Device, aircraft, system and method for monitoring a snowpack

Abstract

Disclosed is a device (100) for monitoring a snowpack (900) formed by at least one snow layer. The device (100), installable on an aircraft (200) for flying above the snowpack (900), comprises: a data processing means comprising a processing unit and a memory; an electromagnetic transceiver (110) configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal and receive at least one reflection of the transmitted electromagnetic signal on the at least one snow layer; and a rangefinder (120) configured to measure a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver (110) and a top surface (910) of the snowpack (900). Also disclosed is an aircraft (200) comprising the device (100). Furthermore, disclosed is a system for and a method of monitoring a snowpack (900) formed by at least one snow layer.

Description

[0001] DEVICE, AIRCRAFT, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A SNOWPACK

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for monitoring a snowpack formed by at least one snow layer. The present invention also relates to an aircraft comprising the device. Also, the present invention relates to a system for monitoring a snowpack formed by at least one snow layer. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of monitoring a snowpack formed by at least one snow layer.

[0003] Background

[0004] It can be useful to measure physical parameters related to snow accumulation and ablation. Parameters such as snow thickness, density or others can be useful for estimates such as for snow water equivalence (SWE), Liquid Water Content (LWC), avalanche risk, and water discharge. These types of estimates are useful in activities such as hydrology, management of public outdoors and electricity production.

[0005] Measuring physical parameters of a snowpack (formed from an accumulation of snow layers) can be achieved by providing an aircraft, such as a drone, with a transceiver for emitting and receiving electro-magnetic (EM) signals. The aircraft can be operated to fly over the snowpack while the transceiver is used for transmitting EM signals downwards and recording wavefields of the transmitted signals reflected off of the snowpack, such as on a top surface of the snowpack, on interfaces between the layers of the snowpack, and on other constituents of the snowpack. Thus, it is possible to measure the physical state of the snowpack and thereby obtain useful data about the current status of the snowpack.

[0006] This approach has, however, a few drawbacks in practice. Firstly, due to the remoteness of snowpack locations and typical size of a snowpack, there are often severe practical constraints to provide additional ground infrastructure in support of the aircraft. Secondly, it can be challenging to establish a precise relation between an EM recording and a geographical position of the aircraft at the moment that the recording is performed.

[0007] A known approach for dealing with this difficulty includes recording the geographical coordinates of the aircraft at the moment of recording the wavefields. The geographical coordinates can be obtained using a satellite-based radio navigation system, such as GPS, Beidou and Galileo. However, in practice it is found that the geographical coordinates will often include errors. Moreover, when using them in the context of processing a virtual model of the snowpack, erroneous geographical coordinates can significantly reduce the quality of the processed virtual model.

[0008] Summary

[0009] The invention will now be disclosed and has for its object to remedy or to reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the known prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative to the known prior art. The object is achieved through features, which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow. The invention is defined by the independent patent claims, and the dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for monitoring a snowpack formed by at least one snow layer, the device being installable on an aircraft for flying above the snowpack. The device comprises:

[0011] - a data processing means comprising a processing unit and a memory;

[0012] - an electromagnetic transceiver configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal to the snowpack and receive at least one reflection of the transmitted electromagnetic signal on the at least one snow layer; and

[0013] - a rangefinder configured to measure a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver and a top surface of the snowpack.

[0014] It has been realized that a distance measured by the rangefinder can be used directly when processing a wavefield calculated based on the electromagnetic transceiver. In

[0015] P30882PC00 particular, the device goes beyond merely providing a rangefinder aboard the aircraft. Instead, the measurement of the distance between the electromagnetic transceiver and a top surface of the snowpack makes it possible to calculate with precision where the top surface is in a wavefield calculated based on data from the electromagnetic transceiver. Thus, a synergistic effect is achieved by combining the electromagnetic transceiver, the rangefinder, and the configuration of the range finder so that it measures a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver and the top surface of the snowpack.

[0016] The device allows achieving a higher precision when monitoring a snowpack, such as by allowing to detect, with precision, where the top surface of snowpack is in a wavefield calculated based on the electromagnetic transceiver. Also, it is advantageous to use the device due to its minimization of the number data processing tasks that need to be performed after obtaining measurements in situ. For example, some of the unnecessary data processing tasks that can be avoided are: consulting topographical data; and consulting prior data related to where the top of the snowpack was expected to be. Moreover, it becomes possible to avoid requiring that absolute elevation data (relative to the Earth) is obtained from the aircraft or the device while in situ.

[0017] Optionally, the rangefinder is any of: a laser rangefinder; an ultrasonic rangefinder; or an infrared rangefinder.

[0018] Optionally, the device comprises a wireless communication interface for communicating with a remote computational system configured to update a virtual model of the snowpack.

[0019] Optionally, the device comprises a receiver for a satellite navigation system, the receiver being configured to obtain a geographical position comprising a longitude and a latitude.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an aircraft comprising a device installed thereon, the device being as described in the first aspect of the invention.

[0021] Optionally, the aircraft is an unmanned aerial vehicle, such as a multicopter drone.

[0022] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for monitoring a

[0023] P30882PC00 snowpack formed by at least one snow layer, the system comprising:

[0024] - an aircraft as described in the second aspect of the invention; and

[0025] - a remote computational system configured to receive at least one record from the aircraft and update a virtual model of the snowpack.

[0026] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of monitoring a snowpack formed by at least one snow layer. The method comprises the steps of:

[0027] - providing an aircraft comprising a data processing means comprising a processing unit and a memory, an electromagnetic transceiver configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal to the snowpack and receive at least one reflection of the transmitted electromagnetic signal on the at least one snow layer, and a rangefinder configured to measure a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver and a top surface of the snowpack;

[0028] - operating the aircraft to fly above the snowpack;

[0029] - transmitting, via the electromagnetic transceiver, the electromagnetic signal to the snowpack;

[0030] - receiving, via the electromagnetic transceiver, the at least one reflection;

[0031] - measuring, via the rangefinder, the distance between the electromagnetic transceiver and the top surface of the snowpack; and

[0032] - storing, in the memory of the data processing means, a record comprising data representing the received at least one reflection and data representing the measured distance.

[0033] Thus, the step of storing the record implements a data relation between the received at least one reflection and the measured distance, which provides an inherent advantage for interpreting a calculated wavefield and interpreting where the top surface of the snowpack is observable in the calculated wavefield.

[0034] Optionally, the step of storing a record comprises the step of:

[0035] - generating the data representing the received at least one reflection by generating a wavefield based on the received at least one reflection.

[0036] P30882PC00 Thus, the wavefield can be calculated by the device and thereby reduce the computational tasks that need to be done in the future.

[0037] Optionally, in the step of providing an aircraft, the aircraft comprises a wireless communication interface for communicating with a remote computational system configured to update a virtual model of the snowpack, and wherein the method comprises the step of:

[0038] - transmitting, via the wireless communication interface, at least one stored record to the remote computational system.

[0039] Optionally, the method comprises carrying out the storing step a plurality of times prior to the transmitting step. Thus, the device reduces the number of transmissions to the remote computational system and increases the data sent in each transmission. In many situations, this configuration can provide an efficient use of the wireless communication interface, thereby allowing saving power from the device, or from the aircraft if the device is configured to obtain power from the aircraft.

[0040] Optionally, in the step of providing an aircraft, the aircraft comprises a receiver for a satellite navigation system, the receiver being configured to obtain a geographical position comprising a longitude and a latitude, wherein the method comprises the step of:

[0041] - obtaining, via the satellite navigation system receiver, a geographical position, and wherein, in the storing step, the record further comprises the obtained geographical position.

[0042] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Brief description of the drawings

[0044] In the drawings:

[0045] Figure 1 is an elevation view of device embodiment while in use.

[0046] P30882PC00 Detailed description

[0047] The drawings are shown in a schematic and simplified manner, and features that are not necessary for explaining the invention may be left out. Identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar features in the drawings. The various features shown in the drawings may not necessarily be drawn to scale.

[0048] Fig. 1 shows a device embodiment 100 installed on an aircraft 200 (see top half of Fig. 1) and being used during a monitoring operation of a snowpack 900 (see bottom half of Fig. 1). The device 100 includes an electromagnetic transceiver 110 for transmitting an electromagnetic signal to the snowpack 900 and receiving at least one reflection of the transmitted electromagnetic signal on at least one snow layer of the snowpack 900. The device 100 also includes a rangefinder 120 for measuring a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver 110 and a top surface 910 of the snowpack 900. Also, the device 100 includes a data processing means 130 comprising a processing unit and a memory.

[0049] The rangefinder 120 can be implemented, inter alia, as a laser rangefinder, an ultrasonic rangefinder, or an infrared rangefinder. Also, there several ways for configuring the rangefinder 120 so that it is suitable for measuring a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver 110 and the top surface 910 of the snowpack 900. For example, the electromagnetic transceiver 110 and the rangefinder 120 can be arranged on the device 100 so that, in use, these appear at substantially the same distance from the top surface 910 of the snowpack 900. In another embodiment, the data processing means 130 may be pre-configured with a constant value representing a vertical displacement between the electromagnetic transceiver 110 and the rangefinder 120. Thus, the data processing means 130 can then add the pre-configured vertical displacement value to any distance measured via the rangefinder and thereby calculate a distance measurement between the electromagnetic transceiver 110 and the top surface 910.

[0050] The data processing means 130 can be implemented in many ways. In one embodiment, the data processing means 130 can be implemented as an electronic device including at

[0051] P30882PC00 least one central processor unit and a memory.

[0052] The aircraft 200 in the example situation shown in Fig. 1 is implemented as a multicopter drone. In different use situations, the aircraft 200 can be implemented as any known aircraft, such as an airplane, a light aircraft, a helicopter, an unmanned autonomous (flying) vehicle, a multicopter drone (e.g. tricopter, quadcopter, pentacopter, hexacopter, etc.), or any other known vehicle suitable for carrying the device 100 while flying above a snowpack.

[0053] The snowpack 900 is formed from an accumulation of at least one snow layer. In Fig. 1, a cross-sectional view of the snowpack 900 is shown (see bottom half of Fig. 1). Two snow layers are shown, the layers being stacked on top of a ground. At the bottom of its cross- sectional view, the snowpack 900 has a bottom surface 930 interfacing with the ground, which can be a ground as is observed on a mountain slope, the ground and including, inter alia, soil, rocks, and frozen vegetation. At a layer interface 920, the bottom snow layer of the snowpack 900 is shown interfacing with an upper snow layer. The upper snow layer is shown on top of the bottom snow layer and further interfacing the open air above it at the top surface 910 of the snow pack.

[0054] Snow layers in a snowpack can occur due several reasons, such as each snow layer resulting from a respective snow fall during a meteorological event. It will be appreciated that different snowpacks may have many different variations in terms of number, form and shape of their constituting snow layers. In some locations, a snowpack may have one snow layer. A snow layer may have many different heights, and the height of a snow layer may vary geographically.

[0055] In Fig. 1, the aircraft 200 carries the device 100 installed thereon while flying above the snowpack 900. During the monitoring operation, the device 100 can perform the following steps:

[0056] - transmitting, via the electromagnetic transceiver 110, an electromagnetic signal to the snowpack 900;

[0057] - receiving, via the electromagnetic transceiver 110, at least one reflection of the transmitted electromagnetic signal on the at least one snow layer of the snowpack 900;

[0058] P30882PC00 - measuring, via the rangefinder 120, a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver 110 and the top surface 910 of the snowpack 900 (see vertical duplex arrow illustrated between the rangefinder 120 and the snowpack 900 in Fig. 1); and

[0059] - storing, in the memory of the data processing means 130 of the device 100, a record comprising data representing the received at least one reflection and data representing the measured distance.

[0060] It will be understood that the transmitted electromagnetic signal can be reflected by various elements of the snowpack 900, such as the top, bottom and inner interfaces of the snow layers forming the snowpack 900.

[0061] The electromagnetic signal transmittable by the electromagnetic transceiver can be implemented in any known way for the purpose of monitoring a snowpack and causing receivable reflections of the transmitted signal. The signal can be modulated in various signal characteristics, such as amplitude, frequency, phase, and others.

[0062] It will be appreciated that there are many possible ways for storing the record in the memory of the data processing means 130 so that data representing the received at least one reflection and data representing the measured distance are both included in the same record. For example, the record can be implemented as a data structure including members suitable for storing the data representing the received at least one reflection and the data representing the measured distance. Moreover, the record may include a time stamp for identifying the moment in which the data members have been recorded.

[0063] In the example shown in Fig. 1, the device 100 further includes a wireless communication interface 140 for communicating with a remote computational system (not shown). The aircraft 200, including the device 100 installed thereon, and the remote computational system can form a system for monitoring the snowpack 900. In one example, the remote computational system can be configured to update a virtual model of the snowpack 900, the virtual model allowing to create a virtual twin of the snowpack 900 in the real world.

[0064] Alternatively, in one embodiment of the device 100, no wireless communication interface

[0065] 140 is provided, and a snowpack monitoring operation may be carried out by storing

[0066] P30882PC00 records in the memory of the data processing means 130 and transferring the records at the end, or during an pause, of the monitoring operation. This embodiment can be advantageous in that power can be saved by avoiding the wireless transmission of stored records.

[0067] The device 100 may be extended with further functionality. For example, the device 100 may include a receiver (not shown in Fig. 1) for a satellite navigation system, such as GPS, Beidou and Galileo. Also, the data processing means 130 may be configured to carry out the step of obtaining, via the satellite navigation system receiver, a geographical position including a latitude value and a longitude value. During a monitoring task, in which the aircraft 200, carrying the device 100, is flying above the snowpack 900, the geographical position obtained by the receiver will be the geographical position of the device 100 and the aircraft 200. With the obtained geographical position, the data processing means 130 can, in the storing step, complement the stored record so that it further includes the obtained geographical position. Thus, the recorded data can be related to a location where it was obtained, the location being recordable in terms of at least latitude and / or longitude.

[0068] In one device embodiment, the device 100 may be communicatively connected to the aircraft 200 which, if provided with its own geographical positioning receiver, can supply the device 100 with data about the geographical position.

[0069] It will be appreciated that, in one embodiment, an aircraft 200 may be provided including the device 100. This arrangement is advantageous in that it becomes easier to install, maintain and use the aircraft 200 for monitoring the snowpack 900. The device 100 and / or the aircraft 200 can be separated, replaced and assembled. The composability of aircraft 200 embodiments with device 100 embodiments is also advantageous in reducing supply chain challenges. Alternatively, in one embodiment, an aircraft 200 may be provided including a data processing means embodiment, an electromagnetic transceiver embodiment, and a rangefinder embodiment.

[0070] Generally, the terms used in this description and claims are interpreted according to their ordinary meaning the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise.

[0071] P30882PC00 Notwithstanding, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. These terms are not interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or integers. Furthermore, the indefinite article "a" or "an" is interpreted openly as introducing at least one instance of an entity, unless explicitly stated otherwise. An entity introduced by an indefinite article is not excluded from being interpreted as a plurality of the entity.

[0072] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilized for realizing the invention in diverse forms thereof.

[0073] While the invention has been described in conjunction with the embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0074] P30882PC00 Reference numerals

[0075] 100 device

[0076] 110 electromagnetic transceiver

[0077] 120 rangefinder

[0078] 130 data processing means

[0079] 140 wireless communication interface

[0080] 200 aircraft

[0081] 900 snowpack

[0082] 910 top surface

[0083] 920 layer interface

[0084] 930 bottom surface

[0085] P30882PC00

Claims

C l a i m s1. A device for monitoring a snowpack formed by at least one snow layer, the device being installable on an aircraft for flying above the snowpack, wherein the device comprises:- a data processing means comprising a processing unit and a memory;- an electromagnetic transceiver configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal to the snowpack and receive at least one reflection of the transmitted electromagnetic signal on the at least one snow layer; and- a rangefinder configured to measure a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver and a top surface of the snowpack.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the rangefinder is any of: a laser rangefinder; an ultrasonic rangefinder; or an infrared rangefinder.

3. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a wireless communication interface for communicating with a remote computational system configured to update a virtual model of the snowpack.

4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a receiver for a satellite navigation system, the receiver being configured to obtain a geographical position comprising a longitude and a latitude.

5. An aircraft comprising a device installed thereon, the device being as described in any of the preceding claims.

6. Aircraft according to claim 5, wherein the aircraft is an unmanned aerial vehicle, such as a multicopter drone.P30882PC007. A system for monitoring a snowpack formed by at least one snow layer, the system comprising:- an aircraft as described in any of the claims 5 to 6; and- a remote computational system configured to receive at least one record from the aircraft and update a virtual model of the snowpack.

8. A method of monitoring a snowpack formed by at least one snow layer, the method comprising the steps of:- providing an aircraft comprising a data processing means comprising a processing unit and a memory, an electromagnetic transceiver configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal to the snowpack and receive at least one reflection of the transmitted electromagnetic signal on the at least one snow layer, and a rangefinder configured to measure a distance between the electromagnetic transceiver and a top surface of the snowpack;- operating the aircraft to fly above the snowpack;- transmitting, via the electromagnetic transceiver, the electromagnetic signal to the snowpack;- receiving, via the electromagnetic transceiver, the at least one reflection;- measuring, via the rangefinder, the distance between the electromagnetic transceiver and the top surface of the snowpack; and- storing, in the memory of the data processing means, a record comprising data representing the received at least one reflection and data representing the measured distance.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the step of storing a record comprises the step of:- generating the data representing the received at least one reflection by generating a wavefield based on the received at least one reflection.P30882PC0010. Method according to any of the claims 8 to 9, wherein, in the step of providing an aircraft, the aircraft comprises a wireless communication interface for communicating with a remote computational system configured to update a virtual model of the snowpack, and wherein the method comprises the step of:- transmitting, via the wireless communication interface, at least one stored record to the remote computational system.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises carrying out the storing step a plurality of times prior to the transmitting step.

12. Method according to any of the claims 8 to 11, wherein, in the step of providing an aircraft, the aircraft comprises a receiver for a satellite navigation system, the receiver being configured to obtain a geographical position comprising a longitude and a latitude, wherein the method comprises the step of: - obtaining, via the satellite navigation system receiver, a geographical position, and wherein, in the storing step, the record further comprises the obtained geographical position.P30882PC00

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