Mapping one of the last equatorial glaciers

Puncak Jaya in Papua, Indonesia, is the tallest peak in Oceania and one of the last equatorial mountains with glaciers. Part of the 7 Summits, it is home to what locals call Salju Abadil, the Eternity Glaciers, but the ice has retreated drastically due to climate change.

While adventurers used to be able to walk up the mountain, access was stopped in 2017 due to heightened security surrounding the region’s mining operations. It reopened recently, allowing Project Pressure to start an expedition up the mountain. Their goal was to create the first-ever 3D photogrammetry model of the remaining ice before it disappears.

The ascent up Puncak Jaya begins

The journey began in Papua’s coastal city of Timika, the gateway to the mountain. Logistics were a challenge; there was no hotspot for infrastructure, and the team faced problems, such as helicopters breaking down and general logistical chaos.

A helicopter is the only way to access Puncak Jaya, and every kilo counts. The team weighs in to ensure they can safely fly. Image credit: Klaus Thymann

Because of the terrain and security, a helicopter was the only way to access Puncak Jaya. In the tropics, a helicopter can only fly if it is clear, and pilots will typically only fly until 10:00 AM. There should be no clouds in three places: in Timika, in the valley where the helicopter flies through, and on the mountain itself. Only if all three areas are clear can the helicopter fly.

A rare clear morning allowed for takeoff, flying over rivers and rainforest. The helicopter navigated at high altitude with mountains on all sides, lifting the team from sea level to over 4,000 meters.

The team arrived at Basecamp in Puncak Jaya’s Yellow Valley. It was an unusually quick ascent—from sea level to 4,150m in about 25 minutes. This rapid change in altitude took a toll and more chaos ensued; the guide developed mountain sickness and became unable to walk.

Mapping glaciers with drones and photogrammetry

Trekking from basecamp to the glacier survey takes the team past several small lakes created by the consistent mountain rain. Image Credit: Klaus Thymann

Once they reached the survey point, expedition leader Klaus Thymann placed colorful ground control targets and used the Trimble Catalyst GNSS positioning service. Geolocation points were installed (crucial for anchoring the drone imagery to exact coordinates), and data were captured across multiple sites with a Hasselblad-lensed cinema camera drone.

Klaus also utilized a technique he pioneered during a previous Project Pressure expedition to the Rwenzori Mountains. This technique involved scouting launch positions using satellite images before arrival in Papau. In order to get a clear capture, he waited for the weather to clear. He left base camp before dawn in order to establish operations before sunrise.

High-altitude drone surveying

The glacier is beyond the standard trekking routes, so Klaus is joined by a local military guard who lends a hand during the survey process. Image Credit: Project Pressure

The team was joined by a local military guard and had military escorts at all times, Klaus was even assisted by the guard during the survey process. Despite challenging conditions, the team successfully established ground control points and conducted the drone surveys. A final clear morning allowed them to capture extensive images of the glacier area.

The team flew two drones: a primary unit for the main survey and a second to fly very close between the rocks to try and capture the glacier. They took thousands of georeferenced images using ground control points.

The mission was not without its hurdles; a temporary loss of radio link triggered an automatic return-to-home sequence, highlighting the technical risks of high-altitude operations. Persistent weather delays strained food supplies and tested the team’s resilience.

At the survey point, expedition leader Klaus Thymann places colorful ground control targets and uses a drone to take thousands of high-resolution images of the area. Image Credit: Klaus Thymann.

The glacier is beyond the standard trekking routes, so Klaus is joined by a local military guard who lends a hand during the survey process. Image Credit: Project Pressure

The descent

After the successful drone surveys, the focus shifted to the descent. Which was tense due to weather, food supplies, and contingency planning for time spent at altitude. After four days of waiting, they were eventually helicoptered out as the very last people. This was just in time as the Indonesian government closes the mountain during this season due to too much rebel activity, which makes the mountain unsafe even with armed military.

Ice once covered the top of the mountain from one ridge to another and in between, but now it is concentrated in the saddle between them. Image Credit: Klaus Thymann

Project details

The data was processed in PIX4Dmatic, The PIX4Dmatic team supported data processing in order to generate the necessary quality 3D model. This model will serve as a digital model that has preserved the state of the vanishing glacier for both scientific study and future generations.

The remaining ice on Puncak Jaya is likely to disappear within the next few years. The 3D photogrammetry model created from this expedition will offer a visual legacy of the glacier for future generations. Image Credit: Klaus Thymann