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The Polar View team is a dynamic group of companies and research organizations from across Canada and Europe. Each organization brings diverse, complementary skills and experience to the Polar View program and is committed to establishing a dedicated service center for addressing polar issues using earth observation technologies.

Polar View Team Structure

Click here for a larger view of the team strucutre

Polar View Team Members (Listed Alphabetically)
To view the list of Polar View End Users, please click here.

British Antarctic Survey

www.antarctica.ac.uk

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council. Based in Cambridge UK, it has, for almost 60 years, undertaken the majority of Britain's scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. It now shares that continent with scientists from around thirty countries.

BAS employs over 400 staff, and supports three stations in the Antarctic, at Rothera, Halley and Signy, and two stations on South Georgia, at King Edward Point and Bird Island. The Antarctic operations and science programmes are executed and managed from Cambridge, and rely on a wide-ranging team of professional staff.

C-CORE

www.c-core.ca

C-CORE is a global research and development corporation providing innovative engineering solutions to clients in the natural resource sectors. C-CORE develops and applies advanced technologies to address production and market issues faced by natural resource sectors such as oil and gas, pipeline, mining, pulp and paper, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture. With a team of more than 50 research engineers, C-CORE plays an important role in developing highly qualified, entrepreneurial people to support the advancement of these sectors. Although Canada is a major focus, C-CORE continues to increase their operations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and offshore Russia.

Canadian Ice Service (CIS)

www.ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca

CIS is the Government agency responsible for providing ice information on Canada's offshore areas to marine operators. It is a service component of the Meteorological Service of Canada, within the Department of the Environment. Monitoring of ice conditions is a year round activity. Operational ice services are provided year-round to a variety of clients; however, operational activities are seasonal, depending upon ice conditions. CIS has been extremely successful in moving satellite-based Synthetic Aperture radar (SAR) data into full operational production mode.

Danish Meteorological Institute

www.dmi.dk

The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) supplies the Danish Unity of the Realm with meteorological information. The Unity of the Realm consists of Denmark, the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, and includes the territorial sea and airspace of the three countries.

DMI produces and issues weather forecasts and warning, and makes a running assessment of the development of the climate. In order to so, DMI carries out continuous monitoring of the environmental factors in the atmosphere, on land and at sea. This includes observing, measuring, collecting and processing data concerning a wide range of natural phenomena. DMI also stores the various data, forecasts and warnings.

eOsphere

www.eosphere.co.uk

eOsphere, formerly Vexcel UK, was established in 2001 and supports complete systems; ranging from ground station technology and data links, to World leading expertise in satellite image analysis. Activities include the development and provision of near real time SAR-derived sea ice products for national ice services.

eOsphere has specialised in sea ice monitoring since it was established. eOsphere can provide a complete offshore ice information service; including data planning and acquisition from satellites and ancillary sources, the provision of analysis systems (software and hardware) to support offshore environmental monitoring, sea-ice analysis and ice forecasting, quality control and management and coordination.

Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)

www.ymparisto.fi

The Finnish Environment Institute (also known as SYKE, after the Institute's Finnish acronym) is both a research institute, and a centre for environmental expertise. SYKE's research focuses on changes in the environment, and seeks ways to control these changes. Our expertise is based on long-term environmental monitoring, wide-ranging research results, and the Institute's highly-qualified staff. SYKE also serves as the national centre for environmental data in Finland. The data stored in our information systems is widely used for environmental monitoring, environmental modelling, forecasting and impact analysis. SYKE co-operates closely with other research institutes, universities, environmental experts and businesses, both in Finland and internationally.

Finnish Institute of Marine Research

www.fimr.fi/en.html

The Finnish Institute of Marine Research (FIMR) is a research institute which is governed by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications. FIMR was founded in 1918 to produce information relating to the marine sciences for use in decision making, for practical needs and for use by private citizens alike.

This governmental research institute pursues research in marine physics, biology and chemistry. The main research objects are the Baltic Sea and other polar seas. It actively participates in pertinent national and international collaboration.

Finnish Meteorological Institute

www.fmi.fi/en/index.html

The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) is a research and service agency under the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The main objective of the FMI is to provide the Finnish nation with the best possible information about the atmosphere above and around Finland, for ensuring public safety relating to atmospheric and airborne hazards and for satisfying requirements for specialized meteorological products.

GRID-Arendal

www.grida.no

GRID-Arendal is an official United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) centre located in Southern Norway, with out posted offices in Geneva, Ottawa and Stockholm. GRID-Arendal explores how environmental information impacts on decision-making and the environment. An increasing focus is given to environmental journalism and working with the media in general. GRID-Arendal provides analysis and supports communication on issues such as climate change, environment and poverty, environment and security, the urban environment and sustainable development through education.

GRID-Arendal has become a world leader in environmental cartographic products impacting a highly improved understanding of key environmental issues and their consequences, among decision-makers and the general public.

Hatfield Consultants Ltd.

www.hatfieldgroup.com

Established in 1974, Hatfield's core expertise is in the field of biological aquatic sciences. They have gradually expanded into a wide range of services, including environmental assessments, biodiversity surveys, and remote sensing/GIS. Hatfield provides high quality environmental services for private and public sector clients throughout the world, including North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

Helsinki University of Technology

www.tkk.fi

Helsinki University of Technology or Teknillinen korkeakoulu (TKK) in Finnish and Tekniska högskolan in Swedish is the premier technical university in Finland. It is located in Otaniemi, Espoo in the Greater Helsinki. Helsinki University of Technology was founded in 1849 and received university status in 1908. It moved from Helsinki to Otaniemi campus area in 1966. TKK is known, among other things, for its Low Temperature Lab, which has set the world record for the lowest temperature, and has had several other notable scientific successes.

Hickling Arthurs Low Corporation

www.hal.ca

Hickling Arthurs Low (HAL) Corporation is a Canadian-owned consulting firm located in Ottawa, Canada. HAL has been providing technology management, strategy and economic consulting services to clients since 1975. HAL clients include all levels of government and private sector organizations, both domestic and international.
With a focus on science and technology, HAL offers consulting services in the following areas: Program Evaluation, Socio-Economic Impact Analysis, Group Facilitation, Management Education, and Performance Measurement.

Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER

www.ifremer.fr

The Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MER (IFREMER) is a public institute of industrial and commercial nature. From January 2002, it will be placed under the joint supervision of four ministries: Research, Agriculture and Fisheries; Transport and Housing; Environment.

IFREMER takes an active part in European Union studies (the European Science Foundation's Marine Board, the DG Research and DG Fisheries programmes). It is also a member of international organisations in its field of competence (General commission for Mediterranean fishing, intergovernmental ocean research commission, the OSPAR convention, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea).

The institute contributes to international research programmes (studies on climate, environmental and biodiversity). It coordinates bilateral partnership agreements with Japan, USA, Canada, Australia, and European countries.

International Polar Foundation

www.polarfoundation.org

The International Polar Foundation communicates and educates on Polar research as a way to understand key environmental and climate mechanisms. The IPF also promotes innovative and multifaceted responses to the complex challenges raised by the need for action on sustainable development. The IPF is headquartered in Brussels (established as a "Fondation d'Utilité Publique" in Belgium since 2002) and has local antennae in France, Switzerland and in theUnited Kingdom. The development of Canadian and US antennae is currently in progress.

ISAC-CNR

www.isac.cnr.it

The Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC) is a national institute of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) whose headquarters are located in Bologna, Italy. Over 200 staff members, researchers, and students are organized into four divisions and focus on understanding atmospheric processes and climate.

The Institute was established to carry on activities of research, promotion and technology transfer in the following disciplines: Meteorology and its applications, Climate change and predictability, Atmospheric structure and composition, and Observations of the planet Earth.

Kongsberg Satellite Services

www.ksat.no

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) is a world leading commercial satellite centre. Situated in Tromsø, Norway with ground stations in Tromsø, Svalbard, Grimstad and the Antarctic, KSAT is well located for both Tracking and Command services (TT&C), launch support, orbit support and Near real time EO services. KSAT provides services based on data from polar orbiting satellites such as TT&C services, Global data dump services and Operational Earth Observation.

MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.

www.mda.ca

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) is an information company that provides customers around the world with essential information used for decision making. Operating through two groups-Information Products and Information Systems-MDA is active in data collection, information extraction, and information distribution.

MDA’s Information Systems Group provides mission critical Information Systems to support the prime objective of organizations in three major areas: monitoring the planet, defence, and robotics.

Noetix Research Inc.

www.noetix.on.ca

Noetix Research Inc. specializes in remote sensing and geographic information systems for land and marine applications including project management, software and engineering solutions. Noetix Research provides solutions for operational problems as well as client-tailored products and services. Noetix is comprised of three groups: GeoInformation Systems, Land and Marine Applications and Interactive Learning. The combined efforts of these groups allows Noetix to offer the following services: Systems Engineering, Web Enabling Geospatial Applications, Geomatics Training and Satellite Imagery and Image Product Sales.

Norsk Regnesentral

www.nr.no

Norsk Regnesentral (Norwegian Computing Center, NR) is a private, independent, non-profit foundation established in 1952. NR carries out contract research and development projects in the areas of information and communication technology and applied statistical modeling. NR clients are a broad range of industrial, commercial and public service organizations in the national as well as the international market. Their scientific and technical capabilities are further developed in co-operation with The Research Council of Norway and key customers.

The Norut Group Ltd.

en.norut.no/norut_gruppen

The Norut Group Ltd. (Norut Gruppen AS) is a research group consisting of non-for-profit limited companies. The Norut Group has R&D activities in a total of five towns along the Norwegian coast. The head office is located in the town of Tromsø, Norway.

The majority shareholder is the University of Tromsø, with the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs as co-owner of the Group. The Norut Group has approximately 300 employees.

Norwegian Meteorological Institute

www.met.no/english

The Norwegian Meteorological Institute provides the public with meteorological services for both civil and military purposes. The institute provides for the authorities, commerce and industry, institutions and the general public for the protection of their interests, for the protection of life and property, for planning and for the protection of the environment.

All the activities taking place at the institute are interconnected. National and international observations are essential for the provision of meteorological services to society. Commercial activities depend on a high quality in the core activities. Research and development contribute to increasing the quality of both core and commercial activities. Effective systems for the collection and distribution of data and products, sufficient computing capacity and access to super computing resources are vital to performing the primary activities.

Norwegian Polar Institute

www.npolar.no

The Norwegian Polar Institute is Norway's central institution for research, environmental monitoring and mapping of the polar regions. Through active participation in national and international bodies, the Polar Institute is central when it comes to protecting national interests in matters of research and the environment. Approximately 110 persons are employed at the Institute in Tromsø, Svalbard and Dronning Maud Land.

The Institute’s activities are concentrated on environmental management needs at both poles. Global climate, long-range transported pollution, the effect of pollutants on the environment, biodiversity and topographical mapping of the regions are all important tasks, as is environmental collaboration in the Barents Region. The Institute equips and organizes expeditions to both poles, owns the research vessel Lance and runs the Norwegian research stations in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, and Antarctica.

Stockholm University - Remote Sensing Laboratory

www.su.se/english

www.geo.su.se

Stockholm University, situated in the capital of Sweden, is one of the largest in Sweden with about 35,000 students and more than 2,150 graduate students. Undergraduate education is pursued alongside postgraduate studies and research at the four faculties: Law, Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences. With about 75 departments offering approximately 1200 courses and 45 study programmes each year, the university is able to provide a wide variety of choices to meet the needs of its students.

The Remote Sensing Laboratory forms a research group within the Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology. Both fundamental and applied aspects of remote sensing and GIS are taught and researched at Stockholm University.

Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute

www.smhi.se

Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) operate under the auspices of the Swedish Ministry of the Environment and use its meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic expertise to promote efficiency, safety and a better environment in various areas of society.

Vast quantities of data are gathered around the clock from land-based weather stations, balloons, ships, buoys, aircraft, weather radar, satellites and lightning localisation systems. All information from SMHI’s state-of-the-art observation systems is managed using powerful computers and highly advanced numerical models are used to carry out the analyses and forecasts which form the basis of further work.

SMHI’s products are designed to meet the needs of customers in various sectors. General forecasts and severe weather warnings are processed to provide forecasts tailored to meet the specific needs of different sectors of society. The Institute’s services are made available in many forms, including consulting assignments and expert opinions. SMHI’s meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic expertise is used in extensive analyses and surveys.

Technical University of Denmark

www.dtu.dk

Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is a self-governing university that covers most engineering disciplines and educates engineers at the Bachelor, Master and PhD levels. The University has approximately 900 researchers, 6,000 students, 600 PhD students and 400 international students a year in English-language programmes. With activities in, among other areas, biotechnology, communications technology and nanotechnology, DTU has a high international standard within the technical-natural sciences, based on 15 individual departments as well as a number of research centres on campus in Lyngby, north of Copenhagen.

DTU's mission is to contribute to value creation in society on a sustainable foundation: through collaboration on R&D activities with private enterprises; through applications for patents and establishment of new enterprises and through the University's education of Master's students and young, new researchers.

University of Bonn – Centre for Remote Sensing on Land Applications / Zentrum Für Fernekundung der Landoberfläche (ZFL)

www.uni-bonn.de

ZFL was established in 2001, as an interdisciplinary research and teaching center for remote sensing at the University of Bonn. Scientists and students from various subjects have a highly sophisticated and well equipped remote sensing laboratory available for their research activities. ZFL staff offers advise concerning general remote sensing questions and assists in solving complex problems. ZFL is involved in several research projects.

The research activities of ZFL cover a wide range of subjects, depending on the interests of the involved institutions and persons. The running projects cover precision farming, change detection in land-cover & land-use, biomass production as well as the study of effects of climate changes on the cryosphere. As a consequence, the study areas are located around the globe from Europe, to Africa and Antarctica.

University of Bremen

www.uni-bremen.de

The University of Bremen is the science center of North West Germany. The university has over 1,400 research scientists, employs a staff of 910, and has 19,000 students. The Institute of Environmental Physics (IUP), part of the physics department, is investigating the system "earth" using the tools of physics. Research at IUP is organized into four sub-groups: remote sensing, atmospheric physics and chemistry, oceanography, and terrestrial environmental physics.

More details can be found at www.portrait.uni-bremen.de/geschichte_en.php3, www.iup.physik.uni-bremen.de/eng/ and www.msc-ep.uni-bremen.de/about_pep/overview.html.

University of Cambridge - Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics

www.damtp.cam.ac.uk

The Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) was established as a Department of the University of Cambridge in 1959. The founder and first Head of Department was George Batchelor. The current Head of Department, since October 2005, is Professor Peter H. Haynes. The department is located at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences (CMS) where also the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics and the Isaac Newton Institute are located.

Vista

www.vista-geo.de

Vista Geowissenschaftliche Fernerkundung GmbH is a value adding company working in the field of remote sensing applications in hydrology and agriculture. The main application areas in which Vista is active are yield estimation of agricultural crops, modelling of evapotranspiration, runoff and ground water recharge, advanced land use classifications using GIS-tools, observations of snow cover and water bodies, and precipitation and soil moisture observation for flood modelling and forecast.

VTT

www.vtt.fi

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is a contract research organisation involved in many international assignments. Since its establishment over 60 years ago, VTT has become an important centre of technological expertise and developer of new technologies. With its 2800 employees, VTT provides a wide range of technology and applied research services for its clients, private companies, institutions and the public sector.

Polar View End Users (Listed Alphabetically)

AAD - Aurora
Admiral Danish Fleet
Alberta Environment
APRFC, NOAA
AWI - Polarstern
BAS - Ernest Shackleton
BSH (www.bsh.de)
Canadian Ice Service
Dromship
Estonian Env. Info. Center
Estonian Met. and Hyd. Institute
European Environment Agency (www.eea.eu.int)
Finnish Maritime Administration (www.fma.fi/e)
Finstaship (www.finstaship.fi)
HTC, Sachs Harbour
Hyd. Services Division - Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) (www.environment.fi)
IAATO
Ice Advisors Ltd.
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Icelandic National Energy Authority (www.os.is)
Institut Polaire Francais - Astrolabe
International Ice Patrol (www.uscg.mil/lantarea/iip/home.html)
Kemijoki Ltd. (www.kemijoki.fi)
Krasnoyarsk Krai Government
Lapland Regional Environment (www.environment.fi)
LFUWG, Rheinland-Pfalz
LFU, Baden-Wuerttemberg
Makivik Corporation (www.makivik.org)
Mayor of Arctic Bay
Mohn-Sverdrup Center (msc.nersc.no)
Met. Res. Division, FMI
Min. of Nature Protection, Sakha Republic
Municipality of Wood Buffalo (www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca)
National Glaciology Program
National Ice Center (www.natice.noaa.gov)
NB Department of Environment
NL Dept. of Env. and Conserv.
Northern Village of Kangiqsualujjuaq
Norwegian Coast Guard (www.mil.no/sjo/kv/start/english)
Norwegian Institute of Natural Resources
Norwegian Polar Institute – Lance
Norwegian Water and Energy Directorate (www.nve.no)
NSDIC
Oryx Quest Yacht Race
Parks Canada (www.parkscanada.ca)
PNRA – Italica
Pole Position Spitsbergen
Provincial Airlines Ltd.
Royal Arctic Line
SMA - Icebreaking Authorities
SMHI
Swedish Coast Guard (www.kustbevakningen.se)
Swedish Maritime Administration (www.sjofartsverket.se)
Town of Hay River
UK Met Office (www.met-office.gov.uk)
Volvo Ocean Race (www.volvooceanrace.org)
Yukon Department of Environment