New technology can warn of rock falls

Catus Geo has developed world-leading technology that was tested on Mannen last winter - providing completely new opportunities for monitoring and warning of avalanches and rockfalls," says Lars Krangnes, Development Manager at Catus Geo.

Almost 3,000 landslides are recorded at around 260 different locations on Norwegian roads every year. In the main, things go smoothly, but between five and 15 people are killed by avalanches each year. In the most serious accidents, lives are lost. Six stretches of road have been put on automatic and continuous monitoring.

One of these is on County Road 51 in Lom. Cautus Geo established automatic monitoring there ten years ago. In 2020, the system saved lives. Large masses of snow thundered across the road on 25 February. Cars stopped at a good distance from the avalanche, which was signalled by a red traffic light.

Radar technology is the most widely used today, but it has limitations.

- Among other things, the radar must have a clear view of the avalanche path," says Krangnes.

Geophone and accelerometer

The newly developed system for automatic monitoring and warning of landslides and rockfalls is based on various sensors that detect shaking and vibrations in the ground. It can be used in a number of ways, is sensitive and requires neither a clear line of sight from the radar to the avalanche nor a lot of power.

- The new wireless system is suitable for both avalanches and rockfalls. It can be used for automatic monitoring and warning of avalanches and rockfalls along roads, railways and other exposed areas. The system can identify and separate traffic and trains from rock and snow masses. It can automatically analyse direction and size. It warns of landslides and stops traffic before the landslide hits the road or railway," says Krangnes.

By analysing the entire course of the landslide, the system can also verify and reopen roads and railways after a landslide. "This ensures safe traffic flow and shorter closure times when landslide masses do not reach roads or railways," says Krangnes.

Smart warning systems provide safer roads that are open more often. Measurements show a 70-80% reduction in road closure time in Troms for roads with smart monitoring and warning systems.

Tested on Mannen

The newly developed sensor system was tested at Mannen last winter, exposed to wind and weather and placed in a shaded area without electricity or internet.

- The man is perfect for testing new technology. The weather conditions are tough and everything that happens is well documented. This gives us reliable data and extra confidence in the end result," says Krangnes.

The new geophone system has also been tested at Holmbuktura in Troms. What Mannen and Holmbuktura have in common is that the results can be verified against established radar systems.

- This provides confidence in the results. We can check all data against existing and proven systems," says Krangnes.

New opportunities

The system is based on a geophone system developed by NGI back in 2017. It was taken over by Cautus Geo in 2018 and has since been further developed.

- We have now made a major technological leap. We can operate at much greater distances. We don't need lines of sight to the avalanche area, we can monitor areas without internet coverage, we don't need a lot of bandwidth, and we've developed new functionality in Cautus Web," says Ragnhild Lie.

She has worked on the development and testing of the system, which can be set up with two-way communication - and various battery solutions for use all over the world," says Lie.

Web presentation

In Cautus Web, all landslides and rockfalls are documented with a web presentation. It also contains an automatic video recording and documents opening times and road closures.

- Together with the radar-based solutions we have developed over the past ten years, the new system makes us a leading international player in the field of monitoring and warning of natural hazards. "The system has been developed with a larger international market in mind," says Krangnes, who has planned an installation in Iceland.

- The development project has been one of our largest research and development projects and has been made possible by Innovation Norway. We would like to thank them for supporting the project," says Krangnes.