Mapping Ice Trails By UAV

Scientists in Alaska are exploring using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle photography to map sea ice terrain, helping Barrow locals plot efficient courses for ice trails.

Mapping sea ice trails using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle photography

Scientists in Alaska are expanding research opportunities using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), flying technological tools. Explore the role of UAVs in mapping sea ice terrain in the Chukchi Sea offshore from Barrow, the northernmost town in the U.S.A.

Chopping ice to clear trails for Native subsistence whaling is a living tradition. The sea ice offshore from Barrow, Alaska, is difficult terrain and the view from a UAV could provide a useful planning tool. Hear about early successes in mapping sea ice terrain. The technique uses overlapping images obtained by a hexcopter UAV called a Ptarmigan using autopilot software to craft a printable map, and aims to provide a product that could benefit locals in Barrow.

Video features personnel from the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) and the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Speakers are Dyre Oliver Dammann, graduate student, University Alaska Fairbanks, and Eyal Saiet, ACUASI, University Alaska Fairbanks.

Mapping sea ice trails using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle photography

Mapping Ice Trails By UAV video | FrontierScientists

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