Earth and Environment

Canadian Legislation for Space Data Acquisition

Canadian remote sensing satellites provide important information on the distribution of groundwater, mineral, oil and gas deposits. Data gathered helps studies in oceanography, cartography, geology, hydrology, agriculture, and forestry. During disasters, satellite information contributes to emergency response management. High-performance remote sensing space systems may have both civil and military capabilities. They can be used to enhance Canada’s security and sovereignty, especially in remote areas.

To protect Canada’s national security, national defence and foreign policy interests, legislation has recently been tabled that will regulate the operation of space-based remote sensing systems.

The legislation takes into account the involvement of private sector companies in remote sensing. It supports the internationally competitive Canadian space industry.

Other features of the proposed legislation:

• The Government of Canada can license the operation of remote sensing satellite systems and regulate how the data products are distributed.

• While Canadian companies can own and operate remote sensing satellites, the Government of Canada can order priority access or interrupt normal service. This protects Canada's national security, defence, and international interests.

• It defines how government departments and agencies will monitor and enforce these laws.

“Satellite remote sensing is an important industry. It provides Canada with tools for monitoring the environment and managing natural resources," said David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency. He also noted that our country's coastal surveillance and ice reconnaissance activities are critical.

For more on this legislation, see the news section of Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada.

Accidental and illegal oil discharge in Canada’s coastal waters account for the deaths of large numbers of migratory seabirds each year. Analysis of dead birds has shown that the origin for a large percentage is machinery oil from ships. Such discharges are an offence against the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, as well as the Canada Shipping and Fisheries acts. Discharges often occur in extreme weather conditions and aircraft surveillance equipment does not currently have the ability to detect them. Canadian surveillance greatly enhances efforts to reduce spills and protect the marine environment. 

The Government of Canada's Integrated Satellite Tracking of Polluters, or ISTOP program, performs regular surveillance over Canada's coasts. This multi-agency government initiative evaluates the usefulness of the radar of RADARSAT-1 in marine oil-spill detection. The initiative streamlines government responses by helping to guide pollution patrol aircraft to areas where oil spills are suspected, and focus cleanup and other efforts.

This is the first time that ISTOP has observed a reported release of oil. Surveillance operations have usually detected illegal bilge oil releases from passing vessels.

Contact person:
Hugh O'Neill
Environmental Quality Laboratories
Environment Canada
(506) 851-2898
hugh.o'neill@ec.gc.ca

• It defined "Space and Water for Life." This is the 10-year implementation plan. The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry of South Africa will promote African water management through space applications through the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW).

• The TIGER projects of the European and Canadian space agencies were consolidated into groups that reflect priorities in Africa's water management. This should improve collaboration between project leaders on technology, capacity building, and sustainability activities.

During its workshop, the Canadian Space Agency presented Canada's progress on the initiative and released the RADARSAT-1 Africa Mosaic (continental and national). For more information on Canada's participation in the TIGER initiative, see www.space.gc.ca/tiger.

Now Canadian satellite images are being used to measure changes over time in the Patagonian icefield.

The Canadian Space Agency recently provided Dendron Resource Surveys Inc. with three images taken by RADARSAT-1 between January 1999 and April 2002 to help map the recession of four glaciers. The San Rafael and San Quintín glaciers have retreated about 400 metres in this period, while large areas of floating ice on the Nef glacier have melted.

This study demonstrates the value of Canada's RADARSAT images for monitoring glaciers.

For more information, please contact:

Carol Hopkins
Project Manager
Dendron Resource Surveys Inc.
Tel.: (613) 725-2971
E-mail: carol@dendron.com

Christine Giguère
EOADP Project Officer
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.: (450) 926-6559
E-mail: christine.giguere@space.gc.ca

Kim's software was subsequently uploaded to the spacecraft. The flight telemetry and images produced by the spacecraft validate that the invention is working properly, thus saving RADARSAT-1 and increasing its operational life. The award carries a prize of $5,000.

For more details on the awards and the technologies that Canadian Space Agency scientists and engineers develop, please contact:

Sidharth Saraf
Manager of Intellectual Property
Tel.: (450) 926-6576

Conference in India on Geospatial Technology for Mapping

Map India 2005 will be held February 7 to 9, 2005 in Delhi, India. It will be the eighth annual international conference and exhibition for geographic information technologies. While addressing the Geographic Information System, Global Positioning System, as well as aerial photography and remote sensing, the conference aims to provide a platform for the convergence, sharing, and use of technologies and experiences in the geospatial domain.

This event provides a unique platform for the exchange of ideas between map producers, users, academic institutions, industry, technology developers, and policy makers. Some 1,200 delegates from India and 300 from other countries are expected to participate.

For more information, see www.mapindia.org or contact:

Pak Chagarlamudi
Manager, Geomatics
Natural Resources Canada
Tel.: (613) 996-7644
Fax: (613) 995-8737
E-mail: pchagarl@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

International Forest Fire meeting to showcase Canadian fire monitoring systems

To provide a forum for information exchange, Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) is a coordinated international effort that ensures a continuous program of forest and other land cover observations from space and from the ground. The program also supports international assessments and environmental treaties, contributes to the management of natural resources, and helps understand global change.

The essence of the GOFC-GOLD strategy is to develop and demonstrate operational forest and land cover monitoring at the regional and global scales. It will do this by conducting pilot projects and developing prototype products for three themes:

• Forest cover characteristics and changes

• Forest fire monitoring and mapping

• Forest biophysical processes

The Forest Fire Monitoring and Mapping Implementation Team will hold an annual meeting and workshop February 7 to 9, 2005. The event will held at the John H. Chapman Space Centre, Canadian Space Agency headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec. Attendees include the 15 international members of the fire team and invited representatives from Canadian agencies. An open seminar will be held on the first day to showcase Canadian and international state-of-the-art fire monitoring, mapping, and modeling activities and products.

GOFC-GOLD is a panel of the Global Terrestrial Observing System, sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNESCO, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Council for Scientific Unions, and the United Nations Environment Program. The GOFC-GOLD Secretariat is hosted by Canada, supported by the Canadian Space Agency and Natural Resources Canada. Other contributing agencies include NASA, the European Space Agency, START (the Global Change System for Analysis Research and Training), and the Joint Research Centre of the European Union. Further information can be obtained at www.fao.org/gtos/gofc-gold

For more information on the seminar, please contact:

GOFC-GOLD Project Office
Natural Resources Canada / Canadian Forest Service Northern Forestry Centre
Tel: (780) 435-7210
E-mail: GOFC-GOLD@nrcan.gc.ca

A newcomer at CCRS as Remote Sensing Thematic Specialist

The Canadian Space Agency is pleased to announce the appointment of Stéphane Chalifoux to the position of remote sensing analyst in the Earth Observation Applications and Advisory Section of the Applications Division of the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, which has an office at the Canadian Space Agency.

While contributing to the Earth Sciences Sector programs of Natural Resources Canada, Stéphane will have an advisory role at the Canadian Space Agency as a specialist in land cover and will be responsible for linking with the Government Related Initiatives Program (GRIP) team.

Stéphane Chalifoux can be reached at (450) 926-6749.

The Science and Operational Applications Research (SOAR) program for RADARSAT-2 is a joint partnership program between RADARSAT International, MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, and the Government of Canada (through the Canadian Space Agency and Natural Resources Canada's Canada Centre for Remote Sensing). The program provides access for research and testing purposes to the data of RADARSAT-2 once it has been launched.

This is a reminder that Letters of Interest are being accepted for the SOAR program until December 31, 2004. For more information on the program and downloadable files on the submission process, visit www.radarsat2.info/soar/rs2_soar_info.asp

SOAR Coordination Office
Canadian Space Agency
6767 Route de l'Aéroport
Longueuil, Quebec J3Y 8Y9
Tel.: (450) 926-6611
Fax: (450) 926-4449
E-mail: soar@space.gc.ca

RADARSAT2.info