Defence Hackathon Tackles Arctic Surveillance Challenges
A recent defence tech hackathon held at Toronto Metropolitan University brought together software and defence enthusiasts from across Canada to develop innovative solutions for maritime surveillance in the Arctic. The event, hosted by The Icebreaker, challenged participants to leverage satellite data to improve monitoring of vessel traffic in Canada's North.
The Urgency of Arctic Surveillance
The hackathon highlighted the growing concern over Arctic surveillance. Karim Bardeesy, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Industry, emphasized the Arctic as a frontier where Canadian sovereignty could be challenged. He indicated that upcoming federal government policies, such as the defence industrial strategy, are likely to prioritize addressing this critical issue. Current monitoring capabilities are limited, leaving Canada largely unaware of activities within its Arctic waters, as highlighted in a 2022 Auditor-General’s report.
The report indicated that existing satellite systems provide fragmented views with significant delays. Compounding this, much of Canada's northern equipment and fleets are aging, leaving a vast expanse of ocean beyond the coastline largely unmonitored.
Rising Arctic Traffic and Unknown Risks
Between 1990 and 2019, voyages in Canadian Arctic waters more than tripled, reaching 464. Despite this increase, the Auditor-General's report revealed a significant lack of awareness regarding the nature and potential risks associated with these voyages, including illegal fishing and marine pollution. This lack of awareness underscores the urgent need for enhanced Arctic surveillance capabilities.
Hackathon Participants and Solutions
The hackathon attracted diverse participants, including software engineers like Sam Silver and Jack Langille from Halifax, who felt a "sense of duty" to contribute to solving this problem. Carlos Matallin, a member of team Polar Defence, highlighted the appeal of developing effective solutions rapidly and with limited resources. Participants included a Canadian Armed Forces musician, Ukrainian infrastructure engineers, and engineers with experience from various organizations. Their solutions included AI assistants, drone integration, and analyses of ships’ wakes, all utilizing satellite imagery from SkyWatch.
The Winning Team and Their Innovative Approach
Team Greypoint Industries, travelling from Vancouver and Guelph, won the top prize for their solution integrating drone technology with satellite data. Nic Chu, a team member, stated that their solution, if fully developed, "could prove indispensable to the surveillance and continued sovereignty of the Arctic." The event offered prizes of $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third, sponsored by NordSpace, with additional support from the policy project Build Canada.
| Challenge | Current Status | Proposed Solution (Hackathon) |
|---|---|---|
| Arctic Maritime Surveillance | Limited and Fragmented | Leverage satellite data and technology innovations |
| Rising Vessel Traffic | Increasing without adequate monitoring | Implement advanced vessel tracking systems |
| Aging Infrastructure | Northern equipment nearing end-of-life | Develop scalable and cost-effective solutions |
