The PermaSense Project. Computer Engineering and Networks Lab, ETH Zurich Geography Department, University of Zurich

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1 The PermaSense Project Computer Engineering and Networks Lab, ETH Zurich Geography Department, University of Zurich

2 PermaSense Aims and Vision Interdisciplinary geo-science and engineering collaboration Long-term high-quality sensing in harsh environments Better quality data, obtained online Measurements that have previously been impossible Enabling new science, answering fundamental questions related to decision making, natural hazard early-warning Project started in 2006 Funded by Swiss National Science Foundation, Federal Office of the Environment and others

3 What is Permafrost? Permafrost is rock, ground and debris frozen throughout the whole year Permafrost is not visible In summer permafrost thaws at the surface

4 Investigating Instabilities in Steep Rock Walls When are vertical rock walls getting instable? When is rockfall happening? What are its causes? What are the effects of climate change? How does this influence our environment and habitat in the Alps?

5 Understanding Root Causes of Catastrophes Rockfall at the Eiger/CH in summer 2006, Video courtesy of Arte Television

6 Our patient does not fit into a laboratory

7 So the laboratory has to go on the mountain

8 Our Field Sites on Jungfraujoch and the Matterhorn

9 The Matterhorn station at 3500 m in deep winter snow

10 Perched high above the valley on a rocky ridge

11 Understanding How Ice and Water Behaves in Rock Cracks

12 At the core Wireless sensors tough to withstand the elements

13 Specialized Low-Power Electronics in a Rugged Enclosure

14 The sensors are installed in steep rock and ice walls

15 A base station collects and relays the data to the valley

16 The field work requires alpinist skills

17 The changing weather is demanding

18 Access with the helicopter is often spectacular

19 Solid preparation is required for field work in the mountains

20 Work Impressions from the Matterhorn Field Site

21 The sun delivers the necessary energy

22 Snow and ice cover is missing in summer

23 Is Solid Ice in Fissures Acting as Glue or as a Lubricant?

24 What happens when mountain permafrost is thawing?

25 The experiment simulates an ice-filled cleft when thawing. The cleft movement is measured using a resistive crackmeter and displayed on the screen. When will the failure occur?

26 What has been found out about the Matterhorn?

27 Rock Temperatures Large Differences at Close Proximity

28 The clefts at Hörnliridge move in distinct patterns

29 A workplace with a view

30 Recent Avenues: Detecting Large-Scale Mass Movements

31 Wireless GPS sensors detect millimeter-scale process dynamics

32 Societal Impact: Bielzug Debris Flow Village Evacuation Critical natural hazard event on PermaSense field site Timely response with extension of sensor coverage Authorities receive real-time data June 3, 2013 Partial village evacuation Closure of road and railway to Zermatt Extensive media coverage New scientific knowledge about geophysical processes

33 Media Coverage [SF1 Swiss national television, evening news]

34 Technology Transfer PERMOS & Weissmies Hanging Glacier GPS sensors used in national permafrost monitoring network Cameras and GPS sensors monitor hazardous glaciers [PERMOS site Largario rock glacier, Sept. 2014] [Hanging glacier break-off, Weissmies, Sept. 2014]

35 PermaSense An Interdisciplinary Team ETH Zurich Computer Engineering and Networks Lab Geodesy and Geodynamics Lab Micro and Nanosystems Glaciology University of Zurich Department of Geography EPFL Distributed Information Systems Laboratory University of Basel Department Computer Science

36 Interested in more?