Boeing and C-CORE partner to advance remote sensing systems capability in Atlantic Canada

Following closely on the success of the initial Integrated Remote Sensing for the Canadian Arctic (IRSCA) project, The Boeing Company partners again with C-CORE for a second project – IRSCA2.

IRSCA’s goal is to advance remote sensing technologies (space-borne, airborne and ground segment), as well as the data analytics that convert sensor data into insights that support decision making. The initial IRSCA project established C-CORE‘s presence in the Arctic with a small satellite reception station and advanced the company’s geospatial analytics capability as well as its capability to analyze various concepts of operations through modelling and simulation techniques.

C-CORE’s Arctic ground station has been receiving greenhouse gas emissions data for the past 18 months from GHGSat’s world-leading satellite technology. IRSCA2 builds on the previous project’s developments and expands C-CORE’s ground station capability to include mission management and control functions for airborne and satellite platforms.

Over the next 18 months, IRSCA2 will result in an integrated mission management and control system for C-CORE’s ground segment that can fly multiple platforms. Seamatica Aerospace, also based in Canada, will be contracted to develop an expert system to work with the mission management and control system, and autonomously fly various airborne systems.

“The confidence that Boeing has placed in C-CORE with the IRSCA initiative has been extremely helpful in expanding C-CORE’s services and markets,” said Paul Griffin, president and CEO, C‑CORE.  “We have developed innovative satellite ground systems and, more importantly, a relationship with Boeing that is building towards future systems.”

Boeing’s partnership on the IRSCA2 project is a result of the Government of Canada’s Industrial Technological Benefits (ITB) policy that promotes innovation, technology development, job creation and economic growth in Canada.

“For more than 100-years, Boeing has consistently supported the Canadian aerospace industry, contributing more than CAD$4 billion of economic benefit to Canada each year working with a strong team of partners and suppliers,” said Roger Schallom, senior manager, International Strategic Partnerships, Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

“To date, Boeing has completed more than CAD$11 billion in IRB and ITB commitments and Boeing guarantees it will fulfill 100 per cent of the requirements, working with Canadian companies of all sizes and specialties, in all locations across our defense and commercial businesses.” Boeing is also facilitating the Integrated Remote Sensing for the Arctic (IRSA) network that expands the IRSCA concept internationally with partners in Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, the U.K., and Germany.

Mission management and control systems will be deployed in several countries with the end goal of demonstrating autonomous aircraft and large UAV flights. C-CORE’s role in IRSA includes implementation of the ground segment and data analytics and leading the formation of an operationalization entity for IRSA services.

“IRSCA2 provides a critical path to grow C-CORE’s capabilities from a single ground station in Inuvik into an international player,” said Paul Adlakha, managing director, C-CORE’s LOOKNorth Centre of Excellence. “Boeing is being truly strategic by building various industrial partnership programs internationally into a focused initiative that will collectively build a high-value system of systems for Arctic safety and security, and support for climate change resilience.”

C-CORE is a separately incorporated corporation of Memorial University of Newfoundland that creates value in the private and public sectors by undertaking applied research and development, generating knowledge, developing technology solutions and driving innovation. Established in 1975 to address challenges facing oil and gas development offshore in Newfoundland and Labrador and other ice-prone regions, C-CORE is now a multidisciplinary R&D organization with world-leading capability in remote sensing, ice engineering and geotechnical engineering.