Elizabeth Howell

Is SpaceQ's Associate Editor as well as a business and science reporter, researcher and consultant. She recently received her Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota and is communications Instructor instructor at Algonquin College.

Statistics Canada harnessing Earth observation data

An example of Vancouver open data businesses

Data from Google Earth and other Earth observation campaigns is allowing Statistics Canada (StatsCan) to create databases showing how Canadians live and work. The government department showcased some of its ongoing work at the online GeoIgnite conference on Friday (July 24), with projects ranging from building catalogues to walkability. This page is for subscribers only. Already a subscriber? Log in. Fact-driven space news, columns, business, …

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Earth observation is hitting its stride: MDA

Space-based Earth Observation

A senior MDA executive says Earth observation (EO) is "on the brink of a really integrated and operational era" due to continued efforts from his company and others around the world. Within Canada, MDA is famous for its RADARSAT series of satellites – RADARSAT-1 (no longer operational after exceeding its design life), RADARSAT-2 (still working well after more than a dozen years in space) and …

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Geospatial community says international partnerships key to Canada’s future in space

This is a Mosaic of Canada which is made from 121 images captured by Canadian satellite RADARSAT-2.

It doesn't matter what space tech Canada is working on deploying; our country still finds a vibrancy in leveraging international partnerships to get things done in orbit, according to experts at the GeoIgnite online conference. In a panel Wednesday (July 23) about the future of Canada's geospatial sector, executives from the geospatial community working in industries ranging from Earth observation to robotics talked about our …

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How Canada built a COVID-19 reporting tool in 72 hours

COVID-19 Canada data on the ESRI GIS database

At the height of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the Canadian government marshalled numerous resources to create a cloud-based platform tracking cases across the country. Government official Éric Loubier said this platform allowed decision-makers to access the data swiftly and efficiently to not only map novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, but also determine its effects on vulnerable populations. This page is for subscribers only. …

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MDA hit with labour strife as union votes to strike

MDA union votes to strike

Montreal union members at MDA – the Canadian company confirmed less than two weeks ago as the probable builder of the Canadarm3 space robotic arm – have voted 87 percent in favour of a strike mandate. The Space Systems Engineers and Scientists Association cites "arbitrary and abusive practices", job insecurity and "loss of expertise" among the issues facing union members at the Canadian company, which …

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