New technologies in the polar regions

Modern technologies are now available almost anywhere in the world, including the Arctic and Antarctic. It is known that polar drones are actively involved in research purposes. Scientists will need time to perfect drones to completely replace doctors, postmen and other services. And in the near future, broadband satellite Internet will reach the whole world.

Drones will solve many problems

Russian unmanned aerial vehicles have been used in the Arctic since the noughties. It was at this time that the Aileron and then Orlan-10 UAVs were used to monitor the ice situation and ensure the safety of the personnel of the Russian scientific research drifting stations North Pole.

The drones made it possible to measure the four components of the radiation balance and obtain comprehensive information about both the ice conditions and the earth’s surface.

Since researchers are particularly interested in such objects as hummock ridges, solder cracks, solder boundary, glaciers, stamukhs, icebergs and their fragments, drone application techniques are being improved. Thanks to drones, scientists create routes to the objects of interest.

Scientists from various institutes are developing systems for environmental and structural analysis of aerial photographs. The goal is to create a system capable of determining the types and condition of the underlying surface, including ice, soil conditions and anthropogenic disturbances, and tundra biocenoses.

Small drones are planned to be used in many fields of activity, and not only for climate monitoring. For example, a drone can take a blood test from residents of a remote settlement in the polar region and deliver it to a medical center. This is much cheaper than traditional helicopter flights for medical personnel.

Drones will be able to search for missing people if weather conditions do not allow a helicopter to be sent to the place of the alleged emergency. Drones can replace payload delivery services: essential medicines, mail, etc.

The drone can replace expensive aircraft and icebreakers for guiding ships in the Arctic. The drone monitors the ice situation in the vicinity of the vessel and helps in setting a route. The widest polynyas fixed by the drone are used for wiring.

Communication helps polar explorers

New technologies in the polar regions

In January 2016, Sigfox, a French company developing a low-power Internet of Things (LPWAN) network, announced the deployment of infrastructure in Antarctica. The operator’s network was initially intended for a Belgian research group studying climate change processes.

Researchers based at the Princess Elizabeth Antarctic Research Station (the world’s first zero-emission research station) have received 45 GPS-enabled trackers with long battery life.

The devices operate on the Sigfox network. They help in determining the coordinates of the location by sending them to special antennas. Sigfox’s goal is to help scientists stay in touch with colleagues in low temperatures and strong winds.

For several years now, the urgent need for broadband Internet in the circumpolar Arctic regions has been discussed, as well as a strategy for realizing the many opportunities that new technologies will bring. So the new satellite technology is able to complement the broadband underwater cable line.

Satellite technology will be able to support all existing products and services offered today, and will be able to offer new products and services at higher speeds. This will provide more opportunities to provide support to subscribers who work at high speeds.

For the Arctic, this means at least two things. Firstly, services will be provided here first, as the system will start covering the poles. Secondly, the capacity in this region, due to the low population density, will be high enough to cover all homes and businesses.

He noted that, first of all, it is necessary to connect all schools in the world, including schools in the Arctic, including for the Russian segment of it. In addition, it is necessary to provide communication services to naval vessels, research stations, including drifting ones, and cell towers in remote parts of the world.

By Vitaly Moseev

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