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Natural hazards

Prototype flood map app captures what satellites can’t

A team of scientists at Natural Resources Canada collects data from radar satellite images and produces near-real-time maps for emergency responders during crises such as floods. In order to help validate and update said maps, these scientists developed a new prototype app that could turn smart phone-toting Canadian citizens into supplementary sensors.

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Science at Work: Flood Monitoring

Natural Resources Canada is the federal centre of expertise for "remote sensing" – the science of using technologies such as satellite imagery and aerial photographs to detect information on objects on earth. Our scientists use remote sensing information for a variety of reasons that you might expect, like map making, environmental monitoring, and assisting with the development of natural resources. But remote sensing can also be a valuable tool in emergency situations, such as a major flood.
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Science at Work: Forest Fire Research

Scientists at Natural Resources Canada tell us to expect an increase in forest fire frequency as a result of climate change. That’s why – in a country as vast as Canada, that’s home to nine per cent of the world's forests – research into preventing forest fires and mitigating their negative consequences is so important.

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