AI Is Emerging as a Key Tool in Developing Russia’s Arctic
Alexander Vorotnikov outlines the main areas where technology could accelerate development across the country’s northern territories.
Artificial intelligence could become an indispensable tool for the comprehensive development of Russia’s Arctic. It enables remote geological exploration, has the potential to improve quality of life in hard-to-reach areas, and can model the consequences of policy and infrastructure decisions.
That view was shared with RIA Novosti by Alexander Vorotnikov, coordinator of the Expert Council of PORA and an associate professor at the Institute of Social Sciences of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
Research Without On-Site Presence
The Arctic is characterized by permafrost and harsh weather conditions, while only a limited share of the region — no more than 30% — has been explored, Vorotnikov said. Artificial intelligence makes it possible to conduct research without researchers being physically present on site.
By analyzing existing datasets, AI systems can identify hidden correlations and draw conclusions about the potential of specific areas, he said. For example, after processing geological data, AI can determine what resources a given area may contain, assess economic risks, and even suggest optimal extraction technologies.
One example, he noted, comes from scientists at Perm National Research Polytechnic University, who have developed a technology that allows viscous Arctic oil to be extracted safely without thawing permafrost. The team created a virtual well twin that calculates heat distribution with high precision and directs energy precisely to the oil reservoir, minimizing impact on frozen ground.
Digital Twins of Cities, Wells, and Roads
Vorotnikov also highlighted the creation of digital twins as a key area of the Arctic’s digital transformation. This approach extends beyond mineral extraction: today, entire cities or industrial facilities can be digitally replicated to model the outcomes of different decisions.
Road construction itself is especially challenging in permafrost conditions — and here, too, AI plays a role. Researchers at the same Perm-based university have developed a digital twin of a future road that predicts how geosynthetically reinforced road structures will behave on weak soils.
The algorithm analyzes 13 parameters of the road structure and soil, producing two key indicators: the degree of surface subsidence under load and stress levels in the reinforcing material.
Telemedicine, Logistics, and Ice Monitoring
AI is also critical for environmental protection and sustainable development in the Arctic. Specialists from the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have introduced a rapid monitoring method for frozen soils that can instantly detect changes in permafrost — a capability seen as vital for protecting buildings, roads, and utilities amid rapid climate change.
Advanced technologies are also expected to improve management of shipping along the Northern Sea Route by enabling more accurate forecasts of ice conditions and weather. Scientists at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology have already learned how to model Arctic ice behavior on computers.
The adoption of advanced technologies could also address pressing social challenges. In education and telemedicine, AI could help provide residents of remote Arctic settlements with access to quality services. Recently, authorities in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug proposed using drones to deliver parcels and marketplace goods directly to the homes of Indigenous residents in the tundra.
Taken together, Vorotnikov said, the active deployment of advanced technologies is a key prerequisite for the successful development and long-term growth of Russia’s Arctic.
