Battelle ARO excels in planning support for scientists visiting sites with little or no infrastructure in place. Sites may be located off of the 414-mile Dalton Highway, or “Haul Road.” The highway begins just north of Fairbanks in Interior Alaska and ends at Deadhorse. It is Alaska’s most remote and challenging road, with little in the way of highway services. The road is mostly gravel, and motorists need to watch for ruts, rocks, dust in dry weather, potholes in wet weather and trucks and road maintenance equipment at all times. From its researchers can access the Yukon River, the ruggedly beautiful Atigun Pass in the Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Battelle ARO also routinely supports field research on the Seward Peninsula. Nome, with commercial jet service, is a starting point for traveling on to more remote field sites. Support can also be arranged in Council, a small community at the end of a 75-mile gravel road, or at Quartz Creek. In Council, a summer road (open June through September) makes Council accessible for fuel, food, and equipment for researchers. Camp facilities may be arranged in one of the local homes. Conditions are rustic with bunkhouse-style accommodations. The atmosphere in Council is neighborly with residents from Nome and White Mountain seasonally living there.
Whether along the Haul Road, the Seward Peninsula, or another far flung location in AK, support services from the Battelle ARO team may include.
- Communications gear
- Camp facilities and equipment
- Aircraft support
- Transportation
- Lodging
- Remote power systems
- Cargo and sample coordination
Additionally, Battelle ARO supports several semi-permanent field sites in Alaska.
Photo by: Anna Schemper
Photo by: Andy Ashwanden
Alaska research site on the north side of the Brooks Range, in the Kuparuk River basin, at Milepost 290 on the Dalton Highway.
- Land ownership: Public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
- Science space: See Toolik Field Station for research facilities.
- Housing: Housing may be available at Toolik Field Station, six miles to the west, or in Prudhoe Bay, 120 miles to the north.
- Power available: Several NSF projects operate at this location using discreet autonomous power systems. There is currently no central power system to tie in to; however, Battelle can offer standard or custom power and communications for any scale of project.
- Communications available: Several projects use a broadband satellite connection and local wireless network. Access to communications is dependent upon project location and bandwidth requirements.
- Boardwalk: Battelle maintains 2000 feet of common-use boardwalk in the vicinity, accessing funded science projects.
- Access: Accessible via the Dalton Highway (trucks in summer, snow machines in winter); parking available.
- Medical services: Remote medical call-in services and first-aid kits available from Battelle. Clinic in Prudhoe; EMT at Toolik Field Station during summer months.
Former exploration site and long-term research site in the remote hills north of the Brooks Range, 160 miles west of Toolik Field Station, 200 miles south of Barrow, and 330 miles northwest from Fairbanks.
- Land ownership: Private land administered by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation.
- Science space: No research facility but an active location for research.
- Housing: Camping is necessary.
- Power available: Several NSF projects use an on-site autonomous hybrid power system maintained by Battelle . Can support up to an additional 100-Watt continuous load in addition to the current science loads. Power can be exported up to ¼ mile from the central module via a 230Volt AC line, allowing access to different tundra vegetation biomes. Capacity could be expanded further with the addition of more renewable energy.
- Communications available: Broadband satellite and local wireless network. Access to communications is dependent upon project location and bandwidth requirement. Data capabilities are limited.
- Boardwalk: May not be required – subject to landowner discretion.
- Access: Charter aircraft from Fairbanks.
- Medical services: Remote medical call-in services and first-aid kits available from Battelle.
Inland community of about 250 residents, 60 miles southwest of Barrow.
- Land ownership: Private land administered by the North Slope Borough and the Native Village of Atqasuk.
- Science space: No research facility but an active location for field research.
- Housing: Battelle , via UIC Science, maintains a house with shared faculties capable of accommodating eight researchers, with access to temporary overflow housing to accommodate additional. Reservations are required.
- Power available: Electrical power available in the village. Sites near to the community may be able to access the village’s power grid. One NSF project operates using an on-site autonomous hybrid power system. Additional development of the systems may be feasible.
- Communications available: Local wireless network is available at the Atqasuk house; however, a slower speed service is available in the community.
- Boardwalk: May be required by landowner.
- Access: Commercial small-plane flight from Barrow or snow machine.
- Medical services: Remote medical call-in services and first-aid kits available from Battelle. Hospital in Barrow.
