1. New book on observation of the environment from
space
As with terrorism, which many industrialized nations are
contending with, environmental risks can endanger
people's lives on a global scale and thus call for a
global response. José Achache, who is director for
Earth observation at the European Space Agency and
author of Les sentinelles de la Terre, makes this
comparison in his new book. He says that the fight against climate change will be a long one, conducted on several fronts:
scientific, technological, economic and political.
Keeping the environment safe will require a lot of investment, innovation and
technology.
Preventing natural or man-made disasters involves improving understanding of our environment and
how it functions. For this, Achache proposes that
states acquire an environmental intelligence capability. In his view, the first step would be to develop an environmental information
system that would serve as a global surveillance and forecasting system,
and as a political instrument for worldwide governance and security.
This would require the coordination of space and terrestrial observation facilities and the
environment-modeling capacity of all partner nations.
For more information, please visit: ,
where this synopsis appears.
2. Submit your letter of interest to the SOAR Program
In preparation for the launch of RADARSAT-2, the Science and Operational Applications Research
Program (SOAR) will make a limited number of images
available for developing new applications and for
research and development purposes for when the satellite
begins operating. This Announcement of Opportunity is
open to international scientists and operational users from
academia, industry and government.
If you need the dual polarization, three-metre resolution, fully polarimetric radar capability of RADARSAT-2's advanced modes, then this
program is for you!
To submit your on-line Letter of Interest to the SOAR program, please visit www.RADARSAT2.info.
Contact:
Daniel De Lisle
SOAR Coordination Office
Canadian Space Agency
Tel: (450) 926-6611
E-mail: SOAR@space.gc.ca
3. Program in support to the CEOS/ESA Tiger Initiative
Following the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development held in 2002, the European Space Agency
launched the
Tiger Initiative—an Earth observation (EO) initiative focused on
integrated water resource management in Africa. The aim is to facilitate the integration of
data from space instruments with technology in hydrological and hydro-geological practices through:
coordination of relevant projects and activities in water resources management where space data can be a useful improvement to current
practices provision of EO data, capacity building and technical support in the development of EO projects.
CSA is offering a key role for Canadian expertise and
know-how in EO for cooperation and sustainable development of resources.
CSA will facilitate access to related market opportunities supported by donor agencies involved in Africa
In order to achieve these objectives, CSA is issuing a Request For Proposals (RFP)
through the Earth Observation Applications Development Program
(EOADP). We are looking for projects that will ultimately provide a sustainable
service and/or product to African organizations responsible for integrated water
resource management.
|
|
José
Achache's new book.
The Science and Operational Applications Research
Program (SOAR) for RADARSAT-2 is a joint partnership program
offered by RADARSAT International, MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates,
and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Space Agency
and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing of Natural Resources
Canada.
RADARSAT-1
image of Sicily, Italy from May 14, 2004, 04:53 UTC.
(Image from the Canadian Space Agency)
Control of infectious
diseases in Africa.
(Photo courtesy of Swiss Tropical Institute)
The dramatic evolution of Earth
observation technology
in recent years makes it feasible to support hydropower
operations. It can be done by measuring ground stability, snow and ice
properties via satellite.
(Photo courtesy
of C-CORE)
|
The RFP will be available on www.merx.com..
Contacts:
Yves Crevier
Market Analyst
Commercialization Office
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.: (450) 926-4841
E-mail: yves.crevier@space.gc.ca
Yann Denis
EOADP Project Officer
Commercialization Office
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.: (450) 926-4635
E-mail: yann.denis@space.gc.ca
4. Workshops: The future of geomatics policy in Canada
Geomatics has a direct impact on a number of different sectors across Canada, and this impact is closely linked to geomatics policies. Important questions related to key policy issues need to be asked: What overall strategies for geomatics infrastructure should be a priority? How
is framework data defined? What data should be maintained
in the public interest? There are many more.
The GeoConnections Policy advisory committee and the Geomatics Industry Association of Canada (GIAC) are hosting a series of workshops across Canada, aimed at addressing a number of those key policy issues. These one-day policy forums are being held to:
solicit input on priorities for investment and support in geomatics infrastructure find consensus in the geomatics industry and user community on key policy issues facing the geomatics community as the GeoConnections initiative
comes to an end foster debate on how best to implement various geomatics initiatives provide an informal venue for producers, distributors, and users of geomatics technology, data, and applications to meet and exchange ideas.
For dates, locations, agendas, and more information on the upcoming workshops, please contact GIAC
at (613) 232-8770, or visit www.giac.ca.
5. RADARSAT-1 featured image
Each week, the Canadian Space Agency Web site
features a new image from the RADARSAT-1 satellite.
Simply click on the thumbnail image in the lower right part of
our home page. Along with the image itself, there is an
indication of where the area is located, a short descriptive text of the
image, and a link to the larger sized image. These have
been online since last February, and archived images can be consulted
through link at the bottom of the feature page.
Contact:
Steve Iris
Mission Planning and Data Acquisition
Canadian Space Agency
Telephone:(450) 926-4439
E-mail: steve.iris@space.gc.ca
6. Using Earth observation to control infectious disease
In January 2004, C-CORE was part of a consortium that was awarded a two-year contract to investigate how the latest techniques and applications of remote sensing can be used to study the distribution and control of infectious diseases in Africa.
The project, funded by the European Space Agency, is in partnership with other European remote sensing companies, led by Jena-Optronik, and including Remote Sensing Solutions (RSS) of Germany, Silogic
of France, and GAMMA Remote Sensing of Switzerland.
Epidemiology specialists from the Swiss Tropical Institute (STI) in Basel, Switzerland will provide
the connections to end-user organizations. C-CORE will provide
the urban mapping products needed by the end users.
Contact:
Sherry McHugh
Research Scientist
C-CORE
Tel.: (709) 737-7696
E-mail: sherry.mchugh@c-core.ca
Web: www.c-core.ca
7. Earth observation boosts hydropower development
Hydropower operators require timely and accurate information to respond to fluctuations in demand and supply and to ensure efficient resource management from environmental and economic standpoints.
Through the European Space Agency, C-CORE has joined forces with a number of European and Canadian collaborators to provide Earth
observation services to the hydropower industry.
Collecting all the information by conventional, field-based means poses significant challenges when large, remote and inaccessible areas have to be surveyed. Under these circumstances, Earth
observation is an ideal tool for cost effective and reliable data collection.
Over the next three years, the project team will develop an integrated global service capacity, bringing together various levels of industry players in Canada and Europe. Ultimately, the team envisions providing operational services to hydropower operators from three regional service
centres in Canada, Scandinavia and Europe's Alpine region.
Contact:
Thomas Puestow
Research Scientist
C-CORE
Tel.: (709) 737-2586
E-mail: thomas.puestow@c-core.ca
Web: www.c-core.ca
|
|
