Avalanche Research Pool

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General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(337)
Former Study Number:
Lead Organization: Colorado Department of Transportation
Solicitation Number: 1402
Partners: AK, CA, CAIC, CO, UT, WA, WY
Status: Cleared by FHWA
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number:
Last Updated: Nov 06, 2015
Contract End Date:
Financial Summary
Contract Amount:
Total Commitments Received: $540,000.00
100% SP&R Approval: Approved
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): David Reeves
david.reeves@state.co.us
Phone: 303-757-9518
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Morgan Kessler
Morgan.Kessler@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3187
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2016 $75,000.00 Mike Coffey Carolyn Morehouse (907)465-8140 carolyn.morehouse@alaska.gov
California Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 David Frame Robert Buendia 916-654-9970 robert.buendia@dot.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 David Frame Robert Buendia 916-654-9970 robert.buendia@dot.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation 2019 $25,000.00 David Frame Robert Buendia 916-654-9970 robert.buendia@dot.ca.gov
Colorado Avalanche Information Center $0.00
Colorado Department of Transportation 2015 $15,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2016 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2019 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2020 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Utah Department of Transportation 2016 $25,000.00 William Nalli David Stevens 801-589-8340 davidstevens@utah.gov
Utah Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 William Nalli David Stevens 801-589-8340 davidstevens@utah.gov
Utah Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 William Nalli David Stevens 801-589-8340 davidstevens@utah.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2016 $25,000.00 James Morin Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 James Morin Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 James Morin Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2019 $25,000.00 James Morin Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Wyoming Department of Transportation 2016 $75,000.00 Enid White Enid White 307-777-4182 enid.white1@wyo.gov

Study Description

Reducing the avalanche hazard to transportation corridors is crucial to the winter operations of the DOTs in many western states, and, as such, are large budgetary items to these DOTs. Much of the research done by each DOT is relevant and useful to the efforts in other states, but there is not any official long term collaboration effort currently in place. Because of this, money can often be spent on the same research efforts in multiple different states. DOTs associated with the Avalanche Artillery Users of North America Committee (AAUNAC) currently have an annual meeting in Seattle, and have been meeting since 2012 to discuss avalanche mitigation efforts, but this covers only a small portion of total avalanche related control and research activity. Additionally, an accident at the Colorado DOT in March of 2013 made clear the diverging needs in avalanche control operations between DOTs and the ski industry (the other main player in avalanche work and research). This effort aims to address these challenges by forming a coalition of transportation related groups with interest in avalanche control research, and create a pooled fund to provide a single source of funding for unified research efforts that will benefit all contributing parties. This will allow for larger and more significant research projects to be undertaken and will lead to an overall cost savings by consolidating many different DOTs’ research efforts in the same field.

Objectives

The study’s mission is to support collaborative research efforts in the field of avalanche hazard assessment and mitigation, with the goal of improving the safety, efficiency, and quality of control efforts, along with providing better information gathering and analysis techniques and seamless integration of new technologies to further these goals. The participation of many transportation related agencies in this study will also further cooperation in this industry, leading to improved future development of beneficial technologies and improved sharing of information and avalanche data, greatly furthering the safety, efficiency, and quality of the work done in this field for all relevant agencies.

Scope of Work

The group will fund research and development efforts to achieve the program goals, with initial proposed research focusing on: • Infrasonic sensing and mapping/ LiDAR • Avalanche Safety/ Risk Management • Avalanche Information Exchange Platform for information sharing • Mobile Blast Shield – further development • Explosives techniques, including an extension to an existing Case Charging contract • Avalanche Asset Management • Other New Technology

Comments

We will be requesting the SP&R 100% waiver.

Documents Attached
Title File/Link Type Privacy Download
Quarterly Report for Project 1 - 2016Q2 TPF5-337QuarterlyReport_Proj1-2016Q2.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Project 1 - Assessing Gazex Avalanche Control with LYDAR Deems CDOT Proposal FINAL.pdf Study Summary Public
Funding_for_TARP_TPF-5-337 Funding_for_TARP_TPF-5-337.xlsx Work Plan Public
Gazex Lidar Research Project Update April 2016 Gazex Lidar Research Project Update April2016.docx Report Public
Quarterly Report for Project 1 - 2016Q1 TPF5-337QuarterlyReport_Proj1-2016Q1.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
CDOT Acceptance Letter CDOT Acceptance Letter - TPF-5-337.pdf Memorandum Public
Waiver Request Waiver Request-signed for PFS-1402.pdf Memorandum Public
Approval SP&R Waiver Approval of SP&R Waiver Pooled Fund Solicitation #1402 “Avalanche Research Pool.” .pdf Memorandum Public
Documents Attached
Title File/Link Type Privacy Download
Solicitation for Avalanche Research Pool ARP Solicitation Letter.docx Solicitation Public

Avalanche Research Pool

General Information
Study Number: TPF-5(337)
Lead Organization: Colorado Department of Transportation
Solicitation Number: 1402
Partners: AK, CA, CAIC, CO, UT, WA, WY
Status: Cleared by FHWA
Est. Completion Date:
Contract/Other Number:
Last Updated: Nov 06, 2015
Contract End Date:
Financial Summary
Contract Amount:
Total Commitments Received: $540,000.00
100% SP&R Approval:
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): David Reeves
david.reeves@state.co.us
Phone: 303-757-9518
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Morgan Kessler
Morgan.Kessler@dot.gov
Phone: 202-493-3187
Commitments by Organizations
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 2016 $75,000.00 Mike Coffey Carolyn Morehouse (907)465-8140 carolyn.morehouse@alaska.gov
California Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 David Frame Robert Buendia 916-654-9970 robert.buendia@dot.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 David Frame Robert Buendia 916-654-9970 robert.buendia@dot.ca.gov
California Department of Transportation 2019 $25,000.00 David Frame Robert Buendia 916-654-9970 robert.buendia@dot.ca.gov
Colorado Department of Transportation 2015 $15,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2016 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2019 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Colorado Department of Transportation 2020 $25,000.00 David Reeves David Reeves 303-757-9518 david.reeves@state.co.us
Utah Department of Transportation 2016 $25,000.00 William Nalli David Stevens 801-589-8340 davidstevens@utah.gov
Utah Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 William Nalli David Stevens 801-589-8340 davidstevens@utah.gov
Utah Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 William Nalli David Stevens 801-589-8340 davidstevens@utah.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2016 $25,000.00 James Morin Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2017 $25,000.00 James Morin Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2018 $25,000.00 James Morin Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Transportation 2019 $25,000.00 James Morin Douglas Brodin 360-705-7972 brodind@wsdot.wa.gov
Wyoming Department of Transportation 2016 $75,000.00 Enid White Enid White 307-777-4182 enid.white1@wyo.gov

Study Description

Study Description

Reducing the avalanche hazard to transportation corridors is crucial to the winter operations of the DOTs in many western states, and, as such, are large budgetary items to these DOTs. Much of the research done by each DOT is relevant and useful to the efforts in other states, but there is not any official long term collaboration effort currently in place. Because of this, money can often be spent on the same research efforts in multiple different states. DOTs associated with the Avalanche Artillery Users of North America Committee (AAUNAC) currently have an annual meeting in Seattle, and have been meeting since 2012 to discuss avalanche mitigation efforts, but this covers only a small portion of total avalanche related control and research activity. Additionally, an accident at the Colorado DOT in March of 2013 made clear the diverging needs in avalanche control operations between DOTs and the ski industry (the other main player in avalanche work and research). This effort aims to address these challenges by forming a coalition of transportation related groups with interest in avalanche control research, and create a pooled fund to provide a single source of funding for unified research efforts that will benefit all contributing parties. This will allow for larger and more significant research projects to be undertaken and will lead to an overall cost savings by consolidating many different DOTs’ research efforts in the same field.

Objectives

The study’s mission is to support collaborative research efforts in the field of avalanche hazard assessment and mitigation, with the goal of improving the safety, efficiency, and quality of control efforts, along with providing better information gathering and analysis techniques and seamless integration of new technologies to further these goals. The participation of many transportation related agencies in this study will also further cooperation in this industry, leading to improved future development of beneficial technologies and improved sharing of information and avalanche data, greatly furthering the safety, efficiency, and quality of the work done in this field for all relevant agencies.

Scope of Work

The group will fund research and development efforts to achieve the program goals, with initial proposed research focusing on: • Infrasonic sensing and mapping/ LiDAR • Avalanche Safety/ Risk Management • Avalanche Information Exchange Platform for information sharing • Mobile Blast Shield – further development • Explosives techniques, including an extension to an existing Case Charging contract • Avalanche Asset Management • Other New Technology

Comments

We will be requesting the SP&R 100% waiver.

Title File/Link Type Private
Approval SP&R Waiver Approval of SP&R Waiver Pooled Fund Solicitation #1402 “Avalanche Research Pool.” .pdf Memorandum Public
Waiver Request Waiver Request-signed for PFS-1402.pdf Memorandum Public
CDOT Acceptance Letter CDOT Acceptance Letter - TPF-5-337.pdf Memorandum Public
Quarterly Report for Project 1 - 2016Q1 TPF5-337QuarterlyReport_Proj1-2016Q1.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Quarterly Report for Project 1 - 2016Q2 TPF5-337QuarterlyReport_Proj1-2016Q2.pdf Quarterly Progress Report Public
Gazex Lidar Research Project Update April 2016 Gazex Lidar Research Project Update April2016.docx Report Public
Project 1 - Assessing Gazex Avalanche Control with LYDAR Deems CDOT Proposal FINAL.pdf Study Summary Public
Funding_for_TARP_TPF-5-337 Funding_for_TARP_TPF-5-337.xlsx Work Plan Public
Title File/Link Type Private
Solicitation for Avalanche Research Pool ARP Solicitation Letter.docx Solicitation Public

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