Tracking performance of a HSGPS receiver under avalanche deposited snow

The tracking performance of High Sensitivity Global Positioning System (HSGPS) receivers under avalanche deposited snow was investigated. Two field trials were held during April 2006 in the Canadian Rocky Mountains to study the factors affecting GPS signals and positioning performance for avalanche rescue. The PLAN Group at the University of Calgary has developed the miniature Global Navigation Asset Tracker (GNAT™) which integrates the SiRFstar III HSGPS receivers with a microcontroller, onboard flash storage and a 2.4 GHz Zigbee radio modem. The test systems were placed down a 6 cm hole bored in avalanche deposited snow for 2.5 h with data collected at 1 Hz. Post-mission analysis showed average GPS signal attenuation of approximately 11 to 13 dB within the first 1.5 m of avalanche debris. Sufficient GPS signals for positioning were received by GPS receivers buried in 2.7 m of avalanche deposited snow. Methods of improving the GPS position beneath the avalanche debris were investigated, resulting in horizontal position RMS values of 7.4 and 2.8 m at depths of 2.0 and 2.68 m respectively.