MDA’s Information Systems Group (MDA), announced today that its Geospatial Services division is launching an ice monitoring service to support safe ship navigation in the Arctic. MDA will use RADARSAT-1 and -2 satellites’ superior ice detection and classification capabilities to produce ice information products that can be rapidly delivered in a variety of standard formats. MDA will deliver the products electronically to ships and operation centres, through either direct transmission or via a web portal.
Customer-specific products can also be developed upon request. Selected locations will be routinely monitored using the RADARSAT satellites.
Initial locations and time periods to be monitored include:
- Peel Sound, North-West Passage, Canada — July through October 2011
- Fury and Hecla Strait, North-West Passage, Canada —– July through October 2011
- New Siberian Islands, Northern Sea Route, Russia – July through October 2011
- Kara Gate, Northern Sea Route, Russia – July through October 2011
- Point Barrow, Alaska, USA – July though August 2011