Intelligent Ski Slope
More efficient snowmaking for ski slopes for more sustainable winter tourism
Overview
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Description:
Development of an advanced measuring system that provides information about the actual quality of the slopes, with the aim of only carrying out snowmaking processes when it is really necessary. This promotes a more sustainable approach to winter tourism.
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Funding organization:
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Duration:
01.10.2024 - 30.09.2026
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Project Manager:
Sophia Brockschmidt, MSc
Research Fellow Industrial Engineering & Management / Smart Products & Solutions / Smart Products & AI-driven Development -
Project Members:
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Bernarda Keßler, BSc
Research Fellow Industrial Engineering & Management -
Martin Schafferer, MSc
Research Fellow Industrial Engineering & Management, Smart Products & Solutions / Smart Products & AI-driven Development -
Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Schmiedinger, PhD
Vice Director of Studies Smart Products & Solutions / Smart Products & AI-driven Development, Professor (FH) for Mechanical Engineering & Digitalization
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Initial situation & project description
Current practice in snow grooming and monitoring is largely limited to collecting meteorological data and measuring snow depth. While these approaches provide valuable insight into surface snow conditions, they neglect important aspects such as the internal structure and consistency of the snowpack, which are critical to overall snow quality. Limiting oneself to this data creates a gap in the understanding of slope conditions, which in turn affects the efficiency of snowmaking processes and the sustainable usage of water resources.
In light of this, there is a need for a more advanced measurement system that goes beyond traditional methods and provides a more comprehensive, precise assessment of slope quality. Such a system could not only improve efficiency in the area of slope management, but also contribute to saving resources, thus providing additional economic benefits. Implementing an IoT-based measurement system for slope quality that enables real-time recording and analysis of various relevant parameters can help to make winter tourism more sustainable.
Project Data
Project objectives:
- Conceptualization of an IoT-based system for recording ski slope parameters
- Development of different measuring units
- Prototypical implementation of the IoT-based system in a test area
Intended project results:
- Functional prototypes of two different measuring units (stationary and mobile)
- Development of a database with recorded slope parameters
- Comparison of the measured values with established measurement methods
The work packages of the project include:
- WP1 Project management
- WP2 System design
- WP3 Prototype development
- WP4 Test phase
- WP5 Dissemination
