This paper gives a summary of the possibilities for snow avalanche prevention systems. In particular the development of the wire rope net systems for the prevention of snow avalanches is shown. The design and construction of the wire rope net systems is explained and the main advantages are listed. Wire rope net systems are systems that prevent snow avalanches from starting and are therefore places in the starting zones of the avalanches. Their field of application is the same as for the well known rigid support structures and their dimensioning has to meet the same rules and conditions. In Switzerland the wire rope net systems have to comply with the guidlines of the Swiss Federal Institut for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos. The first installations were erected in 1955. A complete redesign has been performed after the introduction of the new guidlines of the Davos Institut in 1968. The BRUGG wire rope net systems for the prevention of snow avalanches passed the approval tests of the Davos Institut in 1978. Since then the wire rope net systems are considered to be equal in their performance against snow avalanches with rigid support systems. The main advantages of wire rope net systems are their strong capability of also working as rockfall protection due to the flexibility of the system, a much less visual impact to the environment, lightweight parts, easy installation and easy adaptation to the ground conditions. The over all cost for rigid support systems and wire rope net systems depend on the number of project parameters but they are comparable. Wire rope net systems are designed for the range of snow height Dk = 2.0 up to Dk = 3.8m, Glinding factor N = 3.2, Snow factor of Fc = 1.1 and Slope angle up to 55 Grad.
