Launch of the AI-ARC project: “Cooperation in the Arctic area needed now”

Due to global warming, the ice in the Arctic sea areas is melting and, consequently, the volume if shipping is increasing in the region. In addition, the shrinking of the ice cover also increases interest in the economic utilisation of the area for purposes such as mining, fishing and tourism. All this increases the risk of accidents in an area where rescue and surveillance resources are limited.

The AI-ARC (Artificial Intelligence based Virtual Control Room for the Arctic), coordinated by Laurea and funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme, aims to improve maritime safety in Arctic sea areas. Cooperation and increasingly open exchange of information are also expected to alleviate geopolitical confrontations in the Arctic, providing new effective channels for cooperation and dialogue.

The actors involved in the AI-ARC project got together for a kick-off event, which was held as a hybrid event both online and at Laurea's Leppävaara campus on 21 September.

Finland plays a strong role in Arctic cooperation

The keynote speaker in the AI-ARC project's kick-off conference was First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Antti Rinne, who acted as Prime Minister (2017–2019) when Finland last held the chairmanship of the Arctic Council. In his speech, Rinne emphasised that today we need close cooperation between the actors in the Arctic region more than ever.

-    The interest in the Arctic region is growing, which may also create conflicts in the region. Practical cooperation, such as the one the project currently being launched represents, can promote safety and resilience in the region, Rinne said.

According to Rinne, Finland plays a key role in building a sustainable future in the north, where the emphasis is in conflict resolution and expertise related to Arctic conditions.

-    Through the AI-ARC project, Finland can strengthen its positions in the Arctic cooperation, he emphasised.

In his speech, Petteri Vuorimäki, Finland's first Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs, also underscored the growing interest in the world's polar regions and Finland's role. He pointed out that Finland is actively involved not only in the Arctic but also in the Antarctic cooperation:

-    Cooperation in the polar regions, if anything, is an area in which Finland internationally really punches above its weight, Ambassador Vuorimäki underscored.

AI assistance for forming a situational picture in the Arctic sea area

Today, seafarers and authorities have access to an enormous amount of information that is stored, used and shared in information systems and networks separate from each other. The objective of the AI-ARC project is to create a user-friendly AI-based system that provides a high-quality situational picture to support decision-making and to enhance safety for all operators in the maritime sector in the Arctic.

Sharing information between the authorities of different countries is challenging, as the authorities have differing tasks, and, in some cases, cooperation between various authorities is challenging even within the country. The data gathered by country is not compatible, and the legislation does not allow the exchange of data between countries. The AI-ARC solution promotes closer cooperation and open communication between the supervisory and rescue authorities of the Arctic countries.

The AI-ARC project, which was officially launched with this kick-off event, involves a total of 22 partners from 12 countries. Most of the members in the consortium are from EU countries, but there are also representatives from Turkey, the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland. The partners involved include universities, research institutes, industrial operators and operative end users. The total budget of the project is approximately EUR 7 million.

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