The European Space Agency is developing an innovative tool that integrates real-time positioning, data sharing, voice chat and much more.

This tool is called the Electronic Field Book, an all-in-one, easy-to-use platform that combines geological features with communications. This plug-and-play device is more than a means to take notes or check information on a tablet. An upgraded version of Electronic Field Book was used for the first time during the Pangaea 2018 campaign in Lanzarote, Spain.

Field repeaters with a reach of up to 100 m ensured communication with the science teams, even during an expedition inside a lava tube. The Electronic Field Book can record every step of the expedition and link the samples to places, and to other sets of samples. Every interaction with the scientists is also stored in the system.

The Field Book integrates inputs from other external tools such as microscopes, 360-degree cameras or spectrometers. Site maps, a glossary and a library of minerals are also available at your fingertips.  

More about Pangaea: https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Caves/What_is_Pangaea

Pangaea blog: http://blogs.esa.int/caves/category/pangaea/

Credits: Enzo Procopio