St. Hubert, Quebec, June 12, 2003 – The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) today
awarded over $3 million in contracts to 9 Canadian companies to develop
leading-edge uses of space-based Earth Observation data and applications.
Marc Garneau, President of the CSA, made the announcement during CSA
Industry Days at their headquarters in St. Hubert, Quebec.

"The Canadian Space Agency is building Canadian knowledge and specialized
expertise in the Earth Observation field in awarding these contracts," said
Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the CSA. "By
rewarding the drive and innovation of these companies, the CSA is also
contributing to the growth of a strong, dynamic and knowledge based Canadian
economy.

The 12 contracts were awarded through the CSA’s Earth Observation
Application Development Program (EOADP). The program is designed as a
single-window channel to support industry initiatives focused on the
development of earth observation applications.

"By promoting Earth Observation applications, the CSA is contributing to a
better understanding of the Earth’s environment and of global climate
change," said
Mr. Garneau. "It also reinforces the strong partnerships that exist between
government, industry and academic institutions in the project development
process."

For more information on EOADP and other Canadian Space Agency funding
programs, please visit the CSA website’s Space Technologies section at:
http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/csa_sectors/technology/technology.asp

A summary of each contract follows.

About CSA Industry Days
From June 12-13, companies who have obtained EOADP contracts in previous
years will demonstrate the results of their technological development and
applications performed with Canadian Space Agency support under the Canadian
Space Program (CSP). The event will include presentations and display booths
prepared by participating companies and opportunities for one-on-one
meetings.

About the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

Established in 1989 with its headquarters situated in Saint-Hubert, Quebec,
the Canadian Space Agency coordinates all aspects of the Canadian Space
Program. Through its Space Knowledge, Applications and Industry Development
business line, the CSA delivers services involving: Earth and the
Environment; Space Science; Human Presence in Space; Satellite
Communications; Space Technology; Space Qualification Services; Space
Awareness and Education. The Canadian Space Agency is at the forefront of
the development and application of space knowledge for the benefit of
Canadians and humanity.

Information:

  • Selena Beattie
  • Office of Allan Rock
  • Minister of Industry
  • Telephone: (613) 995-9001
  • Monique Billette
  • Senior Media Relations Officer
  • Canadian Space Agency
  • Telephone: (450) 926-4370
  • E-mail: monique.billette@space.gc.ca

Backgrounder

Contracts announced today by the Canadian Space Agency with nine Canadian
companies through the CSA’s Earth Observation Application Development
Program (EOADP):

Atlantis Scientific Inc. (Nepean, ON) will monitor infrastructure in Urban
Areas Associated with Petroleum Production. Atlantis’ Coherent Target
Monitoring (CTM) system will be used with ERS-1 and 2, RADARSAT (Standard
and Fine mode) and Envisat data. Subsidence maps will be created of the City
of Long Beach in California.
www.atlantis-scientific.com
This contract is valued at $570,889 of which the CSA is contributing
$236,843.

Atlantis Scientific Inc. (Nepean, ON) will develop finishing tools for
spaceborne radar-derived digital elevation models. This will provide a
mechanism to merge several DEMs together, correcting for processing
anomalies such as "spikes" and "wells". It will also support void filling,
water body flattening, and maintenance of proper land/water relationships
for rivers.
www.atlantis-scientific.com
This contract is valued at $535,361, of which the CSA is contributing
$325,000.

Dendron Resource Surveys Inc. (Ottawa, ON) will work to establish RADARSAT,
and related Canadian products and services, as key components of topographic
maps to be used for Regional planning purposes. The project will mainly take
place in Chile, and some other parts of Latin America.
www.dendron.com
This contract is valued at $550,905, of which the CSA is contributing
$254,765.

Enfotec Technical Services (Ottawa, ON) will advance the development of the
IceNav Virtual Marine Radar System to a product ready for market diffusion,
by building the linkage of RADARSAT SAR imagery to the marine radar system.
www.enfotec.com
This contract is valued at $501,415, of which the CSA is contributing
$324,912.

Geographic Resources & Integrated Data Solutions Ltd (GRIDS) (Kingston, ON)
is bringing together American and Canadian researchers to create a fully
three-dimensional interactive globe that provides anyone with Internet
connectivity the ability to display and manipulate global geospatial data.
www.grids.ca
www.grids.ca
This contract is valued at $1,622,280, of which the CSA is contributing
$325,000.

Hatfield Consultants Ltd. (Vancouver, BC) will develop a series of Earth
Observation Decision Support Tools (DSTs) and training in the use of EO
data, in order to facilitate sustainable management of aquatic resources
throughout the Mekong River Basin.
www.hatfieldgroup.com
This contract is valued at $540,000, of which the CSA is contributing
$325,000.

MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (Richmond, BC) in collaboration with PCI,
Noranda, Pacific Forestry Centre and York University, will develop a generic
hyperspectral data scrubber (GHDS). This software application tool will
reduce or eliminate many defects that diminish data quality of airborne and
spaceborne hyperspectral sensors.
www.mda.ca
This contract is valued at $473,151, of which the CSA is contributing
$294,465.

MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates in collaboration with RADARSAT
International, Triathlon, DigitalGlobe and Jeppesen, will develop a
Multi-source Image Digital Elevation Model Generator.
www.mda.ca
This contract is valued at $523,270, of which the CSA is contributing
$321,830.

MIR TÈlÈdÈtection Inc. (Longueuil, QC) will be developing a method for the
integration of geological information derived from RADARSAT-1 data and
geoscience data into a diamond potential assessment system; and intends to
commercialize the products generated by this system.
www.mirteledetection.com
This contract is valued at $256,850, of which the CSA’s is contributing
$159,700.

PCI Geomatics Group Inc. (Richmond Hill, ON) will develop innovative
capabilities for data format support, visualization, and analysis of
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery.
www.pcigeomatics.com
This contract is valued at $428,344, of which the CSA is contributing
$278,424.

Vantage Point International Inc. (VPI) (Ottawa, ON) will develop a
web-enabled tool to facilitate the planning and ordering of synthetic
aperture radar (SAR) data from RADARSAT 1 and 2, ENVISAT and other
spaceborne sensors.
www.vantpoint.com
This contract is valued at $228,560, of which the CSA is contributing
$148,560.

Vantage Point International Inc. will establish a national disaster
management portal for earth observation. It will provisionally be termed the
Disaster Earth Observation NETwork (DEONET).
www.vantpoint.com
This contract is valued at $171,000, of which the CSA is contributing
$111,000.