Grants and Contributions:

Development and Testing of the EPiC-lite Camera System to Detect Very Small Wildfires

20STDPL11

$250,000.00

Jul 15, 2020 - Jul 31, 2021

Wildfire frequency, size and intensity continues to increase dramatically across the globe with devastating effects upon human life and health, wildlife, the environment, natural resources, air quality and economies. Wildfire management costs rise steadily, but budgets have not kept pace and agencies are frequently overwhelmed. Thousands of wildfires start each year in Canada. Most are rapidly detected and managed but the remaining, due to limitations in detection methods and complications from other factors, develop into catastrophic blazes and are responsible for 90% of the forested area burned in this country each year. One such wildfire was the Horse River fire of 2016 that devastated Fort McMurray, Alberta and resulted in costs exceeding $9 billion (insured and uninsured). It was not detected until it was 2 hectares (140m by 140m) in size. 4pi Lab, a Calgary-based company, is developing a satellite-based system (EPiC) to detect and geo-locate very small wildfires (~10m) in real-time from space and alert wildfire management agencies across the globe. This will allow for very early wildfire intervention and disaster prevention. 4pi Lab will use the CSA funding to develop EPiC-lite (a ground-based version of the EPiC system) for the purposes of further proving the concept, validating many of the subsystems, techniques and methodologies necessary for space deployment and demonstrating EPiC's effectiveness to wildfire management agencies, policy-makers, stakeholders and investors.

Canadian Space Agency

The Research component of the program provides financial support to organizations to conduct space related research and development in priority areas. It will support targeted knowledge development and innovation to sustain and enhance the Canadian capacity to use space to address national needs and priorities in the future.

Calgary, Alberta, CA T3G 3R8

003-2020-2021-Q2-04565

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

For-profit organization

The amount allocated covers more than one fiscal year.

4pi Lab Incorporated

Class Grant and Contribution Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology

This program supports knowledge development and innovation in the CSA's priority areas while increasing the awareness and participation of Canadians in space-related disciplines and activities.

The Research Component aims to support the development of science and technology; foster the continual development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified people in Canada; and support information gathering and space-related studies and research pertaining to Canadian Space Agency priorities.