Since 2010 the SeaBED-class Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) have advanced the 3D mapping of sea ice draft in both polar regions, revealing a new richness of thickness and morphology data previously hidden from traditional observation methods. The limiting factor for the complete 3D characterisation of sea ice has been the reduced area of surface measurements from TLS (100 x 100m) relative to the AUV survey (500 x 500m). Accordingly, we developed a low-cost fixed wing Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to conduct photogrammetric surveys for Digital Elevation Model construction of the sea ice surface at the same time as the AUV missions were completed below. Here we detail this UAS system and discuss how this methodology can be improved and potentially evolve to medium-range (10 km) 'Beyond Visual Line of Sight' transect-based missions with the next generation of longer range AUVs.

Item Type:	Refereed Conference Paper
Keywords:	AUV, drones, Antarctica
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Oceanography
Research Field:	Oceanography not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments
Objective Field:	Antarctic and Southern Ocean oceanic processes
UTAS Author:	Williams, G (Mr Guy Williams)
UTAS Author:	Turner, D (Dr Darren Turner)
ID Code:	150331
Year Published:	2018
Funding Support:	Australian Research Council (DP170103774)
Deposited By:	Directorate
Deposited On:	2022-06-08
Last Modified:	2022-09-09
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