Location types and symbology

This page offers a detailed description of the supported location types, their geometries and the symbols used to display them on the location catalog map.

Location type	Description	Supported geometries	Symbology
Operation area	Represents main location of operation. Every operation need to have an operation location that acts as the parent for all other locations.	Polygon Point	Polygon: Yellow outline with 10% white fill Point: Yellow paddle with square
Forecast area	Larger area that represents a unit for avalanche forecasting purposes. Typical spatial scales range from individuals bowls to large sections of western Canada. Typically used by ski areas, highway and railway forecasters, and public avalanche forecasting agencies.	Polygon	Polygon: Blue outline with 10% white fill
Operating zone	Larger area that represents a unit for avalanche forecasting purposes. Typically used in mechanized and non-mechanized backcountry operations and commonly represent drainages or groups of drainages.	Polygon	Polygon: Red outline with 10% white fill
Permanent closure	Permanently closed area of any spatial scales. Typically used in ski areas.	Polygon	Polygon: Black outline with 25% black fill
Road	A complete or continuous section of a road. Can be used for both permanent roads (e.g., highways, access roads) and seasonal roads (e.g., cat roads in a catski operation).	Line	Line: Wide white line
Rail	A complete or continuous section of a railway line.	Line	Line: Wide black line
Route	A complete or continuous section of route, typically an uphill ski or climbing route. Primarily used by non-mechanized backcountry operations.	Line	Line: Light green line
Ski run	Approximate location of a ski run.	Polygon Line Point	Polygon: Orange outline with transparent orange fill Line: Orange line Point: Red paddle with star
Avalanche path	Location of an avalanche path.	Polygon Line Point	Polygon: Fuchsia outline with transparent fuchsia fill Line: Fuchsia line Point: Fuchsia paddle with star
Weather site	Location of a permanent weather or snow profile observation site.	Point	Point: Black and white square
Shot placement	Location on an avalanche path regularly used for avalanche control with explosives.	Point	Point: Purple diamond (shown within avalanche path polygon)