EN VEDETTE :
Earth Observation essential for geohazard mitigation
(Anglais seulement)More than 250 scientists from around the world gathered for a five-day workshop at ESA's Earth Observation Centre in Frascati.
RESSOURCES CONNEXES
2002/06
January 24, 2002
DHALIWAL ANNOUNCES $1.7 MILLION INVESTMENT IN INNOVATIVE GEOMATICS TOOLS AND SERVICES
OTTAWA — Emergency workers should soon be able to pull up the best route through the city and other essential information on their mobile terminals. This is one of 12 projects receiving a total of more than $1.7 million in funding through GeoConnections, announced Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), today. During these projects, national companies will develop innovative tools and services that ensure Canadians have easy access to reliable, up-to-date geospatial information on matters that directly affect their lives.
The funding is provided through GeoConnections, a $60-million, five-year initiative of government, industry and academia, led by NRCan, to put Canada's geographic information on the Internet.
"Geospatial information and technologies help us respond to crisis situations, plan our communities and manage our resources better," said Minister Dhaliwal. "Canadian firms are developing the innovative products and services that are in demand at home and internationally. Developing these products and services will also lead to the kinds of jobs that keep Canadians leaders in the high-tech, knowledge-based economy."
CubeWerx Inc of Hull, Quebec, is creating the software to allow mobile terminal users to generate dynamic maps and feature displays that they can tailor to their needs. This will allow delivery of location-based information to anyone anywhere. In another new project, CARIS Universal Systems Ltd. of Fredericton, New Brunswick is developing "Emergency Services On-Line — Dams." This on-line information will help authorities monitor and analyze the impact of water levels on communities and infrastructure.
Many of the innovative, high-tech tools and services already funded by GeoConnections are on display today at the GeoConnections Project Showcase in Ottawa. The Showcase is an opportunity for Canadian companies to promote their products and services.
Funding for GeoConnections was provided for in the 1999 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework. One of the strengths of GeoConnections is its ability to encourage funding from other sources. For example, its investment of more than $6.7 million under GeoInnovations, one of the seven GeoConnections programs, has encouraged nearly $10.5 million of additional partner funding, for a total of more than $17.2 million in technology development. As a result, Canadian firms are now clearly being recognized as world leaders in geomatics, particularly in the areas of Web mapping and international standards.
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For more information, media may contact:
Heather Bala Jeff Labonte
Director of Communications Director
Office of the Minister GeoConnections Secretariat
Natural Resources Canada Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa Ottawa
(613) 996-7252 (613) 992-8609
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available on the Internet at http://www.nrcan.gc.ca.
More information about GeoConnections is available at www.geoconnections.org.