Avalanche and Falling Rock Measurement Using Piezoelectric Dynamics and Static Sensors

Under certain weather conditions, avalanches can occur because of snow cover on a steep slope. Such avalanches can reach snow fences that are arranged as countermeasures. Furthermore, traffic is completely blocked when fences collapse and snow falls on a road. Therefore, prediction of avalanche occurrence is important, but such predictions are considered difficult. To resolve this difficulty, this study assessed measurement of the danger degree by measuring the risk to the avalanche fence at the time of snowfall and falling rock according to changes in the load and the impact of voltage proportional to the avalanche barrier deformation. This measurement system has fixed sensors attached with mounting brackets to a dedicated avalanche prevention measurement fence. It measures the pressure and vibration measurement of the snowfall at the time of avalanche or rock fall occurrence at the main structure of the fence. Furthermore, this fence made of lumber from thinned timber is useful as a defensive barrier countermeasure against avalanches and falling rock. It is designed to withstand a snow load of 3–5 [t / m 2] during an avalanche.