| 1. |
- Mårtensson, Stefan, et al.
(författare)
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Smartphones as support for out-of-bounds skier decisions : a pilot study of how information about terrain and avalanche danger in a mobile application affects behaviour in off-piste terrain
- 2014
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In a smartphone, a skier can access avalanche information on the go. This paper shows a new app for making decisions, which combines ATES classification with danger ratings and then present- ing this in the form of Avaluator recommendations directly on a GPS-positioned map. We have examined how actual skier behaviour in the terrain is affected by the use of a smartphone as a decision tool. Previ- ous studies on behaviour have mainly focused on surveys or on human factors; it is only now with smartphones with GPS and apps for logging location data that we can study actual movement in the ter- rain. During 10 weeks, 20 skiers used a GPS-based map app in which they answered questions before and after the day's skiing. The app also logged their actual movements during the day. The questions surveyed the subjective approach to risk and skiing. The experiment was conducted in two phases, first a control phase when the app only showed the current avalanche danger and a GPS-map, secondly an effect phase when the app also showed the combination of terrain and avalanche danger using Avaluator colours (Normal Caution, Extra Caution, Not Recommended) projected directly on map as a layer. Our results show that a mobile application can be a successful way to communicate avalanche information in the future. The results also imply it is better to communicate where to ski than to warn where not to ski. At the individual level, we could also see changes in skier's behaviour when they were given access to ava- lanche danger and avalanche terrain in a single map view.
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| 2. |
- Mårtensson, Stefan, et al.
(författare)
-
Snowmobiling in Sweden 2014 : trends, attitudes to risk and knowledge about avalanches
- 2014
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In spring 2014 a web survey aimed towards Swedish snowmobilers were conducted. The aim was to identify riding habits, attitudes to risk, knowledge of avalanches and the use of safety equip- ment. In total 2917 snowmobilers responded. The results provide new and important knowledge about behavior and attitudes to risk and general knowledge about avalanches and avalanche awareness. 34 % of the snowmobilers state that they are sometimes or often in contact with avalanche terrain. Of those, 19 % has been involved in at least on avalanche related incident. In the same group, only 14 % are regularly equipped with avalanche transmitter and probe. Among those who are using avalanche safety equipment, 33 % states that they rarely or never practice to use it.In Sweden the use of snowmobile has greatly increased the past 20 years and so has the popularity re- garding freeriding with snowmobiles in steep terrain. The total number of snowmobiles is now more than 280,000. Between 2005 and 2014, 102 snowmobilers in Sweden where killed in snowmobile related acci- dents in total but very few accidents during this period has officially been avalanche related which is surprisingly. Do Swedish snowmobilers uses the terrain differently than in North America and in Norway where there is much more accidents recorded or is there a difference in their attitudes to risk, or is the relatively few ava- lanche accidents just a coincidence? Is the relatively few accidents connected with the development of stronger and faster snowmobiles? Will Sweden also see a growing number of accidents with more vic- tims? Are there other factors? The final results will be used in the Swedish Mountain Safety Councils efforts to develop future avalanche education programs for snowmobilers and as a way to support research and development in the area.
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| 3. |
- Mårtensson, Stefan, et al.
(författare)
-
Swedish skiers knowledge, experience and attitudes towards off-piste skiing and avalanches
- 2013
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The winter of 2012/2013 was the most accident-prone season in the Swedish avalanche history with a total of seven dead Swedes. In April 2013 the Swedish Mountain Safety Council initiated a web-based survey aimed towards Swedish skiers. The aim was to identify the target group's knowledge, experience and attitudes towards off-piste skiing and avalanches. Respondents were asked to answer a total of 28 questions. 1047 Swedish off-piste skiers answered, and we analysed them in more detail. The Swedish off-piste skier is apparently a seasoned skier who skis a lot every year. About 80 % ski at least two weeks per year and over 90 % have skied for at least 10 years. He or she is well trained and equipped for avalanche accidents. About 90 % possess avalanche equip- ment and about 60 % use it regularly. About 80 % believe they have good avalanche knowledge and 50 % have taken an avalanche course. About 35 % have themselves been caught in an avalanche, and 60 % knows someone who has. Although experience, education and the recent tragic deaths, off- piste and ski touring are increasing, approximately 80 % ski, as much or more, than three years ago. Approximately 50 % are unaffected by the recent accidents and about 75 % are still willing to take risks to go off-piste. The results show no indications of a more restrictive behaviour. The respondents seem often to overestimate their skills when skiing in avalanche terrain. Swedish avalanche education and communication is clearly missing an important piece.
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| 4. |
- Wikberg, Per-Olov, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in Attitudes To Risk and Knowledge About Avalanches Among Swedish Skiers After The Introduction of a National Avalanche Safety Program
- 2018
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2013, a web survey was conducted together with Freeride.se, aimed towards Swedish off-piste skiers in order to identify the target group's knowledge, experience and attitudes towards off-piste skiing and avalanches. 1047 skiers participated. The results of the survey gave new important knowledge about different target groups prior to the start of the Swedish avalanche forecast program and also more knowledge regarding the level of avalanche awareness among skiers in general. In 2016 Sweden launched the first national avalanche forecasting program and the same year, a revised avalanche education program was developed and presented. Both constitute important tools for prevention of future avalanche accidents among Swedish skiers. In April 2017, a repetition of the first survey was initiated, with nearly the same questionnaire, to see if there had been any change in behavior, attitudes to risk and knowledge about avalanche awareness among Swedish skiers since 2013. With 1028 participants, the results of the new survey showed some interesting changes that probably could be seen as early effects of the introduction of a new public avalanche forecasting service together with the revised avalanche education program.
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| 5. |
- Wikberg, Per-Olov, et al.
(författare)
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Statusrapport : Etableringen av lavinprognoser för svenska fjällen 2016
- 2016
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- I syfte att förebygga lavinolyckor har Naturvårdsverket haft i uppdrag att påbörja en etablering av ett lavinprognosprogram för den svenska fjällkedjan. Regeringsuppdraget redovisades 25 08 2016. Naturvårdsverket har som huvudman för lavinprognoserna ansvarat för administration, planering och styrning av lavinprognostjänsten.Naturvårdsverkets bedömning är att prognoserna har kännetecknats av en god kvalité och att det bakomliggande arbetet präglats av en god resurseffektivitet och fackmässigt väl utfört arbete av de prognosskribenter, områdesansvariga, meteorologer och fältpersonal som bidragit till prognoserna. I den fortsatta etableringen avser Naturvårdsverket att succesivt bygga ut antalet områden för att nå en tillräcklig täckning. Det innebär att ytterligare 5 till 6 prognosområden kan tillkomma i en fortsatt etableringsfas.
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