Türkiye is establishing its own avalanche monitoring and prevention system

Turkey, particularly its northern, northeastern, and eastern regions, possesses mountainous areas with topographic and meteorological conditions suitable for avalanche formation. 

Areas with an average altitude exceeding 1000 meters and suitable for avalanche formation constitute approximately one-third of Turkey's total surface area (Figure-1). Avalanches in these regions threaten settlements, highways, railways, ski resorts, touristic facilities, and all other investments. Since 1890, more than 3300 avalanche incidents have occurred in Turkey. Around 1540 people were dies and 600 people were injured. Villagers, road workers, skiers, hunters, and soldiers are affected groups.

To reduce and/or eliminate avalanche risk, the "Development of Active and Passive Avalanche Prevention, Measurement, and Monitoring Systems Project" has been initiated to mitigate avalanche disaster risks. Within the scope of the project, in addition to developing sensor prototypes that will carry out snow measurements necessary for the design and implementation of avalanche prevention structures, the development of new generation technologies for use in avalanche prevention structures is also aimed. 

The studies carried out in the first phase of the project are as follows:

• A new generation and natural structural material has been identified as an alternative to internationally accepted avalanche prevention structure materials, and laboratory tests regarding the material's strength were completed. 
• Following the successful completion of the strength tests, material production was carried out. 
• A new structural design was prepared with the developed material, and strength tests of this design did successfully.
• Seismic measurements were carried out to determine the seismicity in the pilot area where the avalanche prevention structure design will be applied and to reveal the possible earthquake loads that may be applied to the structure. 
• An Automatic Snow Observation Station and a Mobile Avalanche Analysis Center were established and put into operation in Dideban Ridges in Bitlis and meteorological data began to be collected. 
• Patenting process of the avalanche prevention structural material and the structural design is ongoing.

The planned activities within the scope of the project, starting from 2026, are as follows: 

• Testing the design of a new generation and natural structural material-based preventive structure in the field, and investigating the effect of earthquakes on the structure and snow pressure distribution;
• Developing pressure, humidity, and temperature sensors;
• Investigating the applicability of existing artificial avalanche triggering systems to Türkiye and preparing the infrastructure for a new artificial avalanche triggering method,
• Developing a device and software for performing automatically snow profile measurement; and 
• Taking measurements regarding the spatial distribution of snow depth in avalanche starting zones.

The results obtained from this project, when implemented in areas with avalanche risk, will ensure that settlements, transportation routes, and winter tourism areas become safer.