Method for measuring dynamic characteristics of snow heap produced by all-weather snowmaking equipment

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of ski field snowmaking, and particularly discloses a method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of a snow pile produced by all-weather snowmaking equipment, and the method comprises the steps: test area arrangement: area delimiting, snow pile marking, reference object arrangement, and tool calibration; producing a snow pile; starting measurement; full life cycle circulation and the like. According to the method, the dynamic characteristics of the snow heap can be effectively monitored, the measurement data is more comprehensive, the measurement precision is higher, and the characteristics of the snow heap are associated with the environmental parameters, so that the influence of the environment on the melting rate of the snow heap can be effectively analyzed, and a basis is provided for equipment optimization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of snowmaking in ski resorts, and specifically relates to a method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by all-weather snowmaking equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In artificial ski resorts, snow test fields, and other similar settings, snowdrifts produced by all-weather snowmaking equipment are the core focus of ski slope construction and snow and ice characteristic research. The density, temperature stability, and volume decay rate of snowdrifts directly impact the skiing experience, equipment energy consumption, and safe operation. Therefore, long-term dynamic monitoring of snowdrift characteristics is crucial for optimizing snowmaking parameters (such as water consumption and operating time) and evaluating snowdrift performance.

[0003] Currently, while artificial snowmaking technology has achieved all-weather production, snowdrift monitoring technology remains at the stage of "empirical measurement." The measuring tools are simple (such as ordinary thermometers and measuring tapes), the procedures are not standardized (no fixed time points), and the data dimensions are limited (only surface conditions are recorded). This results in monitoring results that cannot effectively guide the debugging of snowmaking equipment or the maintenance of snowdrifts. Existing snowdrift measurement technologies have the following shortcomings in monitoring artificial snowmaking (especially flake ice and plate ice): The measurement parameters are singular and one-sided: focusing only on the surface temperature or rough volume of the snowdrift, ignoring key parameters such as internal temperature (affecting stability) and density (affecting bearing capacity), which makes it impossible to fully reflect the characteristics of the snowdrift; The process lacks standardization: measurement time is arbitrary, tools are not used in a uniform manner (such as measuring different snow qualities with a single container), data repeatability is poor, and measurement results from different snowdrifts or at different times cannot be compared; Lack of environmental correlation: Environmental parameters such as air temperature, humidity, and wind speed are not systematically recorded, making it impossible to analyze the impact of the environment on the melting rate and density changes of snowdrifts, and making it difficult to optimize snowmaking equipment parameters; Low volume measurement accuracy: It relies on manual estimation or simple ruler measurement, without combining fixed reference objects and 3D modeling technology, and cannot accurately quantify the volume changes of snowdrifts throughout their entire life cycle; Poor snow quality adaptability: Hard snow and fresh snow have significantly different physical properties, but current technology uses the same tool for measurement, resulting in significant errors in density data. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a standardized, multi-parameter, and environmentally relevant method for dynamic measurement of snowdrifts. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention aims to provide a method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by all-weather snowmaking equipment. This method can effectively monitor the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts, providing more comprehensive and accurate measurement data. By correlating snowdrift characteristics with environmental parameters, it can effectively analyze the impact of the environment on the snowdrift melting rate, providing a basis for equipment optimization.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by all-weather snowmaking equipment, the method specifically includes the following steps: S1. Test area layout, including: S1-1. Delineate the area: Test the snow slope at the outdoor ski resort, delineate the snow pile area according to a certain area, and mark the boundary with spray paint to ensure that there are no debris or other snow piles in the area; S1-2. Snowdrift identification: Use flags to mark snowdrift numbers and associate them with the corresponding snowmaking equipment; S1-3. Reference object arrangement: Place multiple fixed reference objects around each snowdrift, located in the four directions of east, south, west and north, at a certain distance from the edge of the snowdrift, and take photos of the reference objects in the snow-free state for later scale calibration; S1-4. Tool Calibration: Check the volume of the measuring cylinder and the accuracy of the ruler to ensure that the laser thermometer is free of deviation; S2. Snowdrift production: All-weather snowmaking equipment runs continuously for a certain period of time every day for several days to make the snowdrift reach a certain volume. Each piece of equipment corresponds to one snowdrift. S3. Measurement Initiation: Starting from snowdrift production, initiate full lifecycle monitoring until the snowdrift completely melts; specifically including: standardized parameter measurement, volume measurement, and photogrammetry. S4. Full life cycle: When the snow pile reaches a certain volume, record the equipment operation data; clean the area again to produce a new snow pile, repeat the above measurement process until the snow slope meets the standard for use.

[0006] Furthermore, the standardized parameter measurements in step S3 include daily fixed-time measurements, density measurements, temperature measurements, and environmental parameter recordings.

[0007] Furthermore, the daily fixed-time measurements are as follows: snowdrift parameters are measured three times daily at 8:00, 14:00, and 17:00 or 7:00, 1:00, and 6:00; environmental parameters are recorded at multiple time points daily, including 3:00, 4:00, 8:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 21:00, and 12:00.

[0008] Furthermore, the density measurement methods for hard snow and fresh snow respectively include: For hard snow: Use a small tube, with the sealed side facing out, and insert it into the snowdrift. Use a rubber mallet and a wooden board to gently tap the top of the tube until it is fully inserted into the snow layer. Use a small shovel to clear the snow around the tube, and use a metal shovel to level the top of the tube, ensuring that the snow is level with the opening of the tube. Weigh the small tube along with the snow using a precision scale, subtract the weight of the tube, and divide by the volume to get the density. For fresh snow: Use a large tube and follow the same procedure as above. Pour the snow into a plastic bag and weigh it using a hanging scale to calculate the density.

[0009] Furthermore, the temperature measurement includes surface temperature, internal temperature, and ambient temperature, specifically: Surface temperature: Measure the surface temperature at three points (top, middle, and bottom) of the snowdrift using a laser thermometer, and take the average value; Internal temperature: Dig a hole to a certain depth in the middle of the snowdrift with a small shovel, insert a laser thermometer to measure, then fill the hole with the original snow to measure, or use an infrared thermal imager to measure the snowdrift. Ambient temperature: Measure the surface temperature of the snow-free ground within a certain range around the snowdrift.

[0010] Furthermore, when recording the environmental parameters, air humidity is recorded using a hygrometer, and air temperature, wind force, wind direction, and precipitation are recorded through a weather station; cloud cover and whether snowdrifts are affected by dust are recorded according to standard classifications.

[0011] Furthermore, step S3, specifically the volume measurement and photogrammetry, includes: Photogrammetry: During daily measurements, take photos of the snowdrifts from five angles: east, south, west, north, and above, ensuring that the fixed reference points are fully visible. The photos should be in RAW format with a fixed focal length. Name the photos and save them in a shared folder. 3D modeling: The scanning device is slowly moved around the snowdrift to scan, including fixed reference objects; the modeling data is automatically saved to a shared folder; Volume calculation: Based on the dimensions of the reference object, the photo is processed using relevant software to generate a 3D model of the snowdrift and calculate its volume.

[0012] Furthermore, in step S1-1, the snowdrift area is defined as at least 5m × 10m for each snowdrift; In steps S1-3, four fixed reference objects are placed around each snowdrift in the four directions of east, south, west, and north. The fixed reference objects are 30cm×30cm wooden boards or metal boards. The measuring cylinders in steps S1-4 include a 500mL small cylinder and a 2000mL large cylinder.

[0013] Furthermore, in step S2, the snowmaking equipment operates continuously for 8 hours during the day for 2-3 days, so that the snow pile volume reaches 100m³.

[0014] Furthermore, in step S4, after the snow pile reaches 100m³, the equipment operation data is recorded, including working time, water consumption, and power consumption.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. The present invention uses a combination of density measuring tools adapted to snow quality: a “small steel tube (hard snow) + a large steel / aluminum tube (new snow)”, with sharp edges and known volume, adapted to the density measurement of different snow qualities.

[0016] 2. This invention implements a standardized multi-time period measurement process: snow pile parameters are measured at fixed times every day (8am, 2pm, 5pm), and environmental data is recorded simultaneously (multiple time periods from 4am to 12pm) to ensure the time comparability of the data.

[0017] 3. This invention provides a method for precise quantification of three-dimensional volume: by combining a fixed reference object (known dimensions), RAW format photography, and three-dimensional modeling, a non-contact, precise measurement of snowdrift volume can be achieved; 4. This invention establishes a full-parameter environmental correlation mechanism: the system records environmental parameters such as air temperature, humidity, wind force, and cloud cover, and establishes a dynamic correlation model between environmental conditions and snowdrift characteristics (density, temperature, and volume).

[0018] 5. This invention achieves full life-cycle monitoring coverage: monitoring of all stages from snowdrift production (100m³ target) to complete melting, including multiple rounds of snowdrift comparative analysis. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the test area layout for the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The principles and features of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The examples given are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, this invention proposes a method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by all-weather snowmaking equipment. The method specifically includes the following steps: S1. Test area layout, including: S1-1. Delineate the area: Test the snow slope at the outdoor ski resort, delineate the snow pile area at least 5m × 10m per pile, and mark the boundary with spray paint to ensure that there are no debris or other snow piles in the area; S1-2. Snowdrift identification: Use flags to mark snowdrift numbers (e.g., "Snowdrift 1 (Flake Ice)" "Snowdrift 2 (Slab Ice)") and associate them with the corresponding snowmaking equipment; S1-3. Reference object arrangement: Place 4 fixed reference objects (30cm×30cm wooden or metal plates) around each snowdrift, located in the east, south, west and north directions, 1m away from the edge of the snowdrift. Take photos of the reference objects in snow-free state (RAW format) for later scale calibration. S1-4. Tool Calibration: Check the volume of the measuring cylinder (e.g., 500mL for the small cylinder, 2000mL for the large cylinder) and the accuracy of the ruler to ensure that the laser thermometer is free of deviation; S2. Snowdrift production: The all-weather snowmaking equipment runs continuously for 8 hours during the day for 2-3 days to make the snowdrift volume reach 100m³, with each piece of equipment corresponding to 1 snowdrift; S3. Measurement Initiation: Start full lifecycle monitoring from the beginning of snowdrift production until the snowdrift completely melts; specifically including: standardized parameter measurement, volume measurement and photogrammetry.

[0022] The standardized parameter measurements include daily fixed-time measurements, density measurements, temperature measurements, and environmental parameter recordings.

[0023] Daily fixed-time measurements are as follows: snowdrift parameters are measured three times daily at 8:00, 14:00, and 17:00 or 7:00, 1:00, and 6:00; environmental parameters are recorded at multiple time points daily, including 3:00, 4:00, 8:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 21:00, and 12:00.

[0024] Density measurements for hard snow and fresh snow include the following methods: For hard snow: Insert a small tube into the snowdrift with the sealed side facing outwards. Gently tap the top of the tube with a rubber mallet and a wooden board until it is fully embedded in the snow. Clear the snow around the tube with a small shovel, and level the top of the tube with a metal shovel, ensuring the snow is level with the opening. Weigh the tube along with the snow using a precision scale, subtract the weight of the tube, and divide by the volume to obtain the density. For fresh snow: Use a large tube and follow the same procedure as above. Pour the snow into a plastic bag and weigh it using a hanging scale to calculate the density.

[0025] Temperature measurements include surface temperature, internal temperature, and ambient temperature, specifically: Surface temperature: Measure the surface temperature at three points (top, middle, and bottom) of the snowdrift using a laser thermometer, and take the average value; Internal temperature: Dig a 30cm deep hole in the middle of the snowdrift with a small shovel, insert a laser thermometer to measure, then fill the hole with the original snow to measure or use an infrared thermal imager to measure the snowdrift. Ambient temperature: Measure the surface temperature of the snow-free ground within 3m around the snowdrift.

[0026] When recording environmental parameters, use a hygrometer to record air humidity, and use a weather station-WS600 to record air temperature, wind speed (m / s), wind direction, and precipitation (mm). Record cloud cover (such as SKC (clear sky), FEW (partly cloudy), SCT (partly cloudy), etc.) and whether snowdrifts are affected by dust according to standard classification.

[0027] Specifically, volume measurement and photogrammetry include: Photogrammetry: During daily measurements, take photos of the snowdrift from five angles: east, south, west, north, and above, ensuring that the fixed reference point is fully visible. The photos should be in RAW format with a fixed focal length (no scaling). Name the photos something like "Photo_Snowdrift_1_20241110_0800" and save them to a shared folder. 3D modeling: Use a mobile phone (with PolyCam App or Agisoft Metashape software) to slowly move around the snowdrift and scan (the phone is ≤3m away from the snowdrift and fixed to the telescopic pole), including fixed reference objects; the modeling data is automatically saved to a shared folder; Volume calculation: Using the reference object size (30cm×30cm), the photo was processed with photogrammetric software to generate a 3D model of the snowdrift and calculate its volume.

[0028] S4. Full life cycle cycle: When the snow pile reaches 100m³, record the equipment operation data (working time, water consumption, power consumption); clean the area again to produce new snow piles, repeat the above measurement process until the snow slope meets the standard for use.

[0029] In specific implementation, the system components that this invention specifically needs to apply include: ① Hardware equipment: Snow quality measurement tools: two sizes of snow density measuring cylinders (#1 small cylinder for hard snow, #1 large cylinder for fresh snow, made of steel; the large cylinder can be made of aluminum, with known volume and sharp edges); precision scale (accuracy 0.1g), suspended scale (capacity 50kg); laser thermometer (non-contact, accuracy ±0.5℃). Environmental measurement tools: Hygrometer (humidity accuracy ±2%); Weather station - WS600 (records air temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation); Positioning and modeling tools: marker flags (to mark snowdrift numbers); fixed reference objects (30cm×30cm wooden boards, known dimensions); camera (supports RAW format), LiDAR, iPhone (with PolyCam App). Auxiliary tools: rubber mallet, wooden board (to protect the measuring cylinder), small shovel, metal shovel (for clearing snow); data recording sheet (Excel template, including fields such as date, time, and snowdrift number).

[0030] ② Software and data storage: Data recording: A pre-set Excel spreadsheet containing fields such as "snow pile number, measurement time, density, surface temperature, internal temperature, ambient temperature and humidity, wind force, and volume"; Modeling software: PolyCam App (to generate 3D models of snowdrifts), photogrammetric software (to process RAW format photos and calculate volume).

[0031] This invention constructs a standardized technical solution for the entire process of "preparation-measurement-recording-analysis". In terms of data comprehensiveness: existing technologies only measure 1-2 parameters, while this invention simultaneously measures density (separate snow quality), surface / internal temperature, volume and complete environmental parameters, increasing the data dimensionality by more than 5 times. This invention offers higher precision: volume measurement error is reduced from 20% to less than 5% (due to fixed reference object + 3D modeling), and density measurement error is reduced from 15% to 3% (due to a dedicated measuring cylinder). In terms of comparability, this invention features a fixed measurement time and process, allowing direct comparison of data from different snowdrifts and at different times, thus solving the "data isolation" problem in existing technologies. In terms of environmental correlation, this invention is the first to systematically correlate environmental parameters with snowdrift characteristics, which can directly analyze issues such as "the impact of a 10% increase in humidity on the snowdrift melting rate" and provide a basis for equipment optimization.

[0032] Obviously, the embodiments described above are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. The accompanying drawings show preferred embodiments of this application, but do not limit the patent scope of this application. This application can be implemented in many different forms; rather, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to provide a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of the disclosure of this application. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing specific embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any equivalent structures made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, directly or indirectly applied to other related technical fields, are similarly within the scope of patent protection of this application.

Claims

1. A method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by all-weather snowmaking equipment, characterized in that: The method specifically includes the following steps: S1. Test area layout, including: S1-1. Delineate the area: Test the snow slope at the outdoor ski resort, delineate the snow pile area according to a certain area, and mark the boundary with spray paint to ensure that there are no debris or other snow piles in the area; S1-2. Snowdrift identification: Use flags to mark snowdrift numbers and associate them with the corresponding snowmaking equipment; S1-3. Reference object arrangement: Place multiple fixed reference objects around each snowdrift, located in the four directions of east, south, west and north, at a certain distance from the edge of the snowdrift, and take photos of the reference objects in the snow-free state for later scale calibration; S1-4. Tool Calibration: Check the volume of the measuring cylinder and the accuracy of the ruler to ensure that the laser thermometer is free of deviation; S2. Snowdrift production: All-weather snowmaking equipment runs continuously for a certain period of time every day for several days to make the snowdrift reach a certain volume. Each piece of equipment corresponds to one snowdrift. S3. Measurement Initiation: Starting from snowdrift production, initiate full lifecycle monitoring until the snowdrift completely melts; specifically including: standardized parameter measurement, volume measurement, and photogrammetry. S4. Full life cycle: When the snow pile reaches a certain volume, record the equipment operation data; clean the area again to produce a new snow pile, repeat the above measurement process until the snow slope meets the standard for use.

2. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The standardized parameter measurements in step S3 include daily fixed-time measurements, density measurements, temperature measurements, and environmental parameter recordings.

3. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The daily fixed-time measurements are as follows: snowdrift parameters are measured three times daily at 8:00, 14:00, and 17:00 or 7:00, 1:00, and 6:00; environmental parameters are recorded at multiple time points daily, including 3:00, 4:00, 8:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, 21:00, and 12:

00.

4. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The density measurement methods for hard snow and fresh snow respectively include: For hard snow: Use a small tube, with the sealed side facing out, and insert it into the snowdrift. Use a rubber mallet and a wooden board to gently tap the top of the tube until it is fully inserted into the snow layer. Use a small shovel to clear the snow around the tube, and use a metal shovel to level the top of the tube, ensuring that the snow is level with the opening of the tube. Weigh the small tube along with the snow using a precision scale, subtract the weight of the tube, and divide by the volume to get the density. For fresh snow: Use a large tube and follow the same procedure as above. Pour the snow into a plastic bag and weigh it using a hanging scale to calculate the density.

5. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The temperature measurements include surface temperature, internal temperature, and ambient temperature, specifically: Surface temperature: Measure the surface temperature at three points (top, middle, and bottom) of the snowdrift using a laser thermometer, and take the average value; Internal temperature: Dig a hole to a certain depth in the middle of the snowdrift with a small shovel, insert a laser thermometer to measure, then fill the hole with the original snow to measure, or use an infrared thermal imager to measure the snowdrift. Ambient temperature: Measure the surface temperature of the snow-free ground within a certain range around the snowdrift.

6. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: When recording the environmental parameters, air humidity is recorded using a hygrometer, and air temperature, wind force, wind direction, and precipitation are recorded through a weather station; cloud cover and whether snowdrifts are affected by dust are recorded according to standard classification.

7. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step S3, volume measurement and photogrammetry, specifically includes: Photogrammetry: During daily measurements, take photos of the snowdrifts from five angles: east, south, west, north, and up, ensuring that the fixed reference points are fully visible. The photos should be in RAW format with a fixed focal length. Name the photos and save them in a shared folder. 3D modeling: The scanning device is slowly moved around the snowdrift to scan, including fixed reference objects; the modeling data is automatically saved to a shared folder; Volume calculation: Based on the dimensions of the reference object, the photo is processed using relevant software to generate a 3D model of the snowdrift and calculate its volume.

8. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S1-1, the snow pile area should be demarcated at least 5m × 10m for each pile; In steps S1-3, four fixed reference objects are placed around each snowdrift in the four directions of east, south, west, and north. The fixed reference objects are 30cm×30cm wooden boards or metal boards. The measuring cylinders in steps S1-4 include a 500mL small cylinder and a 2000mL large cylinder.

9. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S2, the snowmaking equipment runs continuously for 8 hours during the day for 2-3 days, so that the snow pile volume reaches 100m³.

10. The method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of snowdrifts produced by the all-weather snowmaking equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: After the snow pile reaches 100m³ in step S4, record the equipment operation data, including working time, water consumption, and power consumption.

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