A recent Utah Department of Transportation video details how the agency uses a variety of “mitigation tools,” including artillery, to safely trigger controlled avalanches.
[Above photo by Utah DOT]
“Right before the winter gets really going in and early and kind of late fall time frame, we actually do live test firing of most of our equipment to make sure that the ammunition lots we’re getting from the military is performing the way we want it to,” explained Steven Clark, Utah DOT’s avalanche program manager, in the video. “We want to make sure all of our equipment is operating accordingly.”
During the test-firing process, he said crews verify predetermined targets in known avalanche areas. This ensures the agency can fire the howitzers in inclement weather when targets are not visible – using target information confirmed during the test-firing process.
In addition to howitzers, Utah DOT avalanche control methods include explosives placed by hand or dropped by helicopter as well as “Avalaunchers,” which use compressed gas to launch a small explosive.
The agency added that its crews also use remote avalanche control systems or RACS, which are small towers installed on known avalanche paths, that use fuel/air mixtures to create small pinpoint explosions when remotely activated.
The Utah DOT also noted that its crews don’t remain idle if winter weather is less turbulent than predicted.
The agency said crews assigned to winter operations will undertake roadway maintenance tasks if the weather is less severe than anticipated.
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