Canada’s New Government announces over $2.7 Million in funding for World-Class Satellite Imaging Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta

May 24, 2007

LETHBRIDGE, AB — The Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre (ATIC) at the University of Lethbridge got a boost today with an announcement of over $2.7 million in funding from Canada’s New Government.

The two-phase investment includes funds that allow ATIC to research the potential uses of satellite images and to purchase satellite imagery equipment that will enable the development of commercial applications. ATIC will carry out research on the uses of satellite images in areas such as agriculture, resource management, water resources, energy, emergency response and the environment.

“Canada’s New Government is supporting research, development and commercialization initiatives that are creating jobs and diversifying Western Canada’s economy,” said Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Minister of International Cooperation, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. “This investment of more than $2.7 million ensures the Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre is a world-class facility and positions Alberta as a global leader in remote-sensing research and commercialization.”

“One of the greatest challenges of the 21st Century is the integrated management of the earth’s resources in a sustainable and economically viable way,” said Dr. Seamus O'Shea, Vice-President (Academic) for the University of Lethbridge. “The continued success of our society will depend on developing new tools and related applications to manage this balance. ATIC will help build those tools.”

ATIC was jointly created as a non-profit entity by the University of Lethbridge and Iunctus Geomatics Corporation—a private firm based in Lethbridge. Iunctus is providing ATIC with an unlimited research license to an archive of approximately 500,000 images, and an additional 1,200 new images per year for research purposes.

“This Centre is poised to develop new applications in information technology and data management,” said Ryan Johnson, President of Iunctus Geomatics Corporation. “These are new tools to manage natural resources, water and the environment—tools to manage growth. All of this is possible because of the partnership between government, industry and academia.”

ATIC is a customer driven entity focused on supplying high quality data and solutions to its customer base across Canada and in the United States. ATIC will primarily serve its academic partners, including 70 research institutions across Canada, by providing high quality data and finished images. In addition, the Centre will develop and license intellectual property, as well as provide services and products to private and government organizations.