MOUNTAIN RISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP WINTER, INTEGRATING UAV TECHNOLOGY FOR OPERATIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS ENVIRONMENT
MOUNTAIN RISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP WINTER, INTEGRATING UAV TECHNOLOGY FOR OPERATIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS ENVIRONMENT
The NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence in Slovenia will conduct a workshop on “Mountain Risk Management Workshop Winter” from March 17 to March 21, 2025. This workshop builds on the findings and lessons learned from the 2024 workshop. The focus will be on identifying and assessing winter risks, with an emphasis on avalanches. Information gathered in the field will subsequently be analyzed by the Mountain Cell and prepared as recommendations for operational planning by tactical leaders.
In addition to deepening already familiar operational principles, innovations and advancements in risk management will be presented. Topics will include the use of UAVs for material transport, avalanche blasting, or locating buried individuals in an avalanche. In military operations, it is often necessary to implement appropriate risk mitigation measures after assessing potential risks, as avoiding them is frequently not possible due to terrain constraints and mission orders.
Furthermore, the workshop will address the general assessment of avalanche danger using the Avalanche Danger Scale. Recently, Switzerland introduced an extension to the well-known Avalanche Danger Scale (refer to the following article). This could serve as another interesting basis for discussion during the workshop. As in previous years, the theoretical knowledge imparted will be applied and tested in practice.
We warmly invite Subject Matter Experts from NATO nations and partners to participate in this Mountain Risk Management Workshop Winter.
For further information and registration, please click on the button!
Switzerland Introduces Enhanced Avalanche Danger Scale
The European avalanche danger scale, a five-level system ranging from 1 (low danger) to 5 (very high danger), will continue to serve as the foundation for avalanche assessments in Switzerland. However, the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) has announced a significant enhancement to the scale: intermediate levels marked with a plus (+), minus (-), or equals (=) sign will now provide more precise assessments of avalanche risk.
For instance, while Level 3 represents a “considerable” avalanche danger, a “3+” indicates that the danger lies at the upper end of this range. These intermediate levels aim to offer a clearer picture of the risk level, especially for snow sports enthusiasts and avalanche professionals. Importantly, this new classification applies only to levels 2 and above, and only to “dry” avalanches—slab avalanches and loose snow avalanches. Testing has shown that these subdivisions are ineffective for wet snow conditions and are therefore excluded in such cases.
Addressing the Nuances of Avalanche Risk
Avalanche danger, as described by the SLF, does not change abruptly between levels but rather fluctuates continuously within a range. The existing five-part European scale simplifies communication but leaves gaps in detail, particularly for Level 3, which covers a broad spectrum of risk scenarios.
“The desire to specify the avalanche danger more precisely has been brought to the SLF repeatedly over the years,” the organization stated in a press release. “Level 3, in particular, encompasses a wide range of conditions that can make interpretation difficult for snow sports enthusiasts.” Avalanche warning officers have similarly expressed the need for a more granular approach.
The introduction of intermediate levels fulfills these long-standing requests, providing both professionals and recreational users with a clearer understanding of the risk.
Years of Testing Yield Promising Results
The SLF has been experimenting with a more nuanced danger scale for several years, supported by research and practical testing. These studies suggest that the intermediate levels improve risk communication and assessment accuracy. However, the SLF acknowledges the need to evaluate the new system further in real-world conditions.
“Whether this classification will truly enhance users’ understanding of avalanche bulletins or introduce confusion—such as comparisons to varying school grading systems—remains to be seen,” the SLF explained.
A Unique Swiss Initiative
Currently, the intermediate levels are exclusive to Switzerland. Other European avalanche warning services, which are part of the European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS) working group, continue to use the traditional five-level scale without additional subdivisions. These organizations are monitoring the Swiss results closely and will review the findings after the 2024/2025 winter season. Depending on the outcomes, the new classification may be adopted across other EAWS member states as early as the winter of 2025/2026.
With these changes, Switzerland aims to set a new standard for avalanche risk assessment, prioritizing precision and clarity for the benefit of all those who navigate snowy landscapes.
