Accident Explorer Overview
The Avalanche Accident Explorer is a dynamic tool for visualizing information on avalanche accidents in Colorado. This application is a partnership between the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and the Colorado Mountain College (CMC) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program. CMC GIS alumni Lucy Kepner and Joe Tayabji designed and coded the application. They were advised by CMC GIS professor Dara Seidl in conjunction with CAIC staff. The application uses data collected by the CAIC on fatal avalanche accidents in Colorado.
Project Goals
This project has two goals: to provide a map-based tool for exploring avalanche accident data and to provide CMC students with real-world data as they learn how to use GIS. Exploring information on fatal avalanche accidents lets people look for patterns in these events and understand how and where people run afoul of this natural hazard. GIS are powerful tools for understanding geospatial data and real-world applications provide students with the best opportunities to hone their skills, which they can apply to other datasets as they move into the workforce.
Ongoing Development
The CAIC and CMC GIS partnership is ongoing, and this application will continue to grow over time. We always appreciate ideas and feedback. Please send us your ideas through our Contact page.