Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

EO-based View of our Landmass in Support of Northern Development and Climate Change Science  

Outline
By the early 21st century, EO science and technology has developed to the degree that it has become a useful yet underutilized tool for collecting information in support of northern development and climate change. The existing GRIP (Government Related Initiative program) project consists of three components that aim to facilitate the use of EO and other types of geospatial data in different northern applications.Component A will perform a user requirements study and eight pilot studies. The user requirements study assesses the information requirements associated with the monitoring of energy transportation corridors in (sub-)arctic environments and the potential of EO to deliver on these requirements. The pilot studies evaluate the potential of EO as a tool for mapping / monitoring of: bedrock exposures for resource potential assessment, surficial materials for mineral resource exploration applications, offshore oil seeps for hydrocarbon exploration, slope stability along strategic transportation corridors, impacts of exploratory drilling for energy resources, impacts of oil sands deposit exploitation, and impacts of geo-resource development on aboriginal lands.Component B aims to develop, validate, and apply methodology for mapping and monitoring land cover and vegetation structural parameters in tundra and northern wetland ecosystems by means of Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery. In addition, this component will explore the potential of JERS-1, ERS SAR, RADARSAT-1 and ENVISAT ASAR data for wetland mapping. The resulting information will serve as input to climate change and carbon models, and provide baseline information for national parks and natural resources management. Component C aims to reassess current coastal mapping and monitoring practices and develop improved EO based methods for application to coastline mapping, coastline monitoring, wetland / estuarine habitat mapping, coastal DEM development, and storm-surge flood mapping. Expected impacts and benefits:· Component A –Techniques and methods developed will be transferred to Canadian end users and value added EO industry through their involvement in the execution of the project as well as through program outreach activities.· Component B - EO methods and products will have immediate utility in Canada’s climate change and carbon studies for scaling and calibrating coarse resolution satellite products, such as land cover fractions, land cover change, wetlands, LAI, and burned area. · Component C – Ability to provide baseline mapping and assessment of climate change impacts in the coastal zone, including enhanced impacts from natural hazards or changes in the frequency and severity of hazard events.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Theme 1. Addresses the issue of monitoring of energy transportation corridors in sub-arctic environments.Theme 2. EO methods and products developed under component B will have immediate utility in Canada’s climate change and carbon studies for scaling and calibrating coarse resolution satellite products, such as land cover fractions, land cover change, wetlands, LAI, and burned area. The Component C would address EO's ability to provide baseline mapping and assessment of climate change impacts in the coastal zone, including enhanced impacts from natural hazards or changes in the frequency and severity of hazard events.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project is funded by the Government Related Initiative program (GRIP)

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?


The project is funded by the Government Related Initiative program (GRIP)

How will the project be organised and managed?

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

GRIP Officer Paul Briand
6767 rue de l'Aéroport, Saint-Hubert, Québec


J3Y 8Y9
Canada

Tel: (450) 926-6737
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation