ICEBOX project

Sea ice forecasts -in a box- for informed Arctic Navigation

A photo

The concept

IceBox aims to transform Arctic navigation by bringing powerful, AI-driven forecasting directly onto ships. The project will develop a portable “Forecast-in-a-Box” system, a compact computing platform equipped with modern graphics processors that can collect data, run advanced machine learning models, and deliver ultra-high-resolution sea-ice and weather forecasts in real time. By combining satellite imagery, drifting buoy measurements, and onboard sensors, IceBox will generate detailed forecasts with resolutions down to around 100 meters, tailored to the vessel’s immediate surroundings. A key innovation is running the entire forecasting workflow locally or through edge computing, allowing ships to produce on-demand predictions even in remote regions with limited connectivity. The system will be co-designed and tested in close collaboration with users, ensuring that it meets real operational needs in harsh Arctic environments. By making high-resolution, real-time forecasts directly accessible to those navigating the Arctic, IceBox will improve safety, reduce environmental risks, and support more efficient maritime operations. The project will also share data, tools, and results openly, contributing to scientific progress and the development of next-generation digital services for the Arctic. A photo The animation is showing a 24-hour AI-generated sequence, based on two input images of the Landsat-8 patches north of Svalbard. The method used is the Real-time intermediate flow estimation algorithm (RIFE, Huang et al. 2020). The coloured dots are positions of buoys deployed during the SvalMIZ-24 campaign

The consortium

Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Norway

Dr. Malte Müller is the lead-PI of the IceBox project. Malte is a senior scientist at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. His research interests include high-resolution coupled ocean, sea-ice, and atmosphere modelling and the provision of weather and climate information to end-users.

Dr. Jean Rabault co-leads Work Package 1. Jean is a researcher at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. He ...

Dr. Paulina Tedesco leads Work Package 2. Paulina is a researcher at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. She ...

Håvard Futsæter leads Work Package 3. Håvard ....

Dr. Dina Abdel-Fattah leads Work Package 4. Dina is a researcher at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. ...

Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Norway

Dr. Anton Korosov leads Work Package 1. Anton ...

Dr. Julian Brajard co-leads Work Package 2. Anton ...

Henni Wilborn leads Work Package 5. ...