Google Street View arrives at Antarctica thanks to a Uruguayan
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Contenido exclusivo para suscriptoresYa van cuatro PCR que dan negativo y el definitivo es el de hoy.Nothing can change the result.Nicolás Bianchi has been isolated for two weeks in a Navy complex and has the appropriate suitcases.I just need to tell him what he is waiting for, at least, five years ago: "You go out today for Antarctica". Así cumplirá un sueño: registrar para Google Street View parte del continente blanco.
In other words, Bianchi is the Uruguayan who will leave a virtual tour of the scientific bases of Uruguay, Chile, Russia and China accessible to everyone and, if possible, it will reach the bases of Argentina and South Korea.
“I always liked Antarctica for the exotic, the different, the virgin of the place.It is inaccessible to many people.One of my dreams is to see a child with his ceibalita sailing by Street View in Antarctica and appreciate that place with something more special than a static photo, ”said the user experience designer in Mercado Libre with various certifications of certifications ofGoogle.
Nicolás y su hermano Santiago estarán alrededor de un mes y medio apostados en la Base Científica Antártica Artigas para mapear todo lo que se pueda en los alrededores de la isla Rey Jorge.
From there they will walk with a load of approximately 10 kilos - among the snowwear and equipment for 360º photographs - five new kilometers every day."It will be registered every five meters and we have to check each one," he said.
The review should not be overlooked.Meteorological conditions do not make it possible for them to travel at any time.For this reason, every day, on the return of the walk on foot with the backpack with the equipment to raise all the material to Street View in tow, each photograph and each coordinate must be processed."We carry several devices to measure the issue of GPS and five different software to review everything," Bianchi said.
With one foot in the Hercules since 2020.
In 2020, 14 days before traveling, the Google Street View project was suspended in Antarctica because of the pandemic for Coronavirus.Nicolás Bianchi has been waiting since then.If today's PCR - last - gives negative, tomorrow you can start the trip.The itinerary is as follows: five-hour flight to Punta Arenas (Chile) on the Hercules Lockheed C-130B plane of the Uruguayan Air Force, followed by a one or two hoursKing Jorge de la Antarctida Island.To make this cross the pilots calculate with time the so -called "weather window", that is, the time for take -off, crossing and landing is made in the best possible way and without risks due to climatic conditions.In the event that the descent in the white continent is not possible, the Hercules has an autonomy to return to Punta Arenas waiting for another "weather window".By sea, the way to get to Rey Jorge Island is through Drake's passage, "a complex crossing of approximately three days where boats have to fight with waves of more than 10 meters".The good thing about this route is that whales are seen in their natural habitat.
To calibrate the teams, the technician did tests in open fields from the interior of the country without any reference around him, since this is the situation that will be in Antarctica.Beyond the infrastructure of the bases of each country, there are no other reference points to establish or correct coordinates.
“We estimate, minimally, make between 20 and 50 kilometers in the first instance;If we can do more, better;as allowed by climate.Today there are no 50 kilometers mapped, ”he told El País.
El plan es el siguiente: cubrir la Base Artigas –los hermanos Bianchi viajan con el apoyo del Instituto Antártico Uruguayo y de empresas como GoPro USA, Fotoarte, Sinergia Life, ISA, Interfase y el Centro de Innovación y Emprendimientos de Universidad ORT– y recorrer el trayecto hasta las bases de Chile, Rusia y China y rodear el glaciar Collins.“On the other side there is a beautiful cliff;It is a more lonely side, ”he said.
The visit to the bases of Argentina and South Korea implies the crossing in boat for seven kilometers of Bahía Fildes;First he travels to the Korean and, "if the water is calm," even Argentina.
At all times, Bianchi will be accompanied by scientists who participate in this summer season and by artigas base personnel to prevent their presence from generating some negative effect on the environment.This also includes the risk of taking the COVID-19 to Antarctica.That is why it has passed through two weeks of strict isolation and several PCR and, most likely, it cannot enter the foreign bases.
Upon returning to Montevideo, the various terabytes of information that will be achieved in the campaign will be prosecuted.Bianchi calculated that the Street View trip at Antarctica will be ready in a month and a half.