Jordan Silberman, a geographer at the University of Delaware in Newark, and colleague Peter Rees have created GIS software that helps resort developers pick optimal geographic locations for ski resorts. Highlighted in the January 2010 edition of Applied Geography, the software
“then homes in on the preferred general region and seeks out those locations with the combinations of available land and humidity levels most likely to produce powder snow. Among many other factors, it also analyses accessibility by road, slope steepness – to work out the risk of avalanches – and the likely erosion from tree felling. A key factor is the ready availability of electricity to power the ski lifts.”
In the last couple of years, developers have made quick decisions in a recessionary environment that resulted in ski resorts being built in areas that weren’t suitable. Hopefully the use of GIS innovations such as this one will help real estate developers make better decisions.
(Image credit:Â larskflem)
