Telematics firm Geotab helping British scientists take a comfier poo in the Antarctic

London, UK (1 April, 2025)  – Poo probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Antarctica. Instead, we picture vast white landscapes, towering ice sheets, and waddling penguins. But dealing with human waste is a key part of life on the frozen continent. 

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is dedicated to minimising the environmental impact of human waste in Antarctica through strict waste management strategies that comply with international protocols. Under the Antarctic Treaty, strict regulations govern how waste, including sewage, must be treated, stored, and disposed of within all land and ocean south of the 60th parallel south (60°S).

On long traverses, BAS scientists sometimes use makeshift toilets: a bucket in the snow with a wooden seat, sometimes inside a toilet tent (pictured), if they’re lucky. For proper disposal, the collected waste is then transported back to the research station. It’s not the most comfortable experience in subzero temperatures.

Now, BAS is using vehicle tracking technology from Canadian telematics firm Geotab to map where field camps are stopping for comfort breaks. The aim: to build up a picture of comfort break frequency during a project deployment. This allows BAS to make provisions for a more comfortable experience and manage waste better, staying compliant and keeping the environment clean.

“Recording where people go to the loo might sound like odd behaviour, but it’s fundamental to the work we’re doing out here,” says Ben Norrish, Head of Vehicle Engineering for the British Antarctic Survey. “We have a legal requirement to minimise the environmental impact of human waste in Antarctica but want to make it as comfortable as possible for our researchers. A warm seat indoors beats a bucket in the snow every time.”

Avoiding ‘code brown’ in the Antarctic

In Antarctica, there is no cell service, making it difficult for researchers in the field to stay in touch when they are on the move or track where they’ve been. To this end, BAS is fitting 75 vehicles, including Sno-Cats and snowmobiles, with customised Geotab GO devices linked to the IRIDIUM satellite network. 

The custom devices offer different coloured switches for various trackable features, such as ‘red’ for distress beacon, ‘white’ for refuelling, ‘black’ for crevasse marking, ‘yellow’ for biological break and ‘green’ for setting up camp.

“Live tracking teams on the ice makes route planning more precise and improves safety,” says Russell Cockerton, a Senior Automotive Specialist at Geotab. “We have created a customised device tailored to the harsh, remote environment. What started out as telematics technology is now a potential life saver in the Antarctic.”

This information is not only vital to the safety of the researchers in the field, but also shows where and how frequently field teams stop for toilet breaks during a deployment.

“With the help of Geotab telematics, going to the loo in the Antarctic can be more than just grabbing a bucket and jumping behind a snowmobile,” added Norrish at BAS. “It could lead to providing a little slice of home, just maybe without the quilted paper.”