Piste Perfect: How Les Orres mastered snow management with Leica iCON Alpine

The challenge: too Much snow here, not enough there

Snow management at an alpine resort isn't just about having enough of the snow, it's about having the right amount, in the right place, at the right time. Weather changes overnight. Snow moves. Guests notice.

"The main challenge is managing snow according to weather conditions. We need to produce the right quantity and distribute it correctly across the slopes."
 — Tommy Jung, Technical Manager, Slope Services at Les Orres, Les Orres

Before intelligent systems like Leica iCON alpine, groomer operators relied on experience, gut feeling, and the occasional educated guess. A valuable skill, but not one that scales to 100 km of piste, 7 machines running different shifts, and a season that can't afford a single closed run.

The solution: bringing 3D construction tech to the mountain

Leica Geosystems has spent decades perfecting 3D machine control technology for heavy construction from earthmoving to road building. The Leica iCON alpine system brings this precision to the world of ski resort operations. It's the same engineering DNA, now dressed in ski boots.

Here's how it works at Les Orres:Every summer, LiDAR surveys are conducted to create an accurate 3D model of the natural terrain

• This terrain model is loaded directly into each groomer's on-board computer
• During grooming operations, the system measures real-time snow depth across the entire run
• Operators can see exactly where snow is thin, where it's excessive, and where it needs to go, all on a screen in the cab
• The Leica AlpinePRO office software centralises all data, enabling planning and analysis from the resort office
• GNSS positioning and annual drone surveys keep the terrain models current and accurate

"Leica Geosystems technology lets us visualise the snow layer in 3D. We can analyse it, redistribute snow, and anticipate deficit zones before they become a problem."
 — Tommy Jung, Technical Manager, Slope Services at Les Orres

Data that drives decisions at every single night

Grooming a ski resort isn't a 9-to-5 job. Decisions get made at 2 AM with a groomer on a 40-degree slope and visibility of 10 metres. The Leica iCON alpine system puts reliable, real-time intelligence right where operators need it: in the cab.

The Leica AlpinePRO software centralises all data from across the fleet, offering resort managers a bird's-eye view of snow conditions, machine locations, and task progress, whether they're in the office or checking their phone at breakfast.

This isn't just about convenience. When every groomer pass is optimised, fuel savings accumulate quickly. Unnecessary runs get eliminated. Operators spend less time searching for problem areas and more time fixing them. That's operational efficiency at its finest, and it shows up on the bottom line.

Sustainability: because snow is a finite resource

With changing climate patterns putting pressure on snowfall in the Alps, efficiency is no longer just a nice-to-have, it's an operational imperative. Les Orres has embraced this reality, achieving approximately 20% optimisation of their snow resources across the resort thanks to Leica Geosystems technology. 

Knowing exactly where technical snow is needed, and where it isn't, means the resort avoids overproduction, reduces energy consumption, and extends the lifespan of natural and machine-made snow alike. Every cubic metre counts.

All data. All season. All under control.

The Leica iCON alpine ecosystem at Les Orres isn't a single tool, it's a connected platform. LiDAR surveys feed terrain models. GNSS positioning keeps machines on track. Drone surveys refresh the data annually. AlpinePRO ties it all together for the management team.

This data continuity means that at any point in the season, resort managers can answer questions that used to require fieldwork and guesswork:

• Where are the thinnest patches on which runs?
• How much snow volume do we have in reserve on each slope?
• Which groomers have covered which sections tonight?
• Where should we prioritise technical snow production tomorrow?

All of this. Available in real time. From the office or the chairlift queue.

The bottom line: precision pays

For resort operators investing in their future, the Les Orres story offers a clear message:

Smart technology doesn't replace your groomer operators. It makes them superheroes.

By combining real-time snow depth data, 3D terrain visualisation, fleet-wide analytics, and sustainable resource planning, Les Orres has proven that a technology investment in Leica iCON alpine is an investment in:

• Better slopes and happier, returning guests
• Lower fuel and snow production costs
• More efficient grooming operations with fewer surprises
• Sustainable use of one of the Alps' most precious resources: snow

Ready to transform your resort's snow management?

Discover the full Leica iCON alpine solution: leica-geosystems.com/products/machine-control-systems/leica-icon-alpine