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Research Vessel POLARSTERN
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| A Large-Scale Floating Laboratory |
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| The most important tool in Germany's polar research program is the POLARSTERN, a research and supply vessel. Since she was first commissioned in 1982, the POLARSTERN has completed more than 30 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. She was specially designed for working in the polar seas and is currently the most sophisticated polar research vessel in the world. |
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| Research at Sea |
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The ship is equipped for biological, geological, geophysical, glaciological, chemical,
oceanographic and meteorological research, and contains nine research laboratories.
Additional laboratory containers may be stowed on and below deck. Refrigerated
rooms and aquariums permit the transport of samples and living marine fauna.
Research equipment and measuring instruments are positioned with the help of
cranes and winches, sometimes at extreme depths. Special sounding devices
with depth ranges of up to 10,000 meters, which can penetrate up to 150 meters
into the sea floor, are available for scientific investigations. The computer
system on board continuously captures and stores meteorological, oceanographic
and other data as required.
The ship has a crew of at most 44, and additionally offers work facilities for 50 scientists and technicians.
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| Powerful and Technical Marvel |
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The POLARSTERN is a double-hulled icebreaker operational at
temperatures as low as -50 °C, which enables her to winter in
the ice sheets of the polar seas. The POLARSTERN can break
through ice 1.5 meters thick at a speed of approx. five knots.
Thicker ice must be broken by ramming.
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| Online Data Management with PODAS |
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By order of the shipping company F.L.Laeisz Werum has implemented the
Online Data Management System PODAS on board the POLARSTERN,
which is based on their product
DSHIP.
The system's functionality supports the capturing and
management of scientific data on board the vessel.
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| Paperless Log |
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Information on the employment of scientific equipment is recorded in a paperless log.
Any required data on campaign, user, leg, and position are automatically retrieved
from PODAS without discontinuity of media. Thus, it is no longer necessary to compile
data from various systems - simple mouse clicks do to select it.
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| Online Integration of Scientific Equipment |
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Varying devices are connected to the PODAS system. The scientists who stay
aboard for a period of four to six weeks bring them for their specific research
work. PODAS enables an online integration of equipment in running operation. So,
interface addressing and parameterization of data streams and the quantities
to be measured is possible 24 hours a day.
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| Scientific Network |
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The system is based on the Test Data Management System DAVIS
which runs reliably while being distributed to three SUN systems and is linked
in three networks for acquisition, administration, and evaluation.
The system can be accessed from the various workstations, from the bridge
and all cabins. Up to 150 users at the same time can work with PODAS.
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| Further Information |
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For more information on the research vessel POLARSTERN visit:
 Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)
F. Laeisz Shipping Group
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