Avalanche-proofing county roads in Telemark

Cautus Geo won the tendered contract to make Tinnsjøveien and Lauvjuv in Telemark avalanche-proof. The newly developed geophone system that was tested on Mannen last winter has been installed and will be put into operation before winter 2023/2024.

Tinnsjøveien and Lauvjuv in Telemark have also previously been secured with technology. Now the latest solution is in place. The road will be closed automatically if a landslide is triggered.

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 was tested on Mannen last winter. The first installations in Norway will now be established in Telemark.

- "We have a lot of experience with technological solutions for monitoring and warning of landslides. We have had such systems on Tinnsjøveien and Lauvjuv for several years," says Vegard Stensrød, an adviser in Vestfold and Telemark County Council's transport department.

Now it will be even more secure. The newly developed system, which will go live this winter, sets completely new standards for such systems.

Historical

Lauvjuv is historic. That's where Norway's first automatic avalanche monitoring system was established in 1980. On Tinnsjøveien, technology has been protecting road users since the mid-1990s.

- Both facilities will undergo major upgrades. We're talking about newly developed technology for monitoring avalanches and rockfalls, new camera solutions and new control units. The contract is much more than just a continuation of the current system. The new system will provide safer alerts with more information and better documentation of small and large incidents. It provides better management and better monitoring. It's also an advantage for planners and administration," says Lars Krangnes of Cautus Geo.

Regular landslides

In Lauvjuv, a large landslide occurs on average every five years. The last one occurred in 2016.

There is a major landslide on Tinnsjøveien every 15 years. The last time was in 2014.

If major landslides bury the road surface on Tinnsjøveien and Lauvjuv, motorists will have to take detours of between seven and nine miles. The consequences are significant, even if the system closes the road without automatically reopening in the event of minor landslides that are signalled without the snow masses hitting the road itself.

Automatic

Cautus Geo's newly developed system can be set up for automatic closing and reopening. This is decided by the client. In Telemark, the county council has decided that reopening is done by the VTS.

- When landslides do not hit the roadway, the system can reopen automatically," says Krangnes.

The new warning system will provide more information about landslide events, such as direction and size.

- This makes the system more robust than previous systems," says Krangnes.

The geophone system

• Multi-sensor system
• Stroke
• Camera, also thermal camera
• Cautus Web
• Automatic closing and opening with light and sound
• Can also be used on rockfall