In 2005, the government approved the Canadian Space Strategy and the CSA developed specific strategies addressing each of its thrusts, namely Space Exploration, Satellite Communications, Earth Observation, and Learning and Awareness. This presentation reviews the salient points of the Canadian Space Strategy and Earth Observation Strategy and their implementation approach.

An important element of the CSA vision for Canada's future in space is to integrate space in Government of Canada departments and agencies as a tool to fulfill their mandate and reach our Government's goals for Canadians. This presentation highlights CSA's approach to work with other federal departments and international organizations to achieve our vision.

TEKES, the National Technology Agency of Finland, operates proactively in the field of space technology by funding demanding R&D; projects which are carried out by national research institutions and space industry. International actions on Earth Observation are for the most part managed through membership with European Space Agency and active collaboration with international partners. The presentation describes the on-going Earth observation activities in TEKES and the collaboration with CSA.

Space Technologies R&D; programs generate knowledge and push innovation, while leading to increased productivity and economic growth through commercialization. The objective of the Canadian space technology R&D; is to ensure timely and effective technological preparation for future Canadian space missions and activities, worldwide leadership in selected areas; and to provide decisive support in the worldwide competitiveness of Canadian industries. The presentation provides an overview of Space Technologies activities.

The Space Technology Development Program (STDP) is the principal CSA R&D contracting program to support strategic space technology development activities. Through a competitive process, the program supports development of high-risk technologies required for future space missions which have a high international market potential. These technologies are developed by the private sector, universities and not-for-profit organizations. In this presentation, example of STDP projects related to Earth observation are presented.

The Space Technologies Research Program (STRP) comprises the pre-competitive investigation of high risk and long-term technologies development that are promising for space applications. The program is done through internal R&D; and through collaboration with universities, industries and national and international research organizations. The STRP supports the Canadian Space Plan by providing a long-term vision on technology development and by maintaining a strong knowledge base within CSA. Examples of STRP activities related to Earth observation are presented.

Satellite Communications is the largest space-sector activity in Canada. Satellite Communications is critical for Canada given the size of our territory. Communication is also an essential element of any satellite. Three programs support the development of Satcom technologies with the aims of creating worldwide leadership in selected niche area while responding to the needs of Canadians. The Satcom Ground Segment Technology and Applications Development Program invites Canadian organizations to present ideas for forging technical, commercial, economic and social applications of satellite communications technologies in Canada. The Next Generation Satcom System program pursues the study and design of an advanced demonstration payload targeted for flight on a future Canadian satellite. The R&D; and System Studies on Next Generation Satcom Systems program aims at developing advanced concepts and technologies to enable new and innovative satellite communication missions. The presentation provides some examples of future satellite communication systems that could support the Earth Observation sector.

Canada is an associate member of the European Space Agency since 1979. Through ESA, CSA is supporting the development of new technologies for space especially in the fields of Earth observation, satellite communication and space exploration. This presentation focuses on the Canada participation in the ESA Earth Observation Programs that enhance the industry's technological base and provides access to European markets for value- added products and services derived from satellite-based Earth observation data. Emphasis is on the latest development following the recent ESA Ministerial Council meeting (Dec 5–6), which approved some new programs in Earth observation.

In 2003, the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) established a section at the CSA to make use of the natural synergy and complementarity of processes and programs in the use of Earth observation data between the two organizations for the delivery of Government of Canada priorities. This presentation describes the activities of the section and its interface role with the CSA.

Space Technologies is responsible for programs to develop new and advanced applications of Earth observation satellites. The Earth Observation Application Development Program (EOADP) targets the industry and aims to enhance Canada's ground receiving and data processing systems and to develop value-added commercial applications based on data from RADARSAT and other satellites. The Government Related Initiative Program (GRIP) develops applications of Earth observation information that have a strong potential to increase the value of government services. GRIP fosters the use of Canada's space resources by Canadian federal government departments. The program focuses on developing government use of Earth-ocean-atmosphere observation systems and services.

C-CORE, an Atlantic-based organization, is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a Canadian leader in harnessing advanced technologies to create innovative solutions in Intelligent Systems, Remote Sensing, Ice Engineering and Geo-technical Engineering. C-CORE is currently under contract from the European Space Agency to implement Polar View, an international project within the Global Monitoring for Surveillance and Security, a European initiative, which is the object of this presentation.

The presentation reviews some of the successful applications of SAR in Canada. Beginning with the science behind the operational use of RADARSAT for ice reconnaissance, examples of successful airborne SAR developments that have now made their way into operational satellite SAR applications are described. The presentation ends with a look to the future.

This presentation describes how Earth observation is applied to monitor climate change and its impact on ecosystems, the application areas, and the gaps between data offering and user needs. Sources of data, the technology used for data processing, and the archiving of generated data and satellite-based climate data records are presented. Links and service to user community and stakeholders are addressed, and examples of detected trend, impacts and indicators are provided as well as a glimpse into future work.

Natural Resources Canada is enhancing its Canadian Wildland Fire Information System to provide nationally consistent burn area and carbon emissions estimates to meet the requirements of national and international reporting.

This project aims to identify the potential use of RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2 imagery for coastline mapping. Geomat International and Procean Environnement have collaborated with the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, the Canadian Hydrographic Service and Technopole maritime to develop a new approach for mapping coastlines based on the use of RADSARSAT-1 tide-synchronized images.

The Natural Resources Canada Earth Sciences Sector Groundwater Programme has been working with water managers and industry to develop approaches to use satellite earth observation in support of groundwater assessment through support from the Canadian Space Agency. The goal is to map Canada's key regional aquifers and to enable industry to provide ongoing aquifer mapping services to water managers. To date, this project has produced standard approaches and tools for satellite image calibration and correction, mapping of land cover, leaf area index and surficial geology. The application and impact of these tools on assessment of groundwater resources, specifically groundwater recharge is discussed. Future areas of application for space-based Earth observation are covered.

Timely and accurate information on sea ice is of critical importance to the economies of Canada and Finland. Both countries maintain national ice services with responsibility for disseminating daily ice forecasts to coastguard and maritime operators. The most critical source of information for ice charting is spaceborne SAR. Until recently only single-polarized SAR data was regularly available. Research has shown that considerably more information on sea ice characteristics can be extracted from multi-polarization SAR. Led by MDA and Helsinki University of Technology, the project aims to determine how operational sea ice monitoring in Canada and Finland can best benefit from multi-polarization capabilities of RADARSAT-2 and ENVISAT. This presentation describes the objectives or the project, work to date, current status and future prospects.

Low and medium (250–1,000 m) resolution optical and infrared sensors have been used widely in Canada for the last 20 years. The reception, distribution, and archiving of the data from these sensors are integral parts of numerous operational programs in Canada. Canada relies on the access to data from the low and medium resolution sensors launched and operated by the foreign agencies such as the European Space Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and NASA. This presentation reporst the results of two workshops that have been held, within the last 18 months, to develop a collaborative framework on the reception, pre-processing, archiving, and dissemination of the data. The full list of recommendations from these workshops is presented along with some suggestions on the way forward.

Earth Observation for Sustainable Development of Forests (EOSD) uses Earth observation data to assist Government with measuring, monitoring, and reporting on the forested area of Canada. This presentation will provide an update on the land cover classification for the forested region of Canada and research activities to support reporting on Canada's forests. Research programs have produced algorithms to estimate biomass, methods to undertake change mapping and update of the land cover map, and the development of an accuracy assessment procedure for EOSD land cover products. Research has also enabled the implementation of a large web-based data storage and distribution system that will allow all Canadians access to Earth observation information.

In the last year of a three-year agreement between the Centre for Topographic Information and the CSA, the focus of the CartoNord project has shifted from development to production, now wholly supported by Natural Resources Canada. The production mandate, the chosen approach to collecting topographic data and the validation tools have all been presented, as have some application examples.

The EOADP project to establish CSA and European Space Agency SAR imagery data, other spaceborne data, and related Canadian and Finnish products and services, as key components of mapping and information products targeting ecological and forestry-specific information in northern boreal areas

In the current energy context, demand for oil will continue to rise over the next few years. The discovery of new deposits of gas or oil will diversify Quebec's energy supply and stimulate the economy in these regions. This EOADP project, carried out under the Canada-Quebec Agreement on the Development and Use of RADARSAT Data, is concerned with the development and marketing of products on the Gaspé region's oil and gas potential using RADARSAT technology. The project was done in cooperation with the energy sector of Quebec's Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune. The results obtained will provide support for the MRNF in assessing and promoting Quebec's oil and gas potential and add value to MIR's services.

Since 1998, Hatfield Consultants Ltd. has been involved in a number of projects with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in Lao PDR, Cambodia, Viet Nam and Thailand. Hatfield (in association with CARTEL, Strata360 and AERDE Environmental Research) are currently finalizing the MRC Information System Project, which focuses on the use of Earth observation (EO), GIS and Internet technologies to assist with the following: Improving geo-information management through development of a spatial data management infrastructure; Improving access to EO imagery, GIS data and maps through development of an Internet Portal; Development of an GIS prototype application to assist with flood emergency preparedness and response; EO application development for monitoring of important wetlands; and EO education and raising awareness.

The Department of National Defence project Polar Epsilon (Joint Space-based Wide Area Surveillance and Support Capability) will exploit Space-based sensors, particularly Canada's RADARSAT-2 satellite, for the all weather/day night surveillance of Canada's Arctic region and ocean approaches to enhance domain awareness hence contributing to continental security. Particular emphasis is being placed on generating information in remote areas where other sensors are ineffective or unable to operate. This project will also address many government marine security requirements and deliver to the navy's emerging Marine Security Operations Centre over the next four years. This project will deliver the necessary infrastructure and applications required to exploit the potential of RADARSAT-2, as well as TERRA and AQUA electro-optical satellites, for ship detection and environmental support to Defence and other government department mandates.

The illegal discharge of oily waste from a large numbers of vessels puts tens of millions of Canada's seabirds and other marine resources at risk. Through ISTOP, the detection of oil on the sea surface using RADARSAT data when coupled with aerial surveillance has shown to be a viable technology. The Canadian Space Agency has been supporting the operational development of the ISTOP project through the GRIP initiative. This presentation demonstrates how ISTOP will take advantage of CIS extensive satellite data processing, information technology and analysis capabilities to preserve Canada's natural environment.

Ensuring the security of oil and gas pipelines is critical to the safety of those living in their vicinity as well as the economic stability of corporations and regions that are dependent on energy related revenue. SAR Interferometry techniques can provide an economical means to monitor land movements and geohazards over large areas. The successful application of repeat pass interferometric monitoring has traditionally been limited in non-arid regions. However, the use of stable point scatterers holds promise for using this approach in the tropics. The IPGMS project will develop and demonstrate a geohazard monitoring service that can be integrated into routine geotechnical engineering and pipeline operations.

The purpose of MENTOR is to establish operational know-how and infrastructure within the Meteorological Service of Canada to allow highly automated generation of near-real-time ocean windfields from spaceborne SAR data. Further, to foster operational use of the windfield data in marine and other weather forecasting in Canada and the U.S.

SAR sensors provide valuable information for a variety of applications. Applications of particular interest to Canada and Finland include the potential of SAR data to detect subtle long-term trends in surface movement, the provision of forest biomass estimates, and access to crop yield data. This project focuses on the development and validation of new processing tools to address these applications.

Adequate, accurate and timely information in support of marine surveillance, safety, and security is critical for Canadian maritime decision makers and stakeholders to effectively deliver their services. Earth observation can significantly contribute to the surveillance of Canadian and international waters, ensuring an "available, reliable and affordable" source of information. The challenges for an integrated / coordinated national maritime information management system reside in the fact that maritime issues are cross sectorial, cross disciplinary, and cross functional and has to serve the objectives of various operational and scientific stakeholders. The proposed presentation discusses the creation of the Earth Observation Marine Surveillance Coordination Committee - EOMSCC. It identifies the principle advantages and limitations of an integrated marine surveillance system in Canada and identifies opportunities for marine stakeholders to collaborate for an improved use and share of Earth observation data and derived information.

The  presentation provides an update on the changing face of public safety in Canada by looking at how PSEPC is organized both for day-to-day work and for real and emerging incidents. There is a discussion of the general information requirements of Public Safety and of the current use of space by Canada's national disaster management organizations. The presentation concludes with a look at the coordination efforts currently underway nationally and internationally and proposals for a way ahead.

The FloodTrack Plus project objective is to carry out the applied research necessary to determine the usefulness of multi-polarized C-band SAR to delineate flooding. The objective of the research is to prepare the existing FloodTrack commercial flood extent mapping service for ENVISAT ASAR and RADARSAT-2 data.

Our research has shown that interferometric SAR techniques can be used to monitor deformation at landslides and volcanoes. Special filtered RADARSAT interferograms are being used to reduce speckle and minimize errors created by vegetation. InSAR images were used to monitor current post slide motion along existing fault lines at the Frank Slide, a 30 x 106 cubic metre rock avalanche in the Canadian Rockies. This information is used to understand the post-failure mechanism and mobility of the slide. At Miyake-Jima Island in Japan, a RADARSAT interferogram was used to monitor post eruption volcanic shrinkage. The volcano erupted in July-August 2000 which led to the evacuation of all island inhabitants. Our differential InSAR results show subsidence at the summit after the eruption and allows us to monitor the post eruption processes, thereby assisting in evacuation and recovery planning.

Under the DMIPS program, Dendron's services were used for forest fires in Canada in 2003; glacial retreat in Chile in 2004; flooding in Bolivia in 2004; Aral Sea in Kazakhstan in 2004; tsunami affecting Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka in 2004. A similar effort was also made following Hurricane Wilma in the USA.

DEONET is a software tool designed to help disaster managers and other Earth observation data users distribute and access data faster and easier. The project is near completion and the system is currently operational on a demonstration basis. As Earth observation data becomes more abundant, the need for distributing this data to users efficiently will be key in developing new products for the Earth observation user community.

On October 19, 2000, the Canadian Space Agency signed the International Charter “Space and Major Disasters“, which was initiated by the European and French space agencies (ESA and CNES). The Charter provides a unified system of space data acquisition and delivery to those in need when natural or technological disasters strike. Later, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Argentinean Space Agency (CONAE), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) also joined the Charter. By November 30, 2005, the Charter had been activated 90 times by various countries and for various types of disasters. This presentation explains the history and operations, as well as the CSA's contribution to the Charter.

In response to the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia's Aceh Province (Sumatra), the CSA, Hatfield, and CARE Canada developed a number of remote sensing and GIS products to assist humanitarian relief efforts. The overall goal of the project was to provide remote sensing and GIS products to organizations involved in the current and long term humanitarian relief effort in Indonesia. The capability of RADARSAT-1 imagery to provide information on the physical impacts of the tsunami around Banda Aceh and Lho Nga (northwest coast of Aceh Province) was investigated. Coastal zone and environmental rehabilitation, including rebuilding livelihoods in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, are the focus of Hatfield's ongoing and future activities in Aceh.