Projects
Above the settlement at Bíldudalur, Bíldudalsfjall rises to a height of 460 metres above sea level.
Work on the preliminary inspection of the defenses below Búðargil began in the fall of 2004 in connection with mining for land filling for a calcareous marine algae factory in Bíldudalsvogur.
Above the northern part of the village lies Búðargil, both deep and steep. A large part of the settlement in Bíldudalur stands on the alluvial cone below the ravine. In the history of the settlement, floods of water, mud, and slush from the ravine have been frequent and several avalanches are also recorded. It is believed that the greatest risk of avalanches in Bíldudalur occurs when snow falls from the top of the mountain into the catchment areas.
Work on the preliminary inspection of the defenses below Búðargil began in the fall of 2004 in connection with mining for land filling for a calcareous marine algae factory in Bíldudalsvogur. Mining from the alluvial cone was arranged so that the material could be used as part of avalanche defenses in the area.
A proposal for avalanche defenses below Búðargil is based on the construction of a 300-meter-long levee to receive avalanches from the ravine and direct them northward through the settlement and into the sea. Material for the levee will be taken from the alluvial cone below the ravine and with the mining, a chute for avalanches will be formed along the levee. The upper part of the dam is the highest, about 20 meters above the bottom of the avalanche chute, and is designed to be steep on the avalanche side of that section. Materials generated by mining from the avalanche chute has also been used for land filling in Bíldudalsvogur. Thus, the chute will be dug deeper into the alluvial cone than would otherwise have been the case.
The bottom part of the cutting bank of the avalanche chute will also be raised in a short section, in order to limit the spread of avalanches to the north where the chute ends.
Avalanche Protection Levee
Maximum Levee Height
The community of Bíldudalur has long been exposed to avalanches, slush flows and debris flows originating from the steep Búðargil ravine above the village. Protecting homes and infrastructure required a solution capable of managing multiple natural hazards while making efficient use of the surrounding landscape.
Verkís developed the design for a 300-metre-long avalanche deflecting levee that redirects avalanches safely away from the settlement and towards the sea. The project was carefully integrated with local excavation works, allowing material from the alluvial fan to be reused for the defenses while simultaneously creating a deeper avalanche channel to improve flow control and reduce risk.
The avalanche defense system significantly improves the resilience of Bíldudalur by reducing the risk of avalanches and debris flows reaching the community. Through an integrated design approach that combines hazard mitigation with sustainable use of local materials, the project delivers long-term protection while minimizing environmental impact.
Technical information
Location:
Bíldudalur
Size:
300 metres long
Project period:
2004 – 2005
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