Date of Award

Spring 5-28-2025

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Committee Advisor

Andrew Goupee

Second Committee Member

Seth Campbell

Third Committee Member

Keith Berube

Abstract

The varying density and water content in the layers of snow and ice in temperate snowpack make the terrain stability and the melt-water equivalence difficult to predict. Buried obstacles and vegetation further increase this uncertainty. Understanding the amount of water available from snowmelt is crucial for effective water resource management and for assessing potential flood and avalanche risks. Additionally, the complexity of snowpack and its spatial and temporal variability poses challenges for military logistics.

The purpose of this project is to link various ground and drone-acquired measurements to reduce uncertainty, with the ultimate goal of developing airborne systems. The role of the upward-looking radar traverse (ULRT) is to provide upward-looking radar profiles for comparison with other methods of data collection. The ULRT will transport radar equipment back and forth across a length of 10 meters to collect continuous profiles of the snowpack as the expected 5-7 meters of snow accumulates on its enclosure throughout the season. This thesis will discuss in-depth each system required for the ULRT's operation. The following will also be covered: the development and testing of the first ULRT, its construction in the summer of 2024, lessons learned, recommendations for future use, in-field commissioning, the significance of this data collection method, and future work.

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