Groundhog Objectives

1. To identify a suitable site for the installation and testing of the prototype I-TASC mobile base station module in the Dronning Maud Land sector of Antarctica during the International Polar Year in 2007/2008

2. To install an autonomously powered Automatic Weather Station, Remote Sensor and Packet Radio Unit at the site in order to gather and relay data on localised weather and environmental conditions at the chosen location and to test the suitability of materials and the feasibility of energy (solar/wind) and communication (HF and satellite) systems proposed for the prototype I-TASC mobile base station module.

3. To install a packet radio antenna and transceiver at SANAE IV base to enable communication between the GROUNDHOG remote unit and SANAE base, including a network of line-of-sight packet radio relay points (if required).

4. To install a server to facilitate remote commands, data access and streaming between the GROUNDHOG remote unit and I-TASC partners through the SANAE server.

5. To produce and upload (or stream) a live program of content from SANAE base on 2 February 2007 to GROUNDHOG project events at Sound Kitchen Studio in Alexandra, Johannesburg and other I-TASC partner sites.

6. To assess the risk vs benefit of the GROUNDHOG remote unit and equipment remaining intact and operational at the chosen location during the winter months. If the decision is taken to leave the unit in place for the winter the objective of the I-TASC crew will be to optimize the unit to autonomously record and transmit data from February 2007 when the crew leaves SANAE base until December 2007 when the second I-TASC expedition crew returns to the location.

7. To install an FM community radio station at SANAE base and to train SANAE crew and expedition members in the production of content and operation of the station.

8. To expand the Packet Radio data relay network and FM community radio station to include the neighbouring TROLL (Norway) and NEUMAYER (Germany) bases in Dronning Maud Land. This phase of the expedition is conditional on the success of the above objectives and the support of the Norwegian Polar Institute and German Alfred Wegener Institute.

9. To produce video, sound, remote sensor data and photographic material to document the expedition and to communicate the I-TASC GROUNDHOG/IPY project at the Digital Arts Festival in Clarendon, Jamaica in June 2007