Canadian Unmanned & Remote Sensing Innovation Network

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The adoption of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) is the focus of several initiatives at the federal and provincial level in Canada. This emerging technology opens up new avenues for many industries critical to the Canadian economy including agriculture, forestry, mining, oil&gas, industry, logistics, security and defense. Further, the capabilities of emerging remote sensing platforms support key national objectives including exploration of the Arctic, rapid response to hazardous situations such as floods and wildfires, and management of waterways. The impact of these technologies is only beginning to be felt in the area of inspection for critical infrastructure. The maintenance of critical infrastructure is essential to the functioning of our economy, and yet inspection can be difficult over long distances such as pipelines and power lines; in harsh environments such as nuclear reactors; or in difficult to access locations such as under water. Remote sensing on remotely piloted platforms allow for all of this and more. The National Research Council (NRC) has active partnerships with Transport Canada and the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec (CRIAQ) to establish national research initiatives exploring new applications and key challenges to the adoption of these emerging technologies. The proposed Canadian Unmanned and Remote Sensing Innovation Network (CURSIN) combines the expertise of three leading colleges across the country and supports critical infrastructure providers and partners in adopting RPAS and remote sensing. Mohawk College, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and Saskatchewan Polytechnic Institute offer complimentary skills and resources in key research themes including 1) RPAS operations, 2) Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) applications, 3) Photogrammetry and bathymetry of critical infrastructure and 4) Data analytics for LiDAR and sensor data collected using RPAS platforms. In partnership with SMEs and large operators across the country, this new network will accelerate the adoption of remote sensing in Canadian industry by leveraging leading edge RPAS systems and sensors, and by training a new generation of pilots and experts in remote sensing systems.