EcoSki: Securing the snow economies of Scotland and beyond within a carbon-neutral future, via efficient sustainable artificial snow production.

英国冬季运动产业以苏格兰山区为中心，每年价值在3000万至1亿英镑之间，对这些农村社区至关重要。然而，近年来，由于全球变暖对山区的影响不成比例，该行业已经变得极其依赖人工造雪（80-90%的雪道），以无条件地保持至少40-50厘米的深度，以避免积雪破坏并保持运营。人工造雪是高度能源和水密集型的，占度假村运营成本的50%，每公里人工造雪所保证的雪道产生3500公斤二氧化碳当量的排放量。大多数冬季运动产业发达的欧洲国家，尤其是阿尔卑斯地区，都面临着这一挑战。以奥地利为例，该行业占全国GDP的7%，人工造雪占总能耗和相应温室气体排放量的1.44%，占用水量的5%。因此，准确的需求评估和规划对于降低生产过剩的成本和环境影响至关重要。目前，由于最坏情况的规划，生产过剩造成了40%的浪费。然而，现有的积雪测量、建模和预测工具或方法都不具备以下要求：*测量分辨率和信噪比（精度）*空间范围（覆盖范围）*速度/时间（目前为天/周）作为回应，SkiBro正在开发世界上第一个超精确的三维积雪拓扑测绘和生产计划系统，该系统基于卫星和众包地形高度数据，用于即时、及时的操作决策：EcoSki。在这个项目中，SkiBro将以他们成熟的原型为基础，在实际条件下开发和验证他们的系统。除了休闲行业更广泛的环境绩效外，EcoSki还解决了在促进英国边缘化农村山区全年居家旅游和减少海外度假胜地旅游方面的升级议程（对平等和包容性产生影响）。

The UK Wintersports industry, which is centred on Scotland's mountains, is worth between £30-100million/year and is vital to these rural communities. However, in recent years the industry has become overwhelmingly dependent on artificial snow production (80-90% of pistes) to unconditionally maintain a minimum 40-50cm depth to avoid snowpack failure and remain operational, as global warming disproportionately impacts mountain regions.Artificial snow production is highly energy and water-intensive, accounting for up to 50% of resort operating costs and generating 3,500kgCO2-equivalent emissions per km of piste secured by artificial snow production.Most European countries with developed Wintersport industries -- in particular the Alpine regions -- share this challenge. For example, in Austria where this industry generates 7% of national GDP, artificial snow production accounts for 1.44% of total energy consumption and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions, as well as 5% of water consumption.Accurate requirement assessment and planning is therefore critical to reduce costs and environmental impact of over-production, which currently reaches 40% wastage due to worst-case scenario planning.However, no existing tool or approach for snowpack measurement, modelling and forecasting has the required:* Measurement resolution and signal-to-noise (accuracy)* Spatial range (coverage)* Speed/timing (currently days/weeks)In response, SkiBro are developing the world's first hyper-accurate, 3-dimensional snow topology mapping and production-planning system, based on satellite and crowd-sourced terrain altitude data for instantaneous, just-in-time operational decision-making: EcoSki.In this project, SkiBro will build on their proven prototype to develop out and validate their system under real conditions.As well as the wider environmental performance of the leisure industry, EcoSki addresses the levelling-up agenda (with impacts on equality and inclusivity) in terms of boosting UK year-round stay-at-home tourism in marginalised rural mountain communities and reducing travel to overseas resorts.