Merging terrestrial laser scanning technology with photogrammetric and total station data for the determination of avalanche modeling parameters

•We surveyed an avalanche with a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS).•We provide accurate data for dynamic avalanche modeling.•The results show that supporting laser data with additional methods can be valuable.

Dynamic avalanche modeling requires as input the volumes and areas of the snow released, and consequently the fracture heights. Determining these parameters requires high-resolution spatial snow surface data from before and after an avalanche. In snow and avalanche research, terrestrial laser scanners are used increasingly to efficiently and accurately map snow surfaces and depths over an area of several km2. In practice however, several problems may occur, which must be recognized and accounted for during post-processing and interpretation. Thus, we combine terrestrial laser scanning with photogrammetry, total station measurements and field snow observations to document and accurately survey an artificially triggered avalanche at the Col du Lautaret test site (2058 m) in the French Alps. The ability of TLS to determine avalanche modeling input parameters efficiently and accurately is shown, and we demonstrate how, merging TLS with the other methods facilitates and improves data post-processing and interpretation. Finally, we present for this avalanche the data required for the parameterization and validation of dynamic avalanche models.