A Canadian geophysics company, Sensors and Software, Inc. has come up with a new (at least to me anyway) application for ground penetrating radar or GPR. Their SnowScan hardware and software system allows ski resorts to create a map of snow depth using either hand-held units (pictured at left), or snow-cat groomer mounted units. The units are typically tied in to a GPS receiver for accurate positional information as well as snow depth. The resulting information is used by the slope owners to determine when and where to move or make snow. The technology was used to map the entire cross-country track in Park City, Utah prior to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. (Photo copyright Sensors and Software, Inc.)
