| Summary: | "The Arctic Maritime and Aviation transportation Infrastructure Initiative (AMAtII) serves as an initial platform for inventorying critical assets in the Arctic’s aviation and maritime environment. the Initiative facilitates ongoing and increased communication and collaboration throughout the Circumpolar north. It serves as a coordination point for future research and has the potential to facilitate technology transfer within the Arctic region. AMAtII builds on and responds to past efforts and projects of two working groups within the Arctic Council—the Protection of the Arctic Marine environment’s 2009 Arctic Marine shipping Assessment report and the sustainable development Working Group’s Circumpolar Infrastructure task force (CItf), which hosted the Arctic Aviation experts conferences in 2005 (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) and 2006 (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). More directly, it follows on the strategic plan set forth at the 2010 Arctic Aviation experts Conference (AAeC) in Fairbanks, Alaska. The need for expanded sea and air response capacity corresponds to several factors, including increased resource extraction to support economic and community development; increased shipping traffic through the northern sea route; increased activity in the Canadian Arctic, including the northwest Passage, to support marine operations like community resupply; and increased cruise ship traffic. transportation infrastructure is a critical component of sustainable development and strengthens the resiliency of Arctic communities. AMAtII assumes that response is most effective when addressed through a strategic, intermodal approach that includes marine and air assets. The project focuses on Arctic transportation infrastructure, which functions as both gateway to and anchor for response capability in support of search and rescue (sAr); resource extraction and development activities; pollution prevention and environmental safety; and community health and security. For the purposes of this initiative, very basic definitions were used. ...
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