Surveying the ice thickness of the ice climbing wall using TLS surveying method – case of Mlačca Gorge, Slovenia

Marjetič, Aleš (author), Magyar, Jan (author), Ambrožič, Tomaž (author), Pavlovčič Prešeren, Polona (author)

Investigating the thickness of ice walls is a formidable pursuit, especially considering the dynamic nature of the environment and the rapid changes in ice conditions. With the use of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), further compounded by the influence of unfrozen droplets on TLS measurements, this challenge is heightened, because the presence of droplets can adversely affect the accuracy and reliability of measurements. The study aimed to procure 3D models of the artificial climbing wall in Mlačca Gorge, Slovenia, to help climbers in charting diverse climbing routes prior to ascent. Concurrently, the research endeavor sought to deepen our understanding of TLS application in demanding icy terrain. This study unveils the outcomes of successive TLS measurements conducted during the winter of 2021, marked by the most significant thickening of the ice wall in the previous four years. Notably, the terrestrial surveys unveiled the pivotal influence of the laser scanner’s wavelength on beam reflectivity, in addition to the consequential roles played by the angle of incidence of the laser beam on the ice wall and atmospheric moisture concentration in the gorge.

• Language: English
• Keywords: terrestrial laser scanning, georeferencing, ice climbing wall, thickness of ice, reflectance, angle of incidence, safety
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 14 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 57, iss. 1, art. 2437186
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-166479
• UDC: 528
• ISSN on article: 1938-4246
• DOI: 10.1080/15230430.2024.2437186
• COBISS.SI-ID: 222163459
• Publication date in RUL: 14.01.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Arctic, antarctic, and alpine research
• Shortened title: Arct. antarct. alp. res.
• Publisher: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado at Boulder
• ISSN: 1938-4246
• COBISS.SI-ID: 518346265

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian

Abstract

Preučevanje debeline ledenih sten je zahtevno opravilo, zlasti zaradi dinamične narave okolja in hitrih sprememb v stanju ledu. Uporaba terestričnega laserskega skeniranja (TLS) dodatno oteži ta izziv, saj lahko prisotnost nezamrznjenih kapljic negativno vpliva na natančnost in zanesljivost meritev. Cilj študije je bil pridobiti 3D modele umetne plezalne stene v soteski Mlačca v Sloveniji, da bi plezalcem omogočili načrtovanje različnih plezalnih poti pred vzponom. Hkrati je raziskovalno delo stremelo k poglobljenemu razumevanju uporabe TLS v zahtevnih ledenih terenih. Študija predstavlja rezultate zaporednih TLS meritev, izvedenih med zimo leta 2021, ko je bila debelina ledene stene največja v zadnjih štirih letih. Terestrične meritve so razkrile ključen vpliv valovne dolžine laserskega skenerja na odbojnost žarka, poleg tega pa tudi pomembne vloge, ki jih igrajo vpadni kot laserskega žarka na ledeno površino ter koncentracija vlage v zraku v soteski.

• Keywords: terestrično lasersko skeniranje, georeferenciranje, ledna plezalna stena, debelina ledu, odbojnost, vpadni kot, varnost

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0227
• Name: Geoinformacijska infrastruktura in trajnostni prostorski razvoj Slovenije