Predictive snow depth measurement
SNOWsat LiDAR marks the beginning of a new era in snow depth measurement.
SNOWsat LiDAR is revolutionizing snow depth measurement. Until now, snow depth has been measured underneath the vehicle and the front blade. SNOWsat LiDAR measures snow depth up to 50 m (165 ft) in front and to the side of the vehicle on a surface of up to 2,600 m² (28,000 sqft). The operator can thus respond to spots with little snow early on.
The result:
Every day the best slope quality for the guest, enhanced productivity, enormous cost savings, conservation of resources, and increased work and operating safety.
Click here and read what our customers say about SNOWsat LiDAR
Click here to access the detailed description of the advantages of SNOWsat LiDAR
Watch here to see how the snow depth map changes for the operator when SNOWsat LiDAR is installed – and how it revolutionizes the operator's style of work
How SNOWsat LiDAR works
The facts on SNOWsat LiDAR
with up to 200,000 data points per second
Detect spots lacking snow and spots with extra snow in a timely manner
Assess the situation around the vehicle in real time
What customers say about SNOWsat LiDAR
„Why we in Laax have partnered up with SNOWsat LiDAR? That's very obvious – We think LiDAR is the future of snow depth measurement. It will further optimize the utilization of the available quantities of snow and, at the same time, make it possible to spread the snow faster and in a more targeted way. At the same time, this solution plays into our "Greenstyle" company principle – that is, to preserve the environment as much as we can.“
Corsin Clopath, Head of SOS and Vehicles, Weisse Arena Gruppe, Laax (Switzerland)
„What do I expect from SNOWsat LiDAR? As a matter of fact, I have seen it before with my own eyes! It is absolutely awesome that we can see the snow depth data that far ahead of the vehicle and to the side. This helps us when we create snow reserves or grade slopes ... This is a quantum leap!“
Martin Hurm, Operations manager, Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG (Germany)“
„The snow depth map gives the operator the opportunity to even better estimate snow drifts or the snow displacement that is generated in normal skiing operations. The operator can see where on the left and right snow can be dug out if it should become scarce. The great advantage of LiDAR is that we have real-time data. This means that, while driving, the operator immediately sees how the snow cover in front of him or her is structured. Consequently, the operator can respond immediately, which of course saves a lot of time.“
Karl Dirnhofer, Technical Director - Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG (Germany)
„The [predictive] snow depth measurement supports [us] in making snow plowing more efficient because it allows us to respond sooner. We now detect spots with little snow much earlier and thus we can rebuild the snow cover in a timely manner.“
Lukas Reinhard, Head of Snowpark Preparation, Weisse Arena Gruppe, Laax (Switzerland)
„Not only in the winter ski area, but also on the glacier up to 3,250 meters, SNOWsat LiDAR shows its strength with the precise snow depth measurement. The system is ideally suited for building depots, preparing and measuring fleece areas and marking obstacles. The system forms a solid foundation for digitization in ski resorts and we are very pleased that this innovative system makes our daily work easier!“
Slope Team Hintertux (Austria)
„Thanks to [predictive] snow depth measurement, we can make optimal use of our snow reserves (both from technical and natural snow). At the same time, LiDAR supports drivers in poor visibility, because even then it provides a good overview of the snow situation. This means that drivers always navigate safely even in extreme visibility conditions.“
Armin Schmid, Head of drivers,
Weisse Arena Gruppe, Laax (Switzerland)
Your advantages
This is how you benefit from SNOWsat LiDAR
SNOWsat LiDAR makes daily slope grooming more efficient and effective.
Unknown snow reserves are detected early on so that you can use your machines optimally. The snow depth map provides you with a secure basis for decisions
By assessing the snow depth early on and comprehensively, you avoid duplicate grooming and save a lot of time
For new and inexperienced operators, the comprehensive display of the snow depth provides safety and orientation. They now can fully focus on slope grooming
Snow depth measurement without SNOWsat LiDAR
Snow depth measurement with SNOWsat LiDAR
Lower your operating fluid expenses and reduce the risk of damage to your machinery.
Use snow reserves and lower the consumption of water, energy, fuel and oil
SNOWsat LiDAR assists the operator in responding to rocks or spots with little snow early on, thus helping to reduce damage to the vehicle or its auxiliary equipment
Maintenance costs are cut as a result of the low risk of machine damage as well as the optimized grooming time and the resulting reduced operating hours
SNOWsat LiDAR offers new operators a quick overview of the snow or terrain situation on the slope to be groomed
Offering the best slope to your guests day after day – Easier than ever thanks to SNOWsat LiDAR.
Snow reserves and spots with less snow are detected early so that the available snow can be optimally used to create a safe and stable slope
Thanks to SNOWsat LiDAR, the operator knows the snow conditions in front of and to the sides of the vehicle at the accuracy of a centimeter – even during snowfall and windstorms or at dusk
Snow depth data and available snow quantities can be used for further analyses and planning, for example for the production of machine-made snow
Keep your slopes open from the first through the last day of the season.
At the beginning and end of the season, it is often the case that every cubic centimeter of snow counts! SNOWsat LiDAR makes it possible to build snow reserves with precision and control
Do not leave anything to chance. Using SNOWsat LiDAR, you can measure the snow volumes produced without large-scale dozing of the snow reserves. Using the desktop applications, you can make the right decisions regarding snowmaking and basic grooming
Offer more skiing days to your guests than your competitors do by opening earlier and closing later – at consistently high slope quality
The predictive snow depth measurement makes an important contribution to ski area operation that is sustainable and cuts down on resources.
Optimize your grooming routes and machine deployment and reduce your use of operating fluid such as oil, fuel, DEF/AdBlue, etc.
Early detection of snow reserves allows for long-term reduction of electricity and water consumption in snowmaking
The up-to-date snow depth map, accurate to a centimeter, makes precise grooming work possible, sparing vegetation and soil
SNOWsat LiDAR provides safety and orientation to operators even in adverse weather conditions or if operators lack experience.
SNOWsat LiDAR allows the operator to respond to obstacles such as cliffs and rocks, which have been included in the terrain model, and even to snow drifts early on
SNOWsat LiDAR offers new operators a quick overview of the snow or terrain situation of the slope to be groomed
Whether in snowfall, in a windstorm, or at dusk, SNOWsat LiDAR informs the operator about the snow conditions in front of and to the sides of the vehicle in real time
See the future
With SNOWsat LiDAR, snow groomer operators can literally See the Future. Before now, they only knew the snow depth that was measured under the vehicle. Using SNOWsat LiDAR, operators see the snow depth up to 50 m in front of the vehicle – and even on the driving paths to the side.
SNOWsat LIDAR: FAQ
The predictive snow depth measurement SNOWsat LiDAR is exclusively installed in PistenBully. SNOWsat LiDAR can be ordered ex works for all new PistenBully 100, 400 and 600 series.
The LiDAR sensor is mounted centrally on the roof of the PistenBully.
For your existing PistenBully fleet, SNOWsat LiDAR can be retrofitted for all vehicles of the 100, 400 and 600 series with year of manufacture 2017 and newer.
The LiDAR sensor has already been subjected to several shock, vibration and UV stress tests by the manufacturer and has also been extensively tested by Kässbohrer in winter in fog and snowfall. The results are convincing:
So far, the SNOWsat LiDAR predictive snow depth measurement has not failed in any situation due to weather or load.
Application examples
Application example 1: Increased response time
With SNOWsat LiDAR, the operator can literally "See the Future." Operators have the option of responding to spots with little snow that are far ahead of them or even in a different driving path without having driven over them.
Application example 2: Snow depth adjacent to the slope
Thanks to SNOWsat LiDAR, you know the snow depth over an area of up to 2,600 m² (28,000 sqft) in front and to the side of the vehicle, and you can thus even respond to spots with little snow that are not on your current driving path.
Application example 3: Detection of snow reserves
SNOWsat LiDAR provides early indication of snow reserves and snowdrifts away from the slope to be groomed. The operator thus becomes aware of snow reserves for spots lacking snow without driving over them.
Contact
Get in touch with your contact person now – they are happy to answer your call!
