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3000万至1亿英镑，对这些农村社区至关重要。然而，近年来，该行业已变得压倒性地依赖于人工造雪（80-90%的滑雪道）无条件保持最低40- 50厘米的深度，以避免积雪失效并保持运营，因为全球变暖对山区的影响不成比例。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%，人工造雪确保的雪道每公里排放500千克二氧化碳当量。大多数拥有发达冬季运动产业的欧洲国家--特别是阿尔卑斯地区--都面临着这一挑战。例如，在奥地利，人工造雪行业占国民生产总值的7%，而人工造雪占总能耗和相应温室气体排放的1.44%，以及水消耗的5%。因此，准确的需求评估和规划对于降低过度生产的成本和环境影响至关重要，目前由于最坏情况规划，过度生产造成的浪费达到40%。现有的积雪测量、建模和预报工具或方法不具备以下要求：* 测量分辨率和信噪比（精度）* 空间范围（覆盖范围）* 速度/定时作为回应，SkiBro正在开发世界上第一个超精确的三维雪地地形测绘和生产规划系统，该系统基于卫星和众包地形高度数据，用于即时、及时的运营决策：EcoSki。在这个项目中，SkiBro将在他们经过验证的原型的基础上开发出他们的系统，并在真实的条件下验证他们的系统。EcoSki致力于推动英国偏远山区农村社区的全年居家旅游，减少前往海外度假胜地的旅行，从而实现水平提升议程（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.