1. Interest solicited: Earth observation applications for polarimetric data
A data acquisition mission is planned in September 2004 using a Convair 580. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA), is collaborating with Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada (Canada Centre for Remote Sensing) and the Department of National Defence.
It is an opportunity to collect data for specific projects suggested by the industry and their partners. Thus, CSA is invites Canadian companies to submit expressions of interest for applied research projects using polarimetric data within the framework of the Earth Observation Applications Program (EOADP).
Bidders are asked to consider study sites for their projects in:
. the Ottawa region
. the Vancouver region, including coastal and marine zones
. the Ottawa–Vancouver corridor
Letters of interest should be submitted to CSA by August 13, 2004. Details on this opportunity are currently posted on MERX: .
Contact:
Suzanne Carrière
Contracting Officer
Canadian Space Agency
(450) 926-4427
2. Canada–France Colloquium on Earth Observation
In Paris, on June 18, 2004, the French space agency CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales,) the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA) held a colloquium on Earth observation. It was to promote transatlantic collaboration while commemorating Canada–France 1604–2004 celebrations.
Presentations on Earth observation activities by the three space agencies were delivered by Jean-Jacques Dordain (ESA), Marc Garneau (CSA) and Stéphane Janichewski (CNES). The United Nations signed its declaration on the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters.
The main theme for the day focused on emerging Earth observation applications with speakers from government, international organizations and the private sector presenting their activities and views. Many emerging applications were presented.
There are new needs, such as the ability to update, revisit and use data quickly. Soil and vegetation monitoring based on new and representative parameters is another emerging application, and there is a need for high-spectral and multi-date resolution, and precision agriculture.
This event highlighted the need to capitalize on the appeal of space and make Earth observation data and products more easily accessible. It also concluded there was a need to provide decision makers with the information they require to implement policies on the environment and sustainable development.
All three agencies are contributing to initiatives that clearly demonstrate how Earth observation brings tangible benefits to people. Some of these are: European GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), the TIGER project for sustainable development in Africa and the initiative to make use of remote sensing data and imagery for monitoring of UNESCO's world heritage sites.
Contact:
Manon Larocque
Manager, International Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.(450) 926-4363
3. Globwetland splashes into action!
The GlobWetland project aims to make demonstration products based on Earth observation to help wetland managers to better monitor and assess the condition of wetlands within their respective countries. Atlantis-Scientific was awarded the project in November 2003 and the team recently held a milestone review meeting with the European Space Agency in Frascati, Italy.
They reviewed Task 1 activities for user requirement consolidation by defining the products to be delivered to end users, the scales at which the information will be delivered, and the Earth observation and supporting field/ancillary data that will be used to create the information products. The project team will deliver over 155 products to 17 different countries for 50 GlobWetland sites.
Currently, the project team is finalizing field data collection planning and entering the engineering design task to create prototypes for their products. These will be used to test the methodology and end products with selected end users. Phase 1 of the project should be complete by December 2004. After another review with ESA and some end users, Phase 2 will see the remaining products delivered for use by all 50 sites.
The GlobWetland site contains an interactive Web GIS application, which can be used to view the location of the 50 wetland sites as well as some sample products.
Contact:
Kevin R. Jones
Atlantis-Scientific
Tel.(613) 727-1087
4. ENVISAT – Symposium, September 6 to 10, 2004
ESA invites you to participate in the ENVISAT & ERS Symposium, to be held in Salzburg, Austria, September 6 to 10, 2004. The 2004 ENVISAT & ERS Symposium follows similar successful events in Gothenburg (2000), Florence (1997), Hamburg (1993) and Cannes (1992).
The main objectives of the ENVISAT & ERS Symposium are:
. to provide a forum for investigators to present results of ongoing research activities
. to review and assess the development of applications and services
The event is open to interested parties—anyone from scientists to operational users. The scientific program is composed of about 650 presentations organized in 50 thematic sessions dealing with the exploitation of the ERS and ENVISAT missions for science and applications development.
For more information on themes, submissions and more, please visit:
5. Request for Proposals
The most recent Earth observation applications development program (EOADP) request for proposals (RFP) documents are now available on MERX at . Canadian organizations are invited to submit proposals to conduct pilot projects addressing markets for Earth observation (EO) satellite data.
Projects will concentrate on demonstrating the use of EO data in an operational setting. Proposals have to be received by September 17, 2004 at the latest, and projects should start in November 2004. The total value of this RFP is estimated at $2,000,000. It is anticipated that four or five projects, with a maximum EOADP contribution of $500,000 per project, will be awarded.
Commercialization Office contacts:
Christine Giguère
EOADP Project Officer
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.(450) 926-6559
Denis Auger
Manager, EOADP Program
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.(450) 926-4440
6. First international symposium on geo-information for disaster management
Geo-information
technologies offer an opportunity to aid management and
recovery efforts after industrial accidents, road
collisions, complex emergencies, earthquakes, fires,
floods and similar catastrophes. These context-aware
technologies can provide access to needed information,
facilitate the interoperability of emergency services,
and provide high-quality care to public.
The symposium will
focus primarily on the response and secondarily on the
relief phase of disaster management encouraging a wide
discussion on systems and requirements for use of
geo-information under time and stress constrains and
unfamiliar situations, environments and circumstances. The symposium will address these challenges by
opening discussion between technology developers
(software and hardware), disaster management bodies,
information providers, developers of standards and
users.
Researchers, developers, users and geo-information providers are
cordially invited. Wider participation is sought. To
create and appropriate atmosphere for work and
discussions between different professionals, two types
of sessions are intended, i.e. technical sessions
devoted to research and development and practical
sessions for users and managers.
The symposium will be held at the Delft University of Technology, Delft,
Netherlands, March 21 to 23, 2005.
For more
information, please visit the Space Technology and Disaster Management Web site:
http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/SAP/stdm
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Convair 580
Canada-France 1604-2004.
Globwetland Project.
ENVISAT Symposium.
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