Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

Education

since 2008 Lecturer ETH Zurich.
since 1997 Head research group "Protection Measures" at the WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF Davos.
since 1989 Senior Consultant at the WSL-Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF Davos.
1988–1989 Research Assistant, Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, ETH Zurich.
1985–1986 Norwegian Railway (Oslo) and Dr. Halter Engineering & Consulting (Zurich): Internship and Research Fellow.
1982–1987 Diploma-Studies in Civil Engineering, ETH Zurich (Dipl. Ing. ETH).

Research

  • Calculation of snow and avalanche forces acting on structures
  • Effectiveness of avalanche defense measures
  • Design of avalanche mitigation measures (e.g. avalanche sheds, dams)
  • Failure analysis and back-calculation of static snow loads, snow pressure or avalanche loads
  • Maintenance of avalanche mitigation measures
  • Back-analysis of avalanche events
  • Risk and cost-benefit analysis
  • Roof snow loads
  • Avalanche modeling

 

Consulting

  • Avalanche defense consulting and hazard mapping (e.g. elaboration and review of hazard maps, application and maintenance of supporting structures, design of avalanche sheds, deflecting and catching dams, snow drift fences), more than 150 consulting reports in Switzerland and countries as Germany, Italy, Austria, Iceland, Japan, Russia, Turkey and Iran.
  • Protection and design of buildings and infrastructure against avalanche impacts and snow pressure.
  • Risk calculations and cost-benefit analysis.
  • Snow and ice loads on buildings, prevention of roof avalanches.
  • Expert witness in court cases especially on hazard mapping and avalanche accidents (e.g. on the catastrophic avalanche event in Galtür in 1999).
  • Proofing engineer of new defense structures in avalanche starting zones.

 

Teaching

  • Graduate Course on “Snow and Avalanches: Processes and Risk Management” at ETH Zürich (together with Jürg Schweizer)
  • Lecturer at the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL
  • Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences BFH Bern
  • Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences FH Graubünden, Chur
  • Lecturer in avalanche engineering at the European Summer University on Natural Hazards, 1992 in Chamonix (France), 1995 in Sion (Switzerland), 2000 in Salardu (Spain) and 2004 in Courmayeur (Italy).
  • Courses, excursions and lessons for practitioners in avalanche engineering and hazard mapping (FAN).

 

Professional associations

FAN (Natural Hazard Experts Switzerland)

EKLS (Expert Commission for Avalanches and Rockfall)

SGBF (Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Boden und Felsmechanik)

Member of the technical Commission Swiss building code SIA261: action on structures

For Siglufjördur in the north of Iceland, we have developed a protection concept with supporting structures and avalanche dams (Photo S. Margreth).
Education course on protective measures against drifting snow on the Bernina Pass (Photo S. Margreth).
For the Elbphilharmonie building in Hamburg, we investigated roof avalanches and ice formation on the roof edge and possible countermeasures (Photo S. Margreth).
Supporting structures are the most important structural avalanche protection in Switzerland. We investigate their effectiveness and the expected snow pressure effects. We also carry out monitoring during snowy winters (Photo S. Margreth).
After the catastrophic avalanche on February 23, 1999 in Galtür in Austria (31 fatalities), we prepared an expert report for the Landesgericht in Innsbruck (Photo S. Margreth).
For the Behrends avalanche path, which endangers the capital of Alaska, Juneau, we carried out a hazard assessment and evaluated possible mitigation measures (Photo S. Margreth).
Ice avalanches breaking loose from the hanging glacier on the Eiger endanger the station Eigergletscher of the Jungfrau Railway. As part of the renewal of the transport infrastructure, we assessed the risk of ice and snow avalanches for various scenarios and proposed safety measures (Photo S. Margreth).
The mountain station and the tower on the 3000 m high Titlis are being redeveloped and its access extended. The exposed location results in high snow depths and heavy ice formation. We determined the snow and ice loads for the various buildings (Photo Herzog & de Meuron).
In 1997, large masses of rock detached from the Brenva flank on Mont Blanc, forming a huge rock-ice avalanche. As basis for a safety concept, in 2017 we investigated the extent of numerous scenarios with different rock volumes in winter and summer using numerical simulations (Photo S. Margreth).
Parts of the village of Elm are at risk from the Schoss avalanche. The hazard potential is very high due to the large release area. Large powder snow avalanches form due to the steep avalanche track. We carried out a risk assessment and investigated which mitigation measures would be most appropriate (Photo S. Margreth).
In August 2017, around 3 million m3 of rock detached from Pizzo Cengalo. The rock masses fell directly onto the Vadrec dal Cengalo and eroded more than 0.5 million m3 of ice. A highly fluidized mass of debris formed, which advanced into the Bergell and caused severe damage. With the help of numerical simulations, we were able to better understand the process and to estimate how far another rockslide could advance in winter (Photo S. Margreth).
Many of the mountain huts belonging to the Swiss Alpine Club SAC are at risk from avalanches. We carried out an overview study for the SAC to roughly assess the risk of all 153 huts. Afterwards, we carried out detailed studies for a number of huts in order to determine the risk and propose appropriate protective measures (Photo S. Margreth).

Projects

Publications