In July 2025, a scientific expedition to Greenland gathered new data on the evolution of Arctic glaciers through the combined use of satellite imagery and a DJI Enterprise drone.
The mission was led by French explorer Jean-Louis Étienne, the first man to reach the North Pole solo on foot.
The mission took place aboard the research sailboat Perseverance, led by renowned French explorer Jean-Louis Étienne — the first person to reach the North Pole solo on foot. Throughout his career, Étienne has championed a form of exploration that directly contributes to science. His expeditions consistently integrate advanced technologies, transforming exploration missions into fully operational scientific platforms.
Perseverance is the world’s largest oceanographic research sailboat
Today, Perseverance is the world’s largest oceanographic research sailboat. The vessel is equipped with a wide range of sensors and measurement instruments designed to collect environmental data continuously while navigating through polar waters.
Technology and Exploration: The Team Behind the Mission
Two specialists joined the expedition with a shared goal: using modern technologies to produce scientifically valuable data.
Matthieu Lys
Head of Innovation at Airbus Defence and Space and a passionate explorer, Matthieu Lys supervised the acquisition of satellite imagery during the mission. He also played a key role in building scientific partnerships that supported the expedition’s research objectives.
Nicolas Samsoen
Drone operator and filmmaker, Nicolas Samsoen specializes in aerial cinematography and FPV drone piloting. A long-time user of the DJI ecosystem, he has recently focused on drone-based 3D modeling, particularly in professional and industrial environments.
For this mission, Nicolas deployed the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (M3E) to capture high-precision photogrammetry data across several glacial environments.
The DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise captured high-precision photogrammetry data across several glacial environments.
This hybrid satellite + drone approach provides a powerful multi-scale perspective that is particularly valuable for climate research.
A research collaboration was established with the University of Aberdeen to study glacier evolution in Greenland.
The project is led by glaciologist William Harcourt, a professor at the university. Harcourt has extensive experience using 3D glacier modeling in polar environments, including research conducted in Svalbard.
The new combined dataset—satellite imagery paired with high-resolution drone photogrammetry will now be integrated into both his research and his university teaching.
Data collected during the Greenland expedition represents a valuable scientific contribution, particularly for comparative analysis of Arctic glacier dynamics.
This large-scale coverage demonstrates the capability of compact enterprise drones to support ambitious scientific missions.
Despite flight altitudes exceeding 300 meters, the resulting photogrammetric models delivered impressive levels of detail and accuracy.
3D model of the Eqip Sermia Glacier captured with the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise drone
Also known as Jakobshavn Glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq is the fastest-moving glacier in the world.
During the mission, multiple 3D models of icebergs were generated near the fjord’s mouth. These models help researchers analyze glacial fragmentation processes and better understand the dynamic behavior of the glacier front.
One of the key lessons from this expedition is the growing accessibility of scientific technologies.
Thanks to compact drones and increasingly powerful 3D modeling software, qualified civilian operators can now contribute meaningfully to field-based scientific projects. What once required large institutional resources can now be carried out with lightweight, mobile equipment.
This collaborative model opens the door to research that is more agile, more responsive, and more accessible.
This expedition demonstrates how exploration, technological innovation, and international scientific collaboration can significantly enhance climate research.
At a time when the Arctic is undergoing rapid transformation, the complementarity between satellite observation and drone-based data acquisition represents a strategic tool for understanding and documenting the evolving dynamics of glaciers.
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