Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

«Examinations of polar geospheres with the help of airspace means» Project realization  (DPGAZ-BLA07/08)

Outline
At the Project realization stage in frames of IPY 2007-2008 it is planned to begin Antarctica geospheres examinations by passive geopolaritonic probing method with the help of miniature unmanned air vehicles during realization of the Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions on "Academician Vernadsky" station. At the subsequent Project stages it is possible the expansion of methods, geography and time frameworks of field examinations of geospheres, but unmanned air vehicles will stay the basic aerial platforms for accommodation of the various equipment of remote probing and embodying of various kinds of aerial inspections. Measuring and estimation of geopolaritonic fields is the newest and unique method of geophysical investigations. This method and the relevant hardware and software complex, designed by “Geoindustry” Scientific and Technological Center” Ltd Company (Ukraine, Kharkiv), allow: - to mark and to contour compression and tensions areas; - to mark and to trace main board drops, burst disturbances; - to monitor stratigraphical boundaries of various rank; - to conduct stratigraphical binding of electromagnetic radiations; - to estimate depths of paleo-basins; - to mark and to contour spatially various geological objects: volcanoes, reef formations, wedge-forms; - to mark and to contour hydrocarbon traps; - to integrate data of investigations with other geophysical methods. Approbation of method during 10-th Ukrainian Antarctic expedition in 2005 year has proved its high efficiency and scientific worth of the received data. But use of this method under conditions of Antarctic expedition has revealed also an essential deficiency – the absence of a high-duty platform for arrangement of measuring part of geopolaritonic probing (GP) equipment, which would allow to conduct operatively examinations on mainland and in the shelf band. Application in Antarctica conditions of ground and water transport vehicles is connected with a lot of well-known limitations. Installation of measuring part of GP equipment on the board of unmanned air vehicle (UAV), designed for extra-airdrome application from the ground and from deck of small exploratory vessel allows considerably to increase measuring output and to expand examinations zone. Compactness and small weight of measuring part of new generation GP equipment allow installing it even on "Aist-M" ("Stork-M")-class mini-UAV designed by NII PFM KhAI research institute (Kharkiv, Ukraine). "Aist-M" mini-UAV equipped with an electrical power plant has 2 kg take-off weight, 1.5 m wingspan and 40-90 km/h flight speed ranges. Thus its flight endurance is more than 1.5 h and operational radius in autonomous mode is 25 km. Precise binding of measuring routes to geographical coordinate system is provided with the help of an airborne satellite navigational system receiver. Mini-UAV is launched by hand. Its landing is provided with the help of compact arresting device. "Aist-M" UAV modular payloads are interchangeable depending on character of solved problems. Except GP equipment 3 more versions payload modules are stipulated: high resolution daylight color video cameras, low light level B/W video cameras, digital camera for operative aerial photography. It allows to use the air vehicle for optical aerial surveillance in the various exploratory purposes in addition to problems of geophysical remote probing. In the future nomenclature of modules can be supplemented by equipment for polar atmosphere performances examination, radiation studying, air sampling and so forth. The complex on the basis of "Aist-M" mini-UAV including 3 air vehicles and complete set of ground equipment is stacked in 4 small containers with total weight of 20 kg for storage and transportation. Within 2007 year it is planned to finish the preliminary design of "Aist-M" mini-UAV complex together with the geopolaritonic probing equipment, including careful improvement of this complex with intensive flight tests of the operational sample in the conditions of Ukraine. Within 2008 year it is planned participation in the Investigation Program of 13-th Ukrainian Antarctic expedition with the subsequent operational development of UAV complex at the territory of Ukraine according to results of expedition.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Obtaining of information about deep-seated structure of mainland (at over 700 km depth), glaciers cracking degree, shelf structure and presence of long fallows of hydrocarbon, regional volcanic activity. Creation of conceptual models of glaciers geodynamic state, monitoring of deep earthquakes.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Data exchange in the field of earthquakes harbingers detection, monitoring of geodynamic situation and volcanic activity degree.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Golindez Island, Antarctic Peninsula.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 01/07 – 02/07      01/08 – 02/08      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Transport and technical resources of Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions will be used for project realization together with other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Yes. The project will leave as legacy the station of variational observations over harbingers of dangerous natural processes and phenomena on Ukrainian Antarctic station "Academician Vernadsky".

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
National agency
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes - The solution of session of Coordinating committee on preparation and realization in Ukraine of provisions within the framework of III International Polar Year from October, 10-th, 2006.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?


The project is included into the List of scientific projects of Ukraine for III International Polar Year.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be organized at the National Antarctic scientific center of Ukraine and managed by national Coordinating committee on preparation and realization of III International Polar Year.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The precise plan of measures of the project on interacting with national Coordinating committee on preparation and realization of III International Polar Year and with National Antarctic scientific center of Ukraine will be prepared in December 2006.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
It is planned to involve into project data management International Center of ICSU Data, Joint Committee of Antarctica Data Management, WCRP and other international structures.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
It is supposed, that project funding will be received, mainly, due to the State Budget of Ukraine.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The project main executor will be the Interbranch scientific research institute of aircraft flight modes physical simulation problems of National airspace university "KhAI" which has multiyear experience of application of unmanned air vehicles as aerial platforms for different scientific equipment. In addition to this, National airspace university "KhAI" has wide scientific and practical potential including the theories, methods and equipment for signal processing, theories of construction of new active, passive and combined systems of surfaces mapping and the subsurface mediums, methods and algorithms of measurement of electrophysical parameters and statistical characteristics of inhomogeneous of various mediums and another. At the next stages of project realization it will allow to expand considerably a range of researches of polar mediums and regions with the help of unmanned air vehicles.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Anatoliy Smolyakov
Interbranch scientific research institute of aircraft flight modes physical simulation problems of National airspace university "KhAI"
17, Chkalova str, Kharkiv
61070
Ukraine

Tel: +38 057 315 11 34
Mobile: +38 050 323 55 65
Fax: +38 057 315 11 34
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation