A worker launching a PrecisionHawk fixed-wing UAS near the Point Thomson project.
Caribou migrating through the Point Thomson area, as detected by a tundra camera.
The UAS proved to be more accurate and provided superior imagery for photographic monitoring of these important environmental sites. During the same experiment, we evaluated the ability to survey pipelines in the vicinity of our Point Thomson operations. Point Thomson marks a new era both for ExxonMobil in Alaska and on the North Slope. ExxonMobil’s investments will open the eastern North Slope to new development and lead to the prolonged use of the trans-Alaska pipeline system. Throughout the planning, design and construction of the Point Thomson project, ExxonMobil has made it a priority to avoid or reduce environmental and social impacts and their related risks. We have implemented a variety of mitigation measures with a focus on the tundra, wildlife, aquatic resources and subsistence activities to ensure our operations are conducted in a responsible manner.
aircraft survey and caribou collar GPS data, to determine known caribou locations. Data from all three platforms were evaluated for visual and unique spectral signatures. The preliminary results from this initiative proved promising, and we will continue to test remote sensing and other emerging technologies to further enhance our wildlife monitoring initiatives. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to use remote sensing methodologies to monitor caribou populations on the North Slope of Alaska. ExxonMobil also seeks to protect wetlands, streams, lakes and marine waters in the Point Thomson area. For example, we designed roads, bridges and culverts in a manner that maintains natural drainage patterns and stream flows to the extent possible. Additionally, where appropriate, ExxonMobil uses bridges instead of culverts to mitigate potential impacts on fish passage and stream flows. In 2015, our engineers and scientists experimented with two UAS surveys at Point Thomson to evaluate tundra vegetation and water bodies as an alternative to traditional helicopter-based surveys.
ExxonMobil monitors caribou in the Point Thomson project area to assess herd migration patterns. Traditional aerial surveys were conducted in June 2013 and June 2014 to count caribou in the project area and document calving locations. Between May and September 2013, we deployed motion-activated cameras to document caribou movements near planned infrastructure, and in 2014, we monitored caribou behavior around constructed facilities. In response to feedback from North Slope communities about the use of low-flying aircraft in caribou surveys, we tested the capabilities of satellite-based remote sensing techniques to monitor the annual summer caribou migration near our project location in 2015. Following three years of monitoring, the number of caribou moving through the area suggested that the presence of the pipeline did not deter caribou movements. Using remote sensing technology enabled us to augment aerial surveys and reduce the use of low-flying aircraft for caribou surveys. We used high-resolution imagery collected from three satellite platforms, in coordination with an
Unmanned aerial systems pilot at the Point Thomson project
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Technological innovations in Arctic wildlife protection exxonmobil.com/citizenship
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