Submission to the inquiry into the availability and access to enabling communications infrastructure in Australia's external territories ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Submission to the inquiry into the availability and access to enabling communications infrastructure in Australia's external territories Australian Antarctic Division 25 March 2021
Australian Antarctic Division.................................................................................................. 1
Summary .................................................................................................................................3
Introduction ............................................................................................................................3
Current Availability and Access ............................................................................................ 4
Opportunities for Improving Infrastructure .......................................................................... 5
Undersea Fibre Cable to Antarctica ...................................................................................... 5
Improved satellite communications ....................................................................................... 5
A complementary approach .................................................................................................. 5
Opportunities for Antarctic Science ..................................................................................... 5
Increased Earth Observations Capability .............................................................................. 5
Improved Ice Monitoring Capability ....................................................................................... 6
Increased Deployment of Sensor networks ........................................................................... 6
Remote Operation of Equipment ........................................................................................... 6
Access to Online Data, High Performance Computing and Cloud Services at Stations ......... 6
Support for Dynamic Experimental Design............................................................................ 6
Opportunities for Antarctic Operations ................................................................................ 7
Improved Safety....................................................................................................................7
Increased Remote Support Capability ................................................................................... 7
Improved coordination between headquarters, stations, and RSV Nuyina ............................ 7
Decreased Environmental Impact ......................................................................................... 7
Increased Quality of Life on Station ...................................................................................... 7
Economic Opportunities ........................................................................................................ 8
Technology and Infrastructure Opportunities ...................................................................... 8
2Summary
• The Australian Antarctic Territory comprises approximately 5.9 million square kilometres or
42 per cent of the Antarctic continent. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands Territory is
located in the southern Indian Ocean, the associated Marine Reserve covers approximately
71,200 square kilometres.
• Australia has deep and enduring national interests in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
Improved communications to the Australian Antarctic Territory would support these interests
and significantly enhance Australia’s scientific and operational capability in the region.
• An investment in undersea fibre cable and satellite data capability has the potential to
address the constraints presently faced by the Australian Antarctic Program in using
communications technologies for science and operations. It also has the potential to
transform Australia’s Antarctic science program capabilities and ensure that these are
future-proofed.
• Strong communications capability is in alignment with the whole-of-Government Australian
Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan, and is a necessary precursor to secure the
future of Hobart and Tasmania as a modern and functional Antarctic Gateway, supporting
the needs of expeditioners, and the requirements of modern infrastructure and programs.
Introduction
The Australian Antarctic Division welcomes this opportunity to contribute to the Committee’s
inquiry into the availability and access to enabling communications infrastructure in Australia’s
external territories. The Australian Antarctic Division is responsible for the administration of the
Australian Antarctic Territory and Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and leads,
coordinates and delivers the Australian Antarctic Program.
The Australian Antarctic Territory is a sovereign part of Australia. It is administered as such, and
is subject to Australia’s legal regime. The Australian Antarctic Territory comprises approximately
5.9 million square kilometres or 42 per cent of the Antarctic continent. Australia acknowledges
that the Australian Antarctic Territory is not universally recognised, and supports the 1959
Antarctic Treaty and associated instruments (collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty
Ssystem) as the best way of accommodating differing views on Antarctic sovereignty and
protecting Australia’s national interests in the region. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Territory is a sovereign part of Australia and is managed in accordance with the Heard Island
and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan. The Marine Reserve covers an area
of approximately 71,200 square kilometres.
The Australian Antarctic Division maintains permanent scientific research stations at Casey,
Davis and Mawson in the Australian Antarctic Territory, and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island (part
of Tasmania). The Australian Antarctic Division is headquartered in Hobart, Tasmania. The
distance from Hobart to the four research stations is 3443, 4838, 5475 and 1542 kilometres
respectively. The research stations are supported by shipping and aviation capabilities –
primarily a multi-role icebreaking vessel, chartered commercial and Royal Australian Air Force
intercontinental aircraft to provide an airbridge to Wilkins Aerodrome ice runway (proximate to
Casey Station) and smaller fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The Heard Island and McDonald
3Island Territory is 4398 kilometres from Hobart. There are no permanent scientific research
facilities only emergency shelters. Scientific and logistic support activity in Antarctica and the
Southern Ocean is largely restricted to the Austral Summer Period between October and March.
In addition to activity at the permanent research stations, during the summer research season
remote field bases are also established to support coastal and inland activity. Dedicated marine
science voyages also occur during this period.
Access to, and delivery of, information is critical to the Australian Antarctic Program and
advancing Australia’s national interests in the region.
Enhancing Australia’s communications capability is also aligned with the Australian Antarctic
Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan, which identifies the need to “Develop and promote Tasmania
as the leading international Antarctic research hub and logistics Gateway for East Antarctica”
and highlights “progressing options to modernise infrastructure at Australia’s three research
stations”, and “improving access to East Antarctica, for our scientific research and operational
needs”.
Hobart is a globally-recognised Antarctic gateway of international diplomacy, operational
support and logistics, and science services. The city serves as headquarters for key international
Antarctic institutions such as the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
Resources (CCAMLR) and the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
(ACAP) Secretariat. Hobart provides a technical services hub for maintenance and supply of
specialised equipment, and logistics to several other national Antarctic programs.
Current Availability and Access
Communications between the Australian Antarctic Division’s headquarters in Hobart
Tasmania, and Australia’s research stations are currently achieved through satellite
infrastructure provided by SpeedCast via 7.3 metre diameter satellite antennas at each of
the four stations. The antennas use C-band, providing a bandwidth of 9mbs with an added
300ms delay on all data communications. WAN compression technology via Exinda allows
for slightly higher data rates while prioritising voice and medical communications over other
network services. Each station has a backup data link via an Inmarsat Broadband Global
Area Network (BGAN) with a very low bandwidth of up to 0.65Mbps and a delay of about
700ms.
The Australian Antarctic Division makes extensive use of the Iridium satellite constellation
with over 70 iridium handsets principally used for voice, but also for some data
communications. The Australian Antarctic Division is currently trialling Iridium Certus for
use during Antarctic traverses, and as a backup system to replace BGAN. The Australian
Antarctic Division also use satellite tracking technology using a Garmin mobile tracker, to
allow the tracking of personnel in the field.
4Opportunities for Improving Infrastructure
Undersea Fibre Cable to Antarctica
Installation of a submarine fibre cable to the Australian Antarctic Territory would provide a stable,
high-speed transfer connection to Australian Antarctic stations. The capacity of a fibre cable
would be in the order of tens to hundreds of terabits per second, with an individual connection
having speeds in the ten to hundred gigabit per second range. Currently, there are no submarine
fibre cable connections to the Antarctic continent, and such a connection would provide
unprecedented speed and reliability, and would establish Australia as a key leader and
international partner in the Antarctic.
There are risks associated with developing a fibre cable connection to the Antarctic continent
due to the potential for damage from icebergs. Approaches to shore would need to be carefully
considered, as well as mitigation options and impacts if the cable connection were to be
interrupted, especially if medical or safety systems evolve to rely on increased communications
capability. In situations where an approach to shore would be prevented by icebergs,
intracontinental wireless communication would need to be developed.
Improved satellite communications
Increased use of satellites is another option for improving communications to Antarctic stations.
This could take the form of a dedicated Antarctic dual satellite system in high orbit, or through
the use of constellations of small communications satellites. Satellite constellation technology
is rapidly evolving, and will require testing to ensure the suitability of the technology for Antarctic
operations, particularly in blizzard conditions. The expected speed from this technology would
also be in the order of tens to hundreds of megabits per second. This speed is considerably
less than that which would be offered by a submarine cable connection, and transfer costs have
typically been high relative to fibre connections, however this technology does have the
advantage of being available regardless of proximity to stations or wireless infrastructure.
A complementary approach
It is important to note that the use of one technology (satellite or fibre cable) does not preclude
the use of the other. Both will have potential advantages and disadvantages, and the two
technologies would complement one another. A fibre-optic connection would facilitate large
data transfers from the continent, whereas satellite data connections would not rely on station
infrastructure, and could potentially be used across the continent in most open locations. There
will be a need to consider the relative speed, risks to equipment and infrastructure, reliability of
the data connection, costs, data security, and environmental impact of adopting and installing
new communications infrastructure.
Opportunities for Antarctic Science
Increased Earth Observations Capability
Although there are existing satellite ground stations in Antarctica, the capability to receive
satellite data for land observations is limited. Increasing communications capacity at Australia’s
5Antarctic research stations, in conjunction with the installation of a satellite receiving ground
station would improve products and services derived from observations collected over Antarctica
and Australia as a result of increased data collection capability. This would reduce the time
between data collection and availability (assisting with emergency management applications,
such as flood and fire mapping), and would give Australia greater influence with respect to
scheduling satellites over Antarctica.
Improved Ice Monitoring Capability
The Australian Antarctic Division has scientific programs in place for monitoring glaciers and
sea ice. Potential data sources include satellite imagery, drone imagery, underwater vehicles,
drifting ice buoys, and fixed sensors as part of remote ice observatories. Real time data streams
of ice condition and form would contribute to a better understanding of weather and climate, in
turn leading to better modelling and forecasting.
Increased Deployment of Sensor networks
With increased communications capacity new opportunities would be created for increased
deployment of sensor networks. Image feeds from cameras or data from arrays of sensors,
linked as part of a dense network, could contribute to the development of real-time, high-
resolution maps of physical processes and biological communities.
Remote Operation of Equipment
Better data connectivity would also support more extensive use of remotely-operated
equipment. Aerial drones, surface vehicles (marine and terrestrial), and underwater vehicles,
as well as containerised lab equipment, could be operated from Australia, with data being
transmitted back in real-time. This would allow for more interactive and targeted investigation
of the Antarctic environment, with parallels to how rovers are being used to explore Mars.
Access to Online Data, High Performance Computing and
Cloud Services at Stations
While there is value to being able to retrieve information from the Antarctic for use within
Australia, there are also great opportunities that would arise from having fast access to global
data resources from within Antarctica. Scientists and technicians on station would benefit from
access to global, up-to-date data collections, in addition to high-performance computing
capability and cloud services. The amount of IT equipment required to support stations could
be reduced, meaning less power consumption, less obsolete equipment needing to be returned
to Australia, and access to the most current hardware and services.
Support for Dynamic Experimental Design
Real-time access to large data collections and high-performance computing would also support
dynamic planning – leveraging high-performance computing capability to use large collections
of near real-time data to combine forecasting with survey design to maximise the efficiency of
field operations. This would help increase data collections, reduce fuel and power usage, and
allow staff to make the most of sampling opportunities in variable conditions.
6Opportunities for Antarctic Operations
Improved Safety
The ability to track personnel and equipment in real-time would have a significant impact on
safety. Not only could movements be visualised as part of a dashboard environment, but
monitoring and warning systems could be developed to advise expeditioners and vehicle
operators in real-time of potential environmental hazards and changing ground conditions.
Relevant examples include sea ice monitoring and forecasting, or alerting expeditioners of
fissures or steep changes in elevation in real-time.
Increased Remote Support Capability
Increased bandwidth would open up new possibilities for remote support, including leveraging
augmented reality technologies (e.g. Google Glass), providing increased training options for
staff, and supporting increased telemedicine capabilities. This would also present opportunities
to call in experts at short notice who would be able to provide expert advice when required. A
stable and reliable connection could also potentially assist with ship-to-shore crane operations,
allowing for work related to discharging and loading cargo from a vessel to be managed from a
centralised remote location, potentially reducing the time at dockside.
Improved coordination between headquarters, stations, and
RSV Nuyina
Improved communications capability will support greater responsiveness when conducting
operations, allowing for better communication of conditions (e.g. camera feeds, virtual reality),
full access to up-to-date policies and procedures, and the ability to share environmental
conditions and context to support effective decision-making. With RSV Nuyina as a mobile
scientific platform, it will be important to have communications capability that supports mobile
operations, but with sufficient bandwidth to meet a broad range of information needs.
Decreased Environmental Impact
Increased automation of tasks and improved remote support capabilities will reduce the
pressure to have personnel on station. While there will always be a need for expeditioners in
Antarctica, the number of personnel could be stabilised, meaning less fuel requirements, less
cargo and shipping, and less waste on station and returned to Australia. Ongoing monitoring of
assets would translate into more effective scheduling and resource use as well. Improved
communications would also result in a decreased need for server equipment on station, reducing
power consumption and the need to return hardware components to Australia.
Increased Quality of Life on Station
Although isolation is an expected part of the Antarctic experience, many expeditioners would
welcome the opportunity to videoconference with friends and family, and to stay connected with
news and events taking place back home and around the world. Similarly, expeditioners would
be able to more broadly communicate their jobs and daily life, leading to a broader public
understanding of Australia’s role in the Antarctic. Better communications would also allow for
better access to an expanded range of support services on a round-the-clock basis.
7Economic Opportunities
There will be a need to develop and deploy new remote field technologies capable of leveraging
new communications capabilities to the Australian Antarctic Territory. This will require
engineering capability, with research into materials and design capable of withstanding Antarctic
weather conditions, and robust design and construction to ensure that the equipment will
continue operating for extended periods without requiring service.
Improved data capabilities would also provide an opportunity for developing an Antarctic ‘space
park’ (co-location of multiple satellite ground stations). This investment would present an
opportunity to attract researchers and nations to engage with Australia and its unique
capabilities, and would provide an opportunity for partner nations to co-invest in Australia’s
stations.
The installation of large-scale communications infrastructure would also create job
opportunities, for example, the construction and installation of data centres, serving as the
foundation of a local hub of technology and technological expertise; Hobart would become the
world’s gateway to the Antarctic both physically and digitally. This would also have the potential
to link into the Hobart City Deal, and the plan to develop an Antarctic precinct, co-locating the
activities of the University of Tasmania, CSIRO, and the Australian Antarctic Division.
Technology and Infrastructure Opportunities
Modernisation of Australia’s Antarctic communications infrastructure and systems is critical to
the efficient and effective delivery of the Australian Antarctic Program and to Australia’s
presence in Antarctica. It would deliver fast and large scale data transfer, helping bolster
Australia’s position as a leading Antarctic nation and advance its national interests in the region.
Specific areas to improve Antarctic communications include:
1. Undersea fibre cable to Antarctica:
a. Undertaking an engineering study to determine the feasibility of connecting one
or more of our Antarctic stations via submarine fibre cable.
b. The construction of an Antarctic satellite ground station to position Australia as a
leader in Antarctic geospatial capability, and a partner of choice when
undertaking data-intensive science.
2. Improved satellite communications:
a. Investigating the use of a dual satellite system for the stations to provide
redundancy and the opportunity to use the new low earth orbit satellite
constellations for even greater bandwidth.
Investigating the potential for burst data transfer via satellite constellations for
data transfer.
3. Upgrading existing communications infrastructure
8a. Increasing bandwidth at Antarctic stations.
b. Refurbishing the existing 7.3 diameter antennas at the stations.
c. Investing in improved personal trackers in concert with improved
communications capability to improve safety of expeditioners.
9You can also read
