Abstract

Race Course Homologation for the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS)
Track: Business GIS
Author(s): Chris Wood

The governing body of ski racing in the world, the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS), has established a system of homologating race courses before use in international competition. The homologation process ensures that safety standards are maintained by preventing race organizers from altering course alignments after the course design has been approved by FIS homologators. Although the process of homologation is based on maintaining consistent spatial alignments through time, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have not previously been utilized routinely in the homologation process. Race organizers at Whistler Mountain, BC, Canada retained Cascade Environmental Resource Group Ltd. (CERG) to assist in the homologation of the 2008 FIS World Cup Downhill Skiing events. CERG's role in the homologation process involved generating mapping of relevant spatial references as they relate to skier safety, including course width and length, slopes, vertical drop, safety zones and start and finish zones.

Chris Wood
Cascade Environmental Resource Group Ltd
4005 Carmel View Rd ####68
San Diego , California 92130
United States
Phone: 6198238289
E-mail: cwood@cerg.ca