I wish this mobile iPhone application was Android compatible (word is Android version could be ready by mid-February) since it would be fun to play around with this newly released Ullr Mobile Avalanche Safety Tool that uses avalanche science principles, along with all the technology built into an iPhone (camera, GPS, compass, gyroscope, comms) to help create your own field study notebook and forecasting aid.  Not that I’m a big snow-pit or avy forecasting kinda guy, but this Ullr Mobile Avalanche Safety Tool seems like a pretty cool application that can help you in determining the current avalanche hazard, even if you don’t have a forecasting center in your area.
I’m sure the avy pros (would love to hear your thoughts on this) will have a field day with this computer based program telling us when it’s safe to shred or not, but IMO, no avalanche forecasting device/tool/test is 100% spot-on for all potential ski terrain anyway, so convenience and technology are a welcome advancement in avy forecasting for a person like me. However, the creators of the Ullr Mobile Avalanche Safety iPhone App had the help of renowned avalanche science gurus, Bruce Tremper, Karl Birkland and many others when building it, so hopefully it works as planned.
Ullr’s Mobile Avalanche Safety Tools™ (MAST) combines established snow science principles with the iPhone’s built in camera, GPS, compass, gyroscope and data communications. This results in the only mobile electronic snow and avalanche field notebook, that lets users:
–Download the current snow and avalanche forecast for their region;
–Record weather, terrain, snowpack and stability conditions while touring the backcountry – no cell or wifi signal necessary;
–Receive warnings when observations deserve “extra consideration†under established snow science guidelines;
–Transmit their observations to the closest regional avalanche forecast center for review and posting on their websites; and
–Obtain educational resources that increase knowledge and sharpen skills.
And if you think this avalanche hazard application is just a way to make money for it’s creators, you will be glad to know that 10% of the proceeds from purchasing it goes to participation regional avalanche centers and education groups. In addition, all certified AIARE and American Avalanche Association instructors will have the opportunity to obtain the app free of charge. This tells me that those in charge really want feedback and to make it better in the long run…which will be good for everyone.
cool heads up! cool about free if AAA member, etc. $11.99 if your not.. ouch.
Cool idea I think I will wait a little to drop 12 bucks on it, I want to see some reviews etc.
Looks like a fun tool to geek out on while inspecting a snow-pit.
Interesting post Steve! This app sounds a little more useful than some of the other ones I have heard of but I also question how well this really works. Has anyone on here ever used this app before? My only fear is that it will give people extra confidence to go into some dangerous zones simply because their phone said it was safe. Hopefully people realize that this app is not the end all be all of determining avalanche hazard and take the necessary steps to truly ensure their safety in the back country.
ian…it’s free for AAA or AIARE instructors…not members. sorry for any confusion.
jedidiah…this has just been released, so there probably isn’t much info out about it yet. i’m sure “moderate” or “considerable” come up often as the avy hazard with this app, which can really go either way as far as the hazard goes.
This is such a simple app…. 12 bones! How many knobbers are going to buy this? (not many). How about make it free (add supported) and get a community of people to utilize it and produce a boat load of freely available data?
Nifty… but haven’t we been warned about electrical interference when using beacons?
Steve,
There is now another avalanche safety app available for iPhone, PitPod. PitPod can be used for recording snow pits and avalanches. Ullr Labs software seems to be not full featured enough for professional avalanche workers. PitPod is designed for professional avalanche workers, but can also be configured to be easy enough for a snowboarder to use. And best of all, it’s free.
Thanks for the heads up Jesse. How can something that is free…be better?
I didn’t develop PitPod to make money off of it, I developed it because I had a need for it. So by some twisted logic I could spend as much time as I wanted on it without worrying about going over budget.
Check it out, http://pitpod.net or on the iTunes store: http://itunes.apple.com/ke/app/pitpod/id477838698?mt=8