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Lake Winnipeg, Lake Winnipegosis along with Cedar Lake, in south-central Manitoba in Canada. Image acquired by Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8 on 3rd November 2021. Data courtesy of NASA.

At the end of last week the Government of Canada outlined its strategy for Earth Observation (EO) for the next 15 years with the release of ‘Resourceful, Resilient, Ready: Canada’s Strategy for Satellite Earth Observation’.  This outlines the way forward to exploit satellite data for day-to-day evidence-based decision making and planning.

The titular vision of the strategy is to develop a Canada that is:

• Resourceful in using domestic and international satellite data across all economic sectors to increase productivity, drive efficiencies and ignite innovation.
• Resilient in adapting to its changing climate, from the international to the local scale, and the best science-based evidence for effective decision making.
• Ready to respond to environmental, national security, public safety, and health challenges, with timely information, modern infrastructure, and a next-generation workforce.

Interestingly the vision commits to a whole-of-society collaboration through a policy of free, open and accessible data. Having recently worked on a project with a Canadian government agency amongst the partners, we were heartened to see that the vision also committed to supporting international collaboration and participation in global initiatives for open data and science.

To deliver the vision, four objectives are outlined which are underpinned by a number of identified actions. These are:

1. Ensure that satellite EO data is free, open and accessible to maximise science, innovation and economic development which will be delivered through:
   • Enhancing access to open data through the use of digital platforms and cloud-hosted web portals supported by high performance computing and data analysis tools.
   • Creating conditions for Canada’s satellite EO sector to thrive by supporting jobs across the satellite EO value chain. This includes a job reward scheme, support to start-ups and early years companies, streamlining R&D arrangements to support innovation and ensuring the space activity regulatory framework is fit for purpose.
   • Fostering domestic and international partnerships.
2. Harness satellite EO to address climate change and issues that matter to Canadians which will be delivered through:
   • Generating solutions for climate change mitigation and adaption by developing new missions to study aspects such as air quality, water management, forest fires and the Arctic. It also intends, like other space agencies, to explore pilot programs for the purchase of commercial data.
   • Measure key environmental and health indicators through leveraging machine learning, big data analytics, rapid visit and high resolution EO data. The strategy highlights the critically of moving towards having dynamic information to identify and detect changes as they are happening.
3. Strengthen delivery of critical services to keep Canadians healthy, safe and informed which will be delivered through
   • Ensuring the continuity of critical services as many government services rely on the both historical datasets and daily data flows. By developing the next generation of EO satellites and services, the intention is that these data flows will continue uninterrupted. There is also an ambition to develop new EO applications to support new and emerging users.
   • Modernize Canada’s network of critical ground infrastructure to enable the country to continue to enhance its ability to receiving and processing data from the increasing number of satellites in orbit.
4. Inspire skills and capacity development for the next generation which will be delivered through:
   • Promotion of a satellite EO education by strengthening skills development and, the intriguing phrase of, satellite EO literacy. This is rooted in the support of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and entrepreneurship. There will also be a focus on capacity building for groups such as Indigenous communities, women and gender minorities, low income Canadians and other traditionally marginalized groups, as the strategy recognises that the future of EO in the country must be diverse and inclusive which is both fantastic to see written down and critical factor to develop the industry.
   • Partner with Indigenous and northern communities to deliver locally co-developed solutions integrated with traditional knowledge that address community identified needs. This will aim to improve locally economies by bring the benefits of satellite EO and its associated technologies directly to northern communities.

Alongside the strategy, the government also announced an $8 million investment in 21 Canadian companies through the smartEarth initiative managed by the Canadian Space Agency to develop innovative EO applications with satellite data focused on solving tangible issues for sustainable development challenges.

Great to see Canada making these commitments outlined, and it will be an exciting time to be part of the EO community in Canada, and for those international partners that want to work with them.