Drones and digital twins help spot permafrost thaw in Alaska
Engineers in Alaska are using drones and digital twin technology to detect melting permafrost beneath infrastructure built on frozen ground.
Hidden ice threatens foundations
Wainwright, Alaska sits between the Chukchi Sea and a vast tundra where homes rest on frozen ground. Large bodies of ice exist just below the surface in this region. When that hidden ice melts, roads can sink and buildings may tilt.
A study estimates damage costs
Research from 2025 suggests permafrost thaw could cost Alaska between $37 billion and $51 billion. This financial impact covers damage to buildings and roads alone. A regional map cannot tell builders how a specific foundation will survive rising temperatures.
New methods reveal weaknesses
Civil engineers have spent the past decade studying how infrastructure responds to faster Arctic temperature rises. They are developing techniques that allow them to see beneath the surface of the ground. These tools help find weaknesses before they cause structural failure.
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