North Pole Survival Habitat

Some of the most extreme habitats to survive in are the poles; in this project we will focus on the North Pole/the Arctic. Why the Arctic you may ask? The Arctic is a type of temperature-based extreme environment (with its extreme cold) and hence it serves as a perfect environment to test run a habitat that could be viable for interplanetary survival. The main problems to solve when designing an Arctic habitat include: food, clean drinking water/wastewater, heat, livability (lifelong prosperity), energy, and light.

3D Design:

1. CAD Modeling Software (Fusion 360 & TinkerCAD is what was used in this project)
2. Digital Drawing Software (Google Drawings for Floor Plan)

Real Life (if created):

1. Copper + Aluminum for Satellite
2. Concrete (prevents heat loss/gain) for walls + basic structure
3. PVC or Copper for Piping (however the more favorable option is PEX piping, though it is more expensive).
4. Triple/Double Pane Glass or Low E (emissivity) glass for Dome Roof (as they are good at regulating temperature gain/loss).
5. Solar Panels:
6. Silicon
7. Metal (Frame+ Wiring, can include: aluminum, steel, copper, silver, and zinc)
8. Glass Casing
9. Modern Insulation materials (spray polyurethane foam, loose-fill fiberglass, cellulose, etc.)
10. Stainless Steel for desalination filters (or a type of non-corrosive metal such as titanium).
11. Blackout Curtains
12. UV Lamps
13. Other miscellaneous materials/items necessary (such as: kitchen appliances, electronics, bathroom appliances/necessities, etc.)
14. Materials for windmills (includes electronics, cold resistant material for blades and body, etc.).

Above is the basic structure of the Arctic Habitat. The basic model includes the glass domes of the living space and greenhouse area, as well as the Solar Panel housing area. The majority of the structure will be made up of a double concrete wall (with space in between to house insulation materials). The annotated floor plan sketch will give you a more in-depth look at the interior of the several compartments. There are a few special features to note, the main one being the rounded off bottom of the habitat. In reality the bottom of the structure will consist of some sort of floatable material/structure that allows for floating in order to compensate for the issue of future ice melt. The floatable feature will allow for survival in case of environmental changes until rescue/another long term solution can be determined. The basic structure is open to any sort of modifications in order to accommodate different sources of energy in different environments as well, however a different set of attachment compartments and areas would have to be added to the basic structure of the habitat.

Understanding light in the arctic:

• Light/daylight hours in the Arctic varies between seasons, with there being 24 hour daylight in the summer to no sunlight in the winter.
• How do we compensate for both the excessiveness of light and the lack of light in changing seasons?

Solutions:

• Summer: Utilize blackout curtains (as demonstrated in Scandinavian homes/more northern areas), or integrate opaque causing/"light-blocking" technology within the glass domes to block out light during night times. The blocking of light will allow for the "body's clock" to develop a system, keeping both the inhabitant's mind and body healthy.
• Winter: Utilize Sun-lamps to mimic sunlight, or utilizing basic LED lighting to produce light during the winter months. It is important to have light during the winter months so as to maintain the body's daily systems. During winter time, one could also utilize vitamin supplements to compensate for the lack of sunlight.

Source (image): https://www.sunlightinside.com/

There are two methods of water collection that would be feasible in the Arctic environment:

1. Utilize a system that melts snow/ice and then filters it (via reverse osmosis technology) in order to be safe for drinking water.
2. If there is a body of water nearby the occupants could pump the water into a system that filters out the salt (again via reverse osmosis/desalination technology) in order to produce safe drinking water.
3. The second image above provides a diagram of how a basic reverse osmosis filter would work, though only for sink applications. The habitat would require either multiple filters for different applications or one large one for all applications.

The main issue with water in the Arctic however is not the collection of it, but rather the disposal of water. Due to the fact that mainstream civilization is not present, a proper sewage system is not present as well, therefore presenting the issue of where wastewater should go. Here is a couple solution to both minimize and store waste water:

1. Utilize a septic tank. The basic solution to most sewage problems resulting from a disconnection to mainstream systems is a septic tank. Given that septic tanks can last from 20-40 years (under proper care and maintenance), it is a very ideal solution. Despite the fact that the septic tanks will most likely need to be made up of a material that resists corrosion and damage due to the cold (i.e. concrete). However, a major issue with the septic tank solution is that it requires a type of filtering field, which in this case would have to be artificially developed in the Arctic habitat with sand, gravel, soil, etc. (as there are no sources of these on the glacial environments).
2. An alternative component of this solution could be to collect the filtered water from the filtering field and reuse it as "greywater" for toilet applications. With "greywater" from sinks, showers, etc. also being used in conjunction so that water is used at least twice before going through filtering.

While this solution seems ideal, it is still expensive considering the need for septic tank replacement, and the construction of an artificial filtering field. So, until a future type of remote water management system is developed, this will suffice.

The above image (of a septic tank) explains how a septic system works, and served as the basis for the aforementioned solution. Again, a pipe would have to be connected to the basic structure of the habitat.

Sources (image):

Septic: https://www.searchclaytonncrealestate.com/blog/how-does-a-septic-system-work/

Filter: https://www.walmart.com/ip/5-Stage-Reverse-Osmosis-System-Home-RO-Water-Filter-System-Under-Sink-100-GPD-Drinking-Water-Filter/737626160

Food is a vital component to life in any environment; here are a few options for food in the Arctic.

1. Fishing. The Arctic region contains a number of fish species that the inhabitants of an Arctic Habitat could utilize for food. Fishing therefore is an excellent way to obtain protein sources for inhabitants
2. Canned/long-lasting food. Canned food can last for years, while not the healthiest of options, it is a viable solution to the absence of a market/fresh foods in the Arctic/North Pole.
3. Farming. This idea is a little far-fetched, however with the use of UV lamps (in the winter) as well as humidifier technology to create moisture in the Arctic environment, farming could be a viable option for food supply (which is the purpose of the green house). Soil could be transported beforehand, and could be used to grow greens/vegetables (kale, spinach, broccoli, and other cold resistant/tougher vegetables) in the Arctic atmosphere, therefore providing a source of fresh produce in a very remote area. This solution would be extremely expensive due to the need to import pesticides to fight off the pest populations of the Arctic, as well as fresh soil to keep plants healthy.

Source (image): https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/750016

Energy in the North Pole is a two part problem. Energy in the summer vs. Energy in the Winter.

• Energy in the summer, when there is an abundance of sunlight, is no issue. As the utilization of solar panels will provide a steady source of energy for the habitat, and with the use of battery banks energy can also be stored should the need arise. The average 10 solar panels produce 3,650kWh per year, while the average energy consumption is around 10,500kWh per year. So, with the presence of 30 solar panels (as shown in the model), and the constant source of sunlight in the summer, more than enough energy should be produced, and if not, energy can be conserved when needed.
• Energy in the winter is a more complicated matter. The average capacity of battery banks for solar panels is not sufficient enough to last a whole six months of darkness, hence an alternative energy source must be produced. There is one main option: wind power.
• Wind power seems like a very ideal solution, however there are a couple issues. First off, wind turbines need about 7 mph winds to begin generating electricity, the North Pole however doesn't tend to have very strong winds on average (there may be variances). Therefore, the wind turbine will most likely need to be modified in order to pick up speed on lower winds and produce energy with those winds. The main issue with wind turbines is cost. Wind turbines tend to sell in the $1 million- $4 million range, and maintenance/operation costs could be in the thousands, making the use of wind power a viable yet extremely expensive source of energy,
• The TinkerCAD Model above is a quick interpretation of a windmill, with its curved and sharper blades to better cut through and pick up winds.
• Hydropower is not a very viable option. The average dam requires billions of dollars to build, and even a miniature scale one would be in the millions, therefore, hydropower is not viable cost wise.
• Another way to maintain energy throughout the winter would be conservation energy. Inhabitants would have to cut down energy consumption to the minimum, HVAC and water systems. The usage of lights with low energy demands (such as LEDs) would also be a method of conservation.

Overall, energy in the Arctic is a difficult issue, and seeing that the current real world solution is diesel power, a nonrenewable source, there is no definitive answer to this issue. As technology develops energy in the winter may become less of a problem, but for now, a type of wind turbine will most-likely suffice.

(Light Blue: Controller, Gray with Black Cover: Battery Bank, Dark Gray: Meter, and Dark Blue: Inverter). TinkerCAD Model was based off of the provided image.

Sources: https://sunlightsolar.com/how-do-solar-batteries-work/ (Image)

The Arctic is cold, extremely cold. So, in order to combat that, a remote habitat has to have a means of maintaining and producing heat. The following are solutions:

1. The habitat is built out of concrete, and since concrete is good at keeping the cold out, it is a first "defense" for the Arctic cold.
2. Double concrete wall system. The "double wall system" (as aforementioned in step 2: Basic Structure) allows for an extra layer of protection against the cold, and provides space for modern insulation such as spray polyurethane foam, loose fill fiberglass, cellulose, etc. The system is basically a normal wall structure, only made out of concrete rather than wood (as is traditional in U.S. homes). This way the cold will stay out, and heat will remain constant.
3. Producing heat. The average home in the U.S. uses a furnace-based/boiler system for heat production, however this relies on fossil fuels for fuel. For this project's Arctic Habitat however, an electric heating system is best (due to the availability of electricity from renewable sources) such as electric radiators, which are efficient energy "users", etc.

With these 3 approaches/solutions heating in the Arctic should not be a problem, and hence a comfortable living is plausible.

Source (image): Getty - or https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/16563838/how-much-cost-run-oil-filled-radiator/

Another key component to living in a remote environment is that itself: living. One cannot thrive in an environment if they have no access to leisure, recreational activities and connection to the outside world. So, what is involved in livability? Two main things:

1. Connection to the world, a.k.a. the Internet. In order to get internet connection in a remote location such as the North Pole, the use of satellite based internet technology would be required (an example of a satellite is in the model above, which is built out of copper (a cold resistant metal) and aluminum (for the dish, which is standard to every satellite dish). Now satellite based internet relies on access to satellites, this is where Starlink (an internet service company) comes in. Starlink is a company that has been proven to provide sufficient internet access to remote locations, such as the North Pole, etc. Therefore, in this application the usage of Starlink satellites, and satellite dish technology will allow the inhabitants of the Arctic habitat access to the internet, and hence the outside world. The availability of the internet will allow for the usage of social media applications, cable TV, and most importantly an access to education. As seen in the past few years, asynchronous/virtual learning is a very plausible solution to provide education to those in remote areas. Having internet access will facilitate education in any younger/education seeking inhabitants should self-teaching/homeschooling not be an option. (Diagram above briefly explains satellite technology).
2. Activities. Having fun and enjoying life means partaking in activities. As mentioned previously, internet access will allow for digital/electronic based activities such as gaming/television. When it comes to more physical activities, exercise machines/facilities (such as digital weights like the Tonal or the Vitruvian Trainer + which will help save space, as well as cardiovascular based machines such as a recumbent bike, treadmill, rowing machine, etc.) could be installed in either the storage or living spaces in the Arctic Habitat allowing for the maintenance of health. Outdoor activities are limited in the North Pole, however snow-based play, sledding, etc. could be viable depending on habitat location.

Tonal Image source: https://www.tonal.com/product/tonal/

1. What if extreme environment habitats embraced their unique surroundings to enhance human well-being?
2. From doing this project I have learned that if extreme environment habitats embraced their surroundings, then there is no place in the world that humans cannot exist. As proven by this project itself, by embracing the wildlife and weather conditions of the Arctic we are able to create a habitat that is mostly self-sustainable, which is proof of the technological advancements that humanity can create when we integrate ourselves into and use the uniqueness of our planet. If extreme environment habitats embraced their surroundings, humans would be able to live in a type of unprecedented coexistence with nature. If we embrace and learn to work with nature, there is no limit to what the human race can do.
3. What did you learn through this process that you could apply to addressing a problem of the built environment in your own community? 
4. In most communities currently the main sources of energy are fossil fuels, be that vehicles, housing, etc. By completing this project I was able to learn more about renewable energy, more about conservative living, etc, and I believe that the implementation of those techniques can help ease years of fossil fuel use, as we continue to develop even more efficient energy sources that do not harm the environment, making our entire planet that much more...resilient.