Seismic Avalanche Detection for the Turnagain Arm Transportation Corridor

Lynch, Richard

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Seismic Avalanche Detection for the Turnagain Arm Transportation Corridor

2026-05-01
By Lynch, Richard

File Language:

English

Details

Creators:

Lynch, Richard
Corporate Creators:

Viotel Pty. Ltd
Corporate Contributors:

Colorado Department of Transportation. Office of Applied Research ; Transportation Avalanche Research Pool
Subject/TRT Terms:

Accelerometers Avalanche Detection Avalanches Detectors Fault Monitoring Hybrid Vehicles MEMS Accelerometer Seismic Monitoring Seismic Prospecting Transportation Corridors
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States ; Alaska
Edition:

Final Report (Dec 2025 - May 2026)
Corporate Publisher:

Colorado Department of Transportation. Applied Research & Innovations Branch
Abstract:

Three inexpensive ultra-low-noise MEMS accelerometers were deployed along the Turnagain Arm corridor near Girdwood, Alaska, to evaluate automated seismic avalanche detection. Over 145 days of monitoring, 400 seismic events were recorded including two confirmed avalanches on the same evening (one detected seismically, one confirmed by sensor burial). A hybrid classification algorithm achieves 94.7% cross-validated accuracy and correctly identifies the detected avalanche. The detection algorithm requires validation with additional avalanche events in a second monitoring season.
Format:

PDF
Funding:

CDOT-2026-02 ; VIOT1318-RPT-2026-001
Collection(s):

FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:00bd6eeb5bde6587be061c717d216cb1cf580c0ad552092284c096a355673d9695dae077523149427038dbd441cea3cd20c534b0485425e3f5f7da15d4e3224d
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92467/dot_92467_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.68 MB ]

File Language:

English

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