione territoriale. Applicazione all’area di Davos (CH). Msc Thesis. Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Milan-Bicocca (2007) (in Italian)

    Google Scholar 

  20. D’Ambrosio, D., Spataro, W.: Parallel evolutionary modelling of geological processes. Parallel Computing 33(3), 186–212 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Avolio, M.V., Errera, A., Lupiano, V., Mazzanti, P., Di Gregorio, S. (2010). Development and Calibration of a Preliminary Cellular Automata Model for Snow Avalanches. In: Bandini, S., Manzoni, S., Umeo, H., Vizzari, G. (eds) Cellular Automata. ACRI 2010. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6350. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15979-4_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15979-4_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-15978-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-15979-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics