Finland and Canada are developing applications for environmental monitoring

Although Canada and Finland are far apart, similar environmental conditions form a natural basis for cooperation. For instance, monitoring sea ice, snow cover, and oil emissions is important for Canada and Finland alike.

Tekes and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) reached an agreement on research and development in 2003. Thanks to this agreement, Finnish and Canadian companies and research organizations can implement joint r&d projects. The objective is to create internationally competitive applications for environmental monitoring and to promote the business of the companies in this field.

The first application round resulted in the financing of four projects which develop ice monitoring, environmental services utilizing mobile technology, methods of forest inventory, and methods for observing changes in the Earth's surface.

The second application round is scheduled for 2007.


The projects co-funded by Tekes and the Canadian Space Agency:

• Development and Demonstration of Remote Sensing Based Products for Surface Water Management
  A remote sensing project by AffectoGenimap focuses on developing measurement and interpretation methods for snow, ice, and water, and services based on the data obtained.
  

• Northern Boreal Forest Information Products Based on Earth Observation Data
  In cooperation with Joensuu University and the rest of the consortium, the project develops and tests an extranet service based on the prototype of a forest simulator adaptable to local conditions.
  

• Applications and Software for SAR Interferometry and Coherent Target Monitoring
  The Finnish-Canadian Applisarin Project utilizes technology for observing changes in the Earth's surface, such as extremely small depressions.
  

• Multipolarization SAR for Operational Sea Ice Monitoring
  The project aims to develop methods for measuring ice with the help of satellites in Finland and Canada. This cooperation started in 2005 and will continue for three years.
  

Further information:

Senior Technology Adviser, Kimmo Kanto, Tekes
Tel. 010 605 5852
kimmo.kanto(  )tekes.fi

Tekes
Canadian Space Agency, CSA