• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Calgary.Tech

Calgary.Tech

 
 
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Interviews
  • Thought Leaders
  • Techtalent.ca
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Space Agency Building Satellite System to Monitor Alberta Fires

May 10, 2023 by Knowlton Thomas Leave a Comment

Wildfires have been known to devastate regions and communities across Alberta.

Combatting wildfires costs Canada a lot of money, and so the government is investing $170 million over the next decade to establish a new wildfire monitoring satellite system.

Contributing to this system is OroraTech, a Germany-based industry leader in space-based thermal intelligence with offices in Vancouver.

OroraTech is partnering with US-based space-to-cloud data and analytics company Spire Global, as well as the Canadian Space Agency, to deliver preparatory work for implementation phases of a wildfire monitoring satellite.

“We are excited to partner with the CSA on their WildfireSat solution,” stated Tyler Smith, Account Executive of OroraTech in Canada. “The low-latency thermal data we are offering as a service will provide Canadian wildfire managers with a fast and complete solution for wildfire detection and situational awareness—across the continent, daily, and in real-time.”

The contract is an initial step toward building CSA’s planned WildFireSat mission, which aims to monitor all active wildfires in Canada from space on a daily basis, according to a statement.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with OroraTech on another exciting project, building upon the momentum generated from our previous mission together,” said Frank Frulio, General Manager of Spire Space Services for Spire Global.

As Western Canada approaches peak fire season, which can span 13 weeks starting in late May, the need for efficient and reliable wildfire detection solutions has become more pressing than ever.

WildfireSat will specifically close the gap in infrared observation from Space, i.e. the late afternoon “peak burn period.” In this most critical time of the day, higher temperatures, lower humidity and strong winds often result in a rapid propagation of wildfires.

“Canada is the first country investing in a dedicated solution for Wildfire monitoring from Space,” noted Dr. Axel Roenneke, Chief Commercial Officer of OroraTech. “Our system will help reduce Carbon emissions and improve air quality—with an economic impact of billions of dollars every year.”

“How valuable our sensor data is, was demonstrated during the Chile fires earlier this year,” said Roenneke. “And with a commercial service approach, our Canadian consortium can deliver actionable intelligence to the Canadian community fast.”

OroraTech was founded in 2018 and currently employs 80 experts worldwide.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Canadian Space Agency, OroraTech

About Knowlton Thomas

Knowlton Thomas is Editor-in-Chief of The Midway Advance and Senior Writer for Calgary.tech. Over more than a decade of journalism, he has penned thousands of articles and dozens of essays on technology, health, and culture across a variety of publications.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

 
 

Stay Connected

  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Community Partners

Bulletin Board

Foresight 50 Applications Open Until June 30th

Foresight Canada is now accepting applications for … [Read More...] about Foresight 50 Applications Open Until June 30th

Energy Meets AI: Calgary Breakfast Gathers Leaders to Shape Alberta’s Digital Future

A select group of senior executives from Alberta’s … [Read More...] about Energy Meets AI: Calgary Breakfast Gathers Leaders to Shape Alberta’s Digital Future

WCD to Host Leadership Lunch in Calgary on AI-Driven Back-Office Innovation

Calgary business leaders are invited to a special … [Read More...] about WCD to Host Leadership Lunch in Calgary on AI-Driven Back-Office Innovation

XX Summit to Spotlight the Power of Women’s Capital in Calgary

On June 25, Calgary will play host to the XX … [Read More...] about XX Summit to Spotlight the Power of Women’s Capital in Calgary

Microsoft and Reporting Hub Bring AI-Powered Analytics to Calgary Event

Global tech leader Microsoft is partnering with … [Read More...] about Microsoft and Reporting Hub Bring AI-Powered Analytics to Calgary Event

Copyright © 2025 Incubate Ventures | Techtalent.ca · Techcouver.com · Decoder.ca · Fintech.ca · CleanEnergy.ca | Privacy