Making sense of Arctic maritime traffic using the Polar Operational Limits Assessment Risk Indexing System (POLARIS)

• Published in: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
• Main Authors: Stoddard, M, Etienne, Laurent, Fournier, Melanie, Pelot, R, Beveridge, L
• Other Authors: Dalhousie University Halifax, Bases de données et traitement des langues naturelles (BDTLN), Laboratoire d'Informatique Fondamentale et Appliquée de Tours (LIFAT), Université de Tours (UT)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées - Centre Val de Loire (INSA CVL), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Tours (UT)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées - Centre Val de Loire (INSA CVL), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2015
• Subjects: [INFO.INFO-MO]Computer Science [cs]/Modeling and Simulation; Arctic; Canada; Climate change
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-01512696; https://hal.science/hal-01512696/document; https://hal.science/hal-01512696/file/ci9.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/34/1/012034

International audience Maritime traffic volume in the Arctic is growing for several reasons: climate change is resulting in less ice in extent, duration, and thickness; economic drivers are inducing growth in resource extraction traffic, community size (affecting resupply) and adventure tourism. This dynamic situation, coupled with harsh weather, variable operating conditions, remoteness, and lack of straightforward emergency response options, demand robust risk management processes. The requirements for risk management for polar ship operations are specified in the new International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code). The goal of the Polar Code is to provide for safe ship operations and protection of the polar environment by addressing the risk present in polar waters. Risk management is supported by evidence-based models, including threat identification (types and frequency of hazards), exposure levels, and receptor characterization. Most of the information used to perform risk management in polar waters is attained in-situ, but increasingly is being augmented with open-access remote sensing information. In this paper we focus on the use of open-access historical ice charts as an integral part of northern navigation, especially for route planning and evaluation.