China Earth Observation Capacity Building Centre (CBCEO)

Increase understanding of the partners in using satellite data for water resources mapping; flood prediction and prevention; and develop the capability to monitor crops potential yield. It will also address the use of space-based Earth Observation (EO) data for land cover and urban mapping applications.

Objectives

Optimize benefits of EO data in Canada and the People’s Republic of China and facilitate EO capacity building activities.
Address the needs and concerns of the user community in Canada and the People’s Republic of China by collaborating on the development of EO applications relating to earth sciences.
Serve as a focal point for EO activities between Canada and the People’s Republic of China and facilitate linkages with other relevant EO organizations.
Develop industrial capacity and create commercial opportunities for companies in both Canada and the People’s Republic of China.
Exchange policy and technical information to encourage compatibility of observation and data exchange. Facilitate the training of technical personnel.

Partners

Earth Sciences Sector (ESS), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Duration

From May 2007 to December 2009

Background

This project operates under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. The project covers three thematic applications. These applications include water resources (wetlands and rice), land cover and urban mapping, and global environment including disaster response for floods and landslides/earthquakes.

Both ESS and CAS have considerable experience with these applications and are developing joint research activities under the CBCEO to further develop the radar based component of these applications. The general approach is for ESS to provide data from the Canadian satellite RADARSAT-2 and CAS to provide the real time information, in-situ, and ancillary data for the sites of interest.

The resulting information will demonstrate the role for RADARSAT-2 in these applications validating current ESS approaches and contributing to the use of the data in the same manner elsewhere in the world. In addition, at the conclusion of this project the information will be made public and brought to the attention of the private sector which will be able to use these results to approach new clients and/or develop new applications.