F.R.O.G. - Field Research Outdoor Gear

The consequences of climate change caused by anthropogenic sources are unknown, making the demand for current data increasingly high. At the front lines of providing society with climate data are environmental scientists, whereby government agencies, post-secondary institutions, or industry personnel are among the primary employers. Regardless of their specialty discipline, traversing into often remote wilderness areas to conduct field research remains a central responsibility for environmental researchers. In the context of this study, those working in subarctic ecoregions are the focus. With the temperatures rising in the north at twice the rate of the global average, the natural systems of the subarctic are under extreme stress as a result of melting permafrost, wildfires, extreme snowmelt, and air pollution, to list a few. As environmental scientists help human society get ready for a future in the age of climate change, it is also pertinent to provide them with adequate resources, especially with respect to outfitting gear. By the end of this project, a design solution that reduces the end-to-end pain points for environmental researchers during their field work period is hoped to be met. To provide the basis for the design solution, information was gathered through qualitative interviews with target end-users and through extrapolating knowledge from relevant and valid academic sources. The analysis will be conducted through a live field research scenario by reviewing and comparing the experiences of one wearing the eventual design solution and an outfit of current solutions with the conventional shell jacket, field pants, and footwear. Helping environmental scientists prepare for the physical demanding work of field research with an extra layer of safety, comfort, and professionalism, means also helping humanity prepare for an uncertain future.