NORCE's research aircraft - how to use it in your project

The research aircraft and infrastructure are available for use both internally in NORCE and in collaborative projects with other partners. The aircraft is stationed in Tromsø, but can be used across a large geographical area in and outside Norway.

Examples:

• Sea - mapping of sea colour and algae blooms
• Forestry and agriculture - precision agriculture (mapping needs for irrigation and fertilization), plant and forest diseases, measuring growth in forests, assessment of forests (biomass)
• Emergency preparedness - flood, snow mapping, interaction with drones (eg search and rescue)
• Reindeer husbandry - map vegetation and grazing conditions, map ice/ice layers in connection with reindeer migration or reindeer counting
• Pods can be mounted on the wings (for sampling air/particles), radiation sensors, clouds (long-distance transport of carbon)

In addition to pure research assignments, the aircraft can be used to validate satellite data and to test instruments that are to be sent up with satellites. The aircraft can also test sensor technology that can be adapted to drones.

NORCE has a unique combination of researchers and operational staff with experience in the entire process from platform selection and instrumentation to processing. Our measurement technology specialists will collaborate with researchers with domain knowledge on finding the right strategy for data collection. Data can be collected and analyzed in real time, which allows for adjustments in the data collection procedures and efficient utlization of flight time.

In addition to the aircraft in Tromsø, NORCE has installed instruments on the Lufttransport Dornier aircraft stationed in Longyearbyen, as part of the SIOS-InfraNor project. The Lufttransport aircraft is the world's first passenger aircraft with high-resolution sensors and advanced communication equipment that is usually only found on satellites. The aircraft is configured to obtain aerial photographs and hyperspectral remote sensing data in addition to the normal transport operation. The aircraft flies regular flights from Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund and Svea, as well as around 20 flights a year to Station Nord in Greenland.

Current payload includes:

• Hyspex hyperspectral imaging with 32 degree field of view
• PhaseOne medium format RGB camera
• GNSS Applanix POS AV 410 navigation system
• Radionor CRE2-179-UAV Broadband Radio (5.862 GHz)
• Kongsberg Seatex AIS-300

Contact us if you are interested in discussing the possibilities of using the aircraft in your project.