The Need: Protecting Workers in a High-Risk Avalanche Corridor
The renewable energy company Voltalia partnered with ae&t to implement a dedicated emergency alert and evacuation system for the construction of a maintenance road on the Chamonix glacier.
The project involves a hydroelectric plant located at the Taconnaz torrent, 1,460 meters above sea level. This high-mountain site is situated within a known avalanche corridor, directly beneath three glaciers—one of which presents a critical risk of serac collapse (glacier tongue failure).
With an estimated evacuation window of only one minute to reach the assembly point, the site required an ultra-reliable alert system capable of cutting through intense ambient noise, including the roar of the torrent and heavy construction machinery.
The Solution: High-Power SmartVOX® for Extreme Environments
Strategic Deployment & Long-Range Activation
A dedicated observation post (watchtower) was constructed midway up the mountain, providing a strategic vantage point for glacier monitoring. From this position, the SmartVOX® high-power voice sounder (126 dB at 1m) can be instantly triggered using a long-range LoRa wireless remote control.
Reliability Beyond GSM Coverage
In high-altitude zones where GSM/mobile network coverage is unreliable, LoRa radio technology was selected as the safest communication method to warn and evacuate workers.
Engineered for the most demanding conditions, the SmartVOX® is IP66-rated and built to withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -25°C to +55°C, ensuring operational readiness throughout the Alpine winter.
The Result: Proven Efficiency in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Following successful on-site trials, Voltalia validated the SmartVOX® voice alert solution for its construction site in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
The system provides a critical safety layer, ensuring that every worker can be alerted and evacuated within the vital one-minute timeframe, even in the harshest mountain environments.
