2024 Highlights! Canadian Geospatial Digest for Dec 23

Climate & Environment

Year 2024 was a pivotal one for environmental awareness and action in Canada, with key initiatives addressing the escalating effects of climate change. From rising flood risks to the devastating impacts of wildfires, the environment has been at the forefront of national discussions. New technologies and research have provided Canadians with vital tools to track and understand the financial and environmental costs of climate-related disasters. At the same time, efforts to improve flood risk mapping, protect wildlife, and monitor the health of Canada’s lakes have gained momentum. As we reflect on 2024, these developments highlight the urgent need for proactive climate action and the importance of safeguarding Canada’s natural resources.

New Online Map Tracks Costs of Climate-Related Disasters Across Canada

The Canadian Climate Institute launched a new online tool designed to track the costs of climate-fueled disasters across the country. The tool provides snapshots of the financial impacts of events such as wildfires, floods, and droughts, linking to news stories and trade publications from the past year. The tracker highlights significant incidents, including the $1 billion cost of heavy rain in Toronto in July and $880 million in insured losses from the Jasper wildfire. This tool underscores the increasing need for proactive adaptation measures as extreme weather events become more frequent and costly. Read more

Flood Risk in Lower Mainland Will Intensify by 2100: Report

A new sea level data map released by Climate Central showed that flood risk zones along Canada’s coast will extend higher and further inland by 2100, with a significant impact on populated areas in Metro Vancouver, particularly south of the Fraser River. The map estimates that by the end of the century, 325,000 Canadians will live in areas facing annual flood risks, a 10% increase from previous estimates. Areas like Richmond, Delta, and South Surrey are expected to experience the most significant impacts, with large portions projected to be below annual flood levels by 2100. Read more

Canada’s Flood Risk Mapping is Underway, but Challenges Remain

Canada embarked on a major initiative to map flood risks across the country, with the federal government investing $164.2 million in flood hazard mapping projects under the National Adaptation Strategy. Over 250 active projects are currently underway, aimed at improving land use planning, flood mitigation, and climate resilience. Insurance companies and experts are contributing valuable datasets to enhance the initiative. However, challenges persist, as the lack of comprehensive flood mapping continues to hinder effective flood risk assessment, impacting Canadians and their ability to prepare for future flooding. Read more

First Ever Map Provides Social-Ecological View of Canada’s Lakes

Researchers from the Université de Montréal unveiled the first-ever “social-ecological” map of Canada’s lakes, covering 659 lakes across 11 southern ecozones. The map offers a unique perspective on lake health, incorporating data on biophysical and chemical characteristics, threats to water quality, and recreational use. The project, which involved sampling lakes from 2017 to 2019, aimed to harmonize water quality data across various jurisdictions to provide a comprehensive and comparable snapshot of Canada’s lakes. This map provides valuable insights into the health of lakes in diverse regions, including the Rocky Mountains, offering a new tool for managing and preserving these vital ecosystems. Read more

Mapping Canada’s Wildlife Problem

World Animal Protection Canada launched an interactive tool to track incidents involving captive wildlife across the country. The tool focuses on incidents in under-regulated roadside zoos, documenting escapes, attacks, and disease outbreaks. It provides the most comprehensive database to date on these issues. The organization is urging Canadians to report local wildlife concerns and supports Bill S-15 to strengthen wildlife protection laws. They emphasize the importance of federal and provincial collaboration to address animal welfare and public safety. Read more

2023 Canada Wildfires Released More Carbon Than Russia or Japan’s Annual Emissions

Canada’s devastating 2023 wildfire season released approximately 640 million metric tons of carbon in just five months—more than the annual fossil fuel emissions of Russia (480 million metric tons) and Japan (291 million metric tons). The fires consumed 16.5 million hectares, more than double the previous record and nearly seven times the historical average. The carbon released by wildfires differs from fossil fuel emissions, as it can be reabsorbed as forests regrow, while CO2 from fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere. This unprecedented event, tracked using satellite data from the European Space Agency’s TROPOMI instrument, highlights the severe environmental impact of wildfires on a global scale. Read more

Technology & Innovation

2024 was also a year of significant technological advancements in Canada, with breakthroughs in digital infrastructure, space exploration, and innovative solutions to urban challenges. The use of geospatial data, digital twins, and new elevation models has advanced Canada’s ability to address the housing crisis, environmental monitoring, and urban planning. The formation of the National Space Council and new agreements to build spaceports reflect Canada’s growing ambition in the space sector. As we look back on the year, it’s clear that these technological innovations are paving the way for a smarter, more sustainable future.

Canada Unveils Framework for National Space Council

Canada revealed the framework for its new National Space Council in federal budget 2024, which will oversee the country’s space exploration, technology development, and security efforts. The council will involve over 20 federal departments and agencies, creating a multi-level governance structure aimed at fostering collaboration across commercial, civil, and defense space domains. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will act as the Secretariat, coordinating the efforts of a committee co-chaired by the CSA and the Department of National Defence. Modeled after the U.S. National Space Council, which was reestablished in 2017, Canada’s new council aims to enhance coordination and address cross-cutting issues critical to the nation’s space capabilities. Read more

Canada and U.S. Reach Deal for Nova Scotia Spaceport

Canada and the United States reached a key agreement that could pave the way for the development of a spaceport in rural Nova Scotia. The two countries negotiated a Technology Safeguards Agreement, enabling the use of U.S. space launch technology, expertise, and data for space launches in Canada. While the agreement still requires independent review and approval by both governments, there is confidence that domestic approvals will proceed swiftly, bringing the prospect of a Canadian launch pad closer to reality. Read more

Canada Introduces New Medium Resolution Digital Elevation Model

Natural Resources Canada introduced the Medium Resolution Digital Elevation Model (MRDEM) as part of the National Elevation Data Strategy, marking the end of the era for the Canadian Digital Elevation Model (CDEM). The MRDEM is a state-of-the-art geospatial dataset designed to improve nationwide elevation analysis. It includes a 30-meter resolution Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Terrain Model (DTM), offering enhanced accuracy and more recent data. By integrating Copernicus satellite data and lidar, the MRDEM significantly improves upon the CDEM, providing more accurate insights into Canada’s landscape changes and supporting applications like regional hydrologic modeling. Read more

How Digital Twins Can Help Address Canada’s Housing Shortage

Canada’s housing crisis, with a shortage of approximately 3.5 million units, is exacerbated by skyrocketing home prices. Digital twins can play a key role in addressing these challenges by improving urban planning, optimizing construction processes, and enhancing building operations. This technology enables stakeholders to simulate and analyze urban environments, which can lead to more efficient and cost-effective solutions in housing development. However, the adoption of digital twins has been slow, primarily due to the fragmented nature of the housing sector and the lack of common standards. Despite these challenges, digital twins hold significant potential to address housing supply issues and improve the efficiency of the construction and planning phases. Read more

Canada’s Digital Twin Project Recognized for Innovation and Research

Carleton Immersive Media Studio’s (CIMS) Canada’s Digital Twin project received top honours at the 2024 Innovation Spotlight Awards, hosted by the Building Transformations organization. This groundbreaking initiative is the first to develop a national-scale digital twin, offering a web-based, non-proprietary platform that links physical assets to their digital counterparts. It integrates multi-scale geospatial information systems, open data, building information modelling, and more. The project, which began in 2019, was recognized with both the Best in Innovation Award and the Research Award for pushing boundaries in innovation. CIMS plans to release the platform and code as open-source by 2025. This recognition highlights the significant impact of CIMS’ ongoing research and development, positioning it as a leader in the emerging field of digital twins in Canada. Read more