MARMOT
Modular Alpine Robotic MOnitoring Tools

MARMOT works on developing the first prototype of an Alpine robotic platform specifically designed to operate in high mountain lakes. The rapid deglaciation of the European Alps, induced by global warming, is creating new high elevation lakes and growing in capacity the existing ones. This fragile and fast changing environment, subject to anthropogenic factors, is investigated as an early response indicator of climate change. The technology developed within MARMOT minimises the costs, encumber, pollution and facilitates transportation and logistics. An interdisciplinary approach to design an effective and innovative system to observe such a fragile environment also supports the evolution of research in marine and polar robotics. MARMOT is creating the first Back-Pack Autonomous Surface Vehicle for persistent data acquisition and sampling in high mountain lakes. Since technology development is bijectively linked to scientific applications, continuous system validation plays a key role in the project. The large amount of data collected along the lifespan of the project will follow a detailed data management plan drawn following FAIR principles.