Commercializing Remote Sensing Technology for Environmental Management: Moving from Data to Decision

Considerable resources are expended by government and industry to collect environmental data to support planning, design, development, operational monitoring, closure activities, and reporting activities.  As a result, there is increasing interest in improving effectiveness and efficiency of these processes while at the same time considering options allowing for the diversification of Alberta’s economic base.  The development of integrated geomatics and remote sensing technologies for environmental management holds promise to meet these two provincial objectives.

Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF), in partnership with the Government of Alberta, Alberta Data Partnerships, TECTERRA and LOOKNorth, held two Workshops in April, 2016 to provide a venue for government and industry to identify environmental management needs that could be enhanced by integrated approaches and a forum for technology providers and researchers to identify tools that could support these needs.  One of the desired outcomes of the Workshops was the identification of possible Research and Commercialization Challenges that could be issued by the Alberta Innovates Corporations, like AITF, and organizations such as Alberta Data Partnerships (Data and Data Accessibility), TECTERRA (Geomatics and Visualization), and LOOKNorth (Data Analytics and Earth Observation) to technology solution providers, and in particular Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to fill these gaps.  Ultimately these Challenges would lead to one or more demonstration projects, while also supporting technology commercialization and economic diversification in the province.

Prior to the Workshop a survey was sent out to gather information on current and future Earth Observation (EO) / Remote Sensing (RS) needs and the perceived impediments to enhanced adoption of EO/RS for environmental management.

Thirty seven people from government, EO/RS and resource industries attended a Workshop in Edmonton, April 20, 2016 and 39 in Calgary, April 21, 2016.  Thirty four people responded to the survey.  Presentations on EO/RS trends and government and industry needs were made by: Alberta Economic Development and Trade; TECTERRA; Alberta Data Partnerships; LOOKNorth; GeoDiscover Alberta; Alberta Agriculture and Forestry; Sturgeon County; Suncor (COSIA); Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC); and, WaVv Strategic Consulting.

Based on the workshop discussions and survey responses, the following recommended actions and potential Champion(s) for each are proposed:

1. The Alberta Open Data Areas proposal should proceed and there should be rapid communication of the opportunities associated with the project to ensure the widest possible uptake.
   1. Champion: Alberta Data Partnerships.
   2. Support: Government of Alberta, Alberta’s innovation system, commercialization centres (i.e., TECTERRA, LOOKNorth).
2. Government should collate and publish all existing EO/RS standards associated with regulatory requirements.  This will help ensure common and consistent standards, and provide SMEs with targets against which to assess, modify and create products and services.
   1. Champions: Government of Alberta (e.g., newly created Monitoring and Science Division, Environment and Parks) and Alberta Energy Regulator (co-leads).
   2. Support: Alberta’s Innovation System, Industry Associations (e.g., Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada - PTAC, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance – COSIA), commercialization centres (i.e., TECTERRA, LOOKNorth).
3. Government should identify all existing public data sources and data collected pursuant to regulatory requirements with an eye towards increasing open, accessible and free data sources.  A business case for making data more open and freely accessible should be developed.
   1. Champions: GeoDiscover Alberta and Service Alberta (Co-leads).
   2. Support: Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta’s Innovation System, Industry Associations (e.g., Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada - PTAC, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance – COSIA), commercialization centres (i.e., TECTERRA, LOOKNorth).
4. Government and industry should strive to better articulate and publish EO/RS needs.  Ideally this would be made available in the least number of locations practicable and updated on an annual basis.
   1. Champions: Government of Alberta (i.e., newly created Monitoring and Science Division within Environment and Parks) and Alberta Energy Regulator (co-leads).
   2. Support: Government of Alberta, Alberta’s Innovation System, Industry Associations (e.g., Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada - PTAC, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance – COSIA), commercialization centres (i.e., TECTERRA, LOOKNorth).
5. Government, the resource industry, the EO/RS industry and academia should work together to develop a formal Community of Practice to enhance communication, education and awareness.  Efforts should be made to include broad participation by companies, organizations and individuals with an interest in advancing EO/RS technology development and use in Alberta.
   1. Champion: Alberta Innovates.
   2. Support: Government of Alberta, Alberta Data Partnerships, Industry Associations (e.g., Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada - PTAC, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance – COSIA), commercialization centres (i.e., TECTERRA, LOOKNorth).
6. Government, industry, and academia should work together with the EO/RS sector to explore the opportunity to create an innovation cluster or consortia – exploring different models, and building on the work of existing organizations and centres – to enable and enhance collaboration across the commercialization spectrum from the support of basic and applied research to aiding in the adoption of EO technologies.  A key function of this cluster/consortia may be to facilitate implementation of the other six recommendations.
   1. Champion: Alberta Innovates.
   2. Support: Government of Alberta, Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Data Partnerships, Industry Associations (e.g., Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada - PTAC, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance – COSIA), commercialization centres (i.e., TECTERRA, LOOKNorth).
7. Government, the resource industry and the EO/RS industry should explore the concept of an approved body to vet existing and new EO/RS technologies.
   1. Champion: Alberta Innovates.
   2. Support: Government of Alberta, Industry Associations (e.g., Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada - PTAC, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance – COSIA), commercialization centres (i.e., TECTERRA, LOOKNorth).