10022646EcoSki: Securing the snow economies of Scotland and beyond within a carbon-neutral future, via efficient sustainable artificial snow production.ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe 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.