First All-Canadian Antarctic Expedition Draws Underwater Maps with High-Accuracy Using Canadian-Made GNSS Technology

In one of the most remote, harsh, and unmapped environments on Earth, the expedition brought together Canadian scientists, technicians, and institutions from all over the country, showcasing a variety of expertise on the global stage.

The month-long journey around the South Shetland Islands and the northern Antarctic Peninsula yielded surveys of coastal and oceanic sites. The crew relied on a small, unmanned surface vessel (USV) carrying various equipment for bathymetric surveys including an onboard computer, IMU sensor, and multibeam sonar.

In order to find the USV’s precise position in an environment with no land-based RTK infrastructure, the team relied on the Arrow Gold+ GNSS receiver, designed and manufactured by Canadian-based Eos Positioning Systems. The Arrow Gold+ made use of Galileo High Accuracy Service (GalHAS), a free satellite-based PPP correction available worldwide from the European Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).