Iunctus Resolution 2009

An Iunctus ground station
revamps Canadian imaging
Wetlands Watch
Plug n Play
pe Me LU
o et S
co ple so !
nt at me
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B.C. Benefits
The Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB)

Mosaic is an exclusive, off-the-shelf imagery product
offered only by Iunctus Geomatics, covering the oil and
gas producing areas of British Columbia, Alberta,
Saskatchewan and Manitoba. No other imagery dataset
can compare to its combination of up-to-date, high
resolution imagery and wide geographic coverage.
Available as a complete dataset, or by custom area
order, the imagery is quickly delivered in a simple loadand-go format, which means it can be seamlessly
integrated with existing geospatial data, perfect for GIS

and CAD applications.
Whether you are a mapper, planner or decision
maker, having the most up-to-date imagery is critical.
Connect with us today and find out how the WCSB
Mosaic can take your project to the next level.
info@terraengine.com
EDITORS NOTE
4
The View From Above

M
Y BUSINESS
partner, Brett
Michelson, goes
red in the face when hes really mad. Once, five years ago,
the two of us had an argument that had him pretty
flushed. It was the kind of
thing that nearly had us asking if we shouldnt just cut
our losses and move on.
At the time, we knew we
were onto something. The
satellite imagery our company
could provide to other organizations was top notch and no
RYAN JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO
other imaging company could
IUNCTUS GEOMATICS CORP.
provide better pictures over a
greater land mass than we
could, at Iunctus Geomatics Corp. Geomatics is the technology and service of acquiring, storing, analyzing, managing and circulating mainly digital information about global
surface features. People use geomatics information for a
variety of purposes, including surveying, oil and gas exploration, forestry, navigation and conservation. Basically, anytime you need the birds eye view, geomatics is in play.
But the fight. Brett had just got back to our Lethbridge
office from doing the rounds in Calgary, slogging through
sales calls at oil companies, environment offices, government you name it. He had little to show for his efforts.
I cant sell this information the way its structured right
now, he told me, clearly exasperated.
Youre not trying hard enough, I snapped. (My advice:
dont say this to a tired salesperson. Ever.)
The conversation continued for a while. Eventually,
things cooled down and we started thinking of ways to turn
our sales model on its head. Wed been trying to sell swaths
of spatial imaging data to people who were interested in just
a bit of it. The images were of 3,600-square-kilometre
chunks, taken 12 degrees from north. And maybe an oil
and gas company just needed to view the seismic lines and
access roads on a single lease. It was like telling a mom she
RESOLU T ION 2009
had to buy the jumbo 42-image package of class pictures

for every kid in the school, when all she wanted was a
dozen wallet-sized shots of her own kid. We clearly needed
to develop better ways to serve our customers.
I think the big, defining moment came when we realized
that we didnt have a true handle on who our customers
were. We were approaching remote sensing experts in
various organizations. They were smart people who had an
intuitive grasp and professional interest in our business, but
they werent our end users. That was our eureka moment,
when Brett and I realized, after our heated exchange, that
the remote sensing expert was not the decision maker, but
worked with the subject matter expert. We needed to make
our spatial imagery useful to the field biologists or the seismic crews and their bosses. And we needed to package it in
such a way that they could use it, with date stamps and an
auditable trail and regular updates. That night our business
took off.
We partnered with France-based company SPOT Image
for the rights to buy its images of Canada from three of its
satellites. That way we could strip map the data, selling it
on an as-needed basis. Some might want just one image,
others might want seasonal images of one location over
time. Now, we can customize and provide this information.
We can store it for them and adjust it as necessary. Every
year we map about 85 per cent of Alberta. We can image
large areas at high resolution or offer pinpoint services.
We can provide images instantly in many cases or in a
matter of hours in other cases. Were becoming part of
the process for many companies as they develop project
management plans.
But it wasnt easy moving forward from that eureka
moment. Fortunately, we have enjoyed great support from
investors in Lethbridge and other parts of Alberta, and
from the University of Lethbridge, as well as our partners,
Telus and SPOT Image. Iunctus has become a leading-edge
company, one that lives up to our three strategic imperatives: to build capacity and infrastructure, to manage data
and to provide data-based solutions for our customers.
And, for the record, Ive rarely seen Brett red of face and
collar before or since that night. But we needed the shakeup
and, looking back, I wouldnt change it if I could.
T E R R A E NGINE .CO M
2009
Contents
PUBLISHED FOR:
Iunctus Geomatics Corp.

#401 - 817 4th Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB, T1J 0P3
Toll-free 1-877-604-2800
Phone 403-381-2800
Fax 403-381-2804
www.terraengine.com
PUBLISHED BY:
Venture Publishing Inc.

10259 105 Street
Edmonton, AB, T5J 1E3
Toll-free 1-866-227-4276
Tel 780-990-0839
Fax 780-425-4921
www.venturepublishing.ca
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS
4 The View From Above

A message from Ryan Johnson
PUBLISHER
Ruth Kelly
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Daska Davis
IUNCTUS EDITOR
Ryan Johnson
EDITOR
Mifi Purvis
ART DIRECTOR
Charles Burke
DESIGNER
Rodrigo Lpez Orozco

PRODUCTION MANAGER
Betty Smith
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / ILLUSTRATORS/
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Anh Chu, Caitlin Crawshaw, Phoebe Dey,

David DiCenzo, David Moore, Sarah Novak,
Lisa Ostrowski, Stephanie Sparks
Contents 2009 by Venture Publishing Inc.
No part of this publication may be reproduced
without written permission.
Additional copies available from
Non-deliverable mail should be directed to:
10259 105 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5J 1E3.
6 In Detail
The Red River floods, before
and after; Can you spy on your
neighbour? Update on the
National Imagery Project;
PLUS! Move a satellite with
your telephone
8 The Time is Now
Land use framework and

integrated resource management
10 Skys the Limit
Iunctus Geomatics Corp. is

as much about attitude and
people as it is about cuttingedge technology
14 Dishing About
Infrastructure
Iunctus previews its Inuvik

data centre and 11 massive
satellite dishes
18 Spatial Insight
A picture paints a thousand

words. See for yourself
Printed in Canada.
FEATURES
22 The Service Solution

Iunctuss Sam Lieff introduces
customer solutions
24 Its Good to Work

Together
Summit brings liability

management solutions to oil
and gas customers
26 Plug and Play
geoLOGIC offers a great platform

for its clients
28 Minding Industry
TERA Environmental facilitates

and monitors energy sector
commitments
30 B.C. Benefits
Pacific Geomatics trains pilots,

maps islands and monitors the
pine beetle
32 Freshwater Mapping
Ducks Unlimited Canada maps

and monitors conservation areas
34 Plus! Investment Fund

Find out more about the latest
investment opportunity
from Iunctus
Canadian Publications Mail Product Sale

Agreement #40020055
T E RR A E NGINE .CO M
RE SO L U TION 2009
IN DETAIL
SEEING CANADA
Iunctus Geomatics Corp. is at work on a multiyear
project in conjunction with Natural Resources Canada
and the Centre for Topographical Information Sherbrook (CTIS). Entitled the National Imagery Project,
the ambitious undertaking will provide project partners
with access to unprecedented satellite pictures of
Canada. Basically, we are covering Canada with new satellite imagery taken between 2005 and 2010, says Brett
Michelson, vice-president of sales and business development. Our goal is to provide cloud-free coverage for land
surfaces of Canada. While this kind of coverage is aimed
at surface features, some underwater coastline features,
such as kelp beds, for example, are visible.
Michelson estimates that work on the National
Imagery Project is more than 70 per cent complete.
The imagery will be made available to all partners on the

project, which include such organizations as Environment Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs, Agriculture
Canada, Parks Canada, Department of National Defence
and selected provinces and territories. There will be freeto-use images for a variety of purposes, including map-
RED RIVER RISING

This spring, Manitobas Red River did what
its famous for: flooding its banks. The flood
was one of the worst in history. Iunctus
downloaded these images of the event.
Nearly 2,000 southern Manitobans were

forced to leave home temporarily because
of flooding.
Approximately 800 square kilometres of the

Red River Valley were submerged.
Hundreds of properties were damaged.
More than 40 people in communities north

of Winnipeg had to be rescued by boat.
Huge blocks of floating ice damaged houses,
knocking some off their foundations.
A 48-kilometre floodway protects the city of

Winnipeg; a control gate can be lifted in a
flood, blocking the flow of the Red River and
diverting it to an engineered channel around
Winnipeg. Between 1968 and 1999, the
floodway saved Winnipeg 20 times.
The 2009 floods are thought to be the

second worst the Red River has experienced.
In 1997, the river crested at more than seven
metres, making it the worst year.
Nearly 1,000 people registered as volunteer

sandbaggers in the City of Winnipeg.
RESO LU T ION 2009
BEFORE AND AFTER: The Red River at normal levels

and overflowing its banks during the spring run off
TE R R A E NGINE .CO M
2009 CNES - IUNCTUS GEOMATICS CORP.
Highway 75, the main thoroughfare connecting Winnipeg to the United States, spent time
under several metres of water, more lake
than border crossing.
GEOMATICS GROWS
ping, land claims and environmental monitoring, for

example. Within the projects, Iunctus is mapping at 10metre resolution pan-chromatic (black and white) imagery
and 20-metre resolution multispectral. At that scale, you
could see some structures, but its really about topographical surface features, Michelson says.
The word geomatics entered the Canadian lexicon a couple of

decades ago, when the Canadian Association of Aerial Surveyors
expanded its scope to better represent its membership and include other
organizations that dealt with geographically referenced information.
Now called Geomatics Industry Association of Canada (GIAC),
the organization describes geomatics as the acquisition, storage,
modelling, analysis and management of geographically referenced data,
i.e., data identified according to their location. It includes the processing of data from different sources into common information systems.
Satellite imagery is an increasingly important part of the toolbox. Since
the word entered common parlance, geomatics technologies and services have increased their profiles across a variety of different sectors.
Geomatics professionals always get asked questions about what they
can actually see on satellite imagery, how finely an image can be
resolved. A look at Google Earth will tell you that, sure, you can see
houses. But unless you have your own military-grade spy satellite, you
cant spy on your neighbour. And anyway, once hes inside his house,
a satellite image isnt going to tell you what hes up to.
But different resolutions do offer different kinds of information.
And its the kind of information an organization is interested in that
will govern the image it pursues. Often high resolution isnt what
theyre after. For example, higher resolution wont provide
better information about the type of crops grown in
central Alberta, but it will give better information
about seismic lines on an oil and gas lease in
northern Alberta.
MOVE A SATELLITE BY PHONE
If you need an image of the surface of the Earth, Iunctus can help. As a
matter of fact, getting it to train a satellite on a particular corner of the
country is as easy as making a phone call. Depending on the nature of
a clients request, this process can take as little as a few hours or a few
days. Heres how it works:
1. Call or email the Iunctus Canadian Order Desk at 403-381-2800,
ext. 1, or info@terraengine.com.
2. Tell the order desk the specifics of the image youre looking for.
If Iunctus doesnt already have the image you need, the order desk
will arrange to have it captured.
3. Iunctus liaises with partner SPOT Image in Toulouse, France with the
specifics of your image.
4. SPOT Image uploads the information to the appropriate satellite.
5. The satellite takes the picture and downloads the data to the
Lethbridge ground station for storage and processing.
6. Iunctus staff verify that the files are correct before delivering them
to clients.
7. Access your image electronically.
RE SO L U TION 2009
The Time
is Now
Initiatives improve Albertas land use and

develop the geospatial imaging talent pool,
adding value along the way
ATELY, THE NEED FOR BETTER ACCESS TO SATELLITE

imaging of Albertas surface features has taken on new
importance. The information that imaging provides
is rich and varied. Its needed by an equally varied swath of
organizations that include industry, conservation and government groups. There are a couple of provincial initiatives
currently underway that are building momentum in the
drive to improve the automated production and use of satellite imagery in the province. One is the Centre of Excellence
for Integrated Resource Management and the other is
Albertas Land Use Framework.
The Centre of Excellence for Integrated Resource
Management
Known more broadly as the IRM Centre, this project builds
on Albertas expertise and leadership in geomatics research
and development. Its ultimate aim is to generate entrepreneurial opportunities to address urgent resource management issues impacting the Albertan and Canadian economies. It provides immediate benefits to the province and
country, both private and public sectors, and domestic and
international trade partners. The IRM Centre will help
position Alberta as a world leader in integrated resource
management solutions, adding value to a number of
industries. Its ambitious mission is to see Alberta support
around $5 billion of economic activity by developing
geomatics and related products, sciences and services.
The IRM Centre enjoys significant investment from the
Federal Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and
Research (CECR) program, industry and other government
partners. The centre brings together more than 30 top
researchers and builds on the strength of the Universities of
Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge. A world first, the IRM
Centre will focus geomatics, remote sensing and other related technologies in an integrated fashion, targeting largescale resource and environmental management.
RESO LU T ION 2009
The benefits of the IRM Centre will be many. The

Alberta market for geomatics products and services is
already in excess of $1 billion and growing. Alberta currently accounts for more than one third of the total Canadian
market. By 2017, Alberta could generate more than $5 billion in new economic activity through the development and
deployment of geomatics and related products and services.
The IRM Centre is focused on the joint development,
application and commercialization of geomatics and related
technologies by 2017, as well as building the incumbent skills
and knowledge set. The IRM Centre is poised to play a pivotal role in the establishment of a network of researchers,
practitioners, institutions and programs to address the strategic needs and priorities of the Land Use Framework, including monitoring and management of land and resources.
The Aims of IRM

The IRM Centre will work closely with industry, provincial government partners and other national organizations. Among its goals:
Provide leading researchers the opportunity to collaborate on
land, water and natural resources management solutions.
Undertake projects that translate such solutions into commercially viable products and services that are aligned with
strategies to increase provincial and national wealth.
Train future generations of Canadians who will sustain the
centre, grow the ranks of industry and build capacity in areas of
strategic interest.
Provide pre-commercialization support that allows such
products and services a successful go-to-market entry and commercialization, ensuring a sustained return on government and
industry investment through the establishment and improvement of companies, increasing job creation and decreasing
brain-drain.
Its one thing to collect information and another to be

able to use it effectively.
We realized we needed to
do a better job.
Morris Seiferling, assistant deputy minister,
Sustainable Resources Development.
The main activities of the IRM Centre will be education and training; applied research and development;
pre-commercialization and partnering with/providing services to industry. The centre will ensure real potential for
commercialization by taking a collaborative approach
with industry and clearing paths toward deployment.
The centre will embrace a series of innovative projects
with promise to deliver solutions over a more immediate
horizon. The IRM Centre is focused on inception and
proof-of-concept development.
The IRMs technology commercialization strategy will
play a critical role in helping the centre realize its expected
outcomes: new knowledge, tools, products and processes
that can be commercialized and marketed by the centres
partners both locally and internationally. The IRM
Centre will have several investigative and commercialization thrusts. Among them: multi-scale Earth observation;
historical and real-time monitoring; data integration,
analysis and modelling; and intelligent land and resource
management systems.
Albertas Land Use Framework
The other provincial initiative that is bringing the need
for better geospatial imaging and data management in
Alberta into sharp relief is Albertas Land Use
Framework. The impetus for the framework comes from
the need for accurate, timely and accessible information
when it comes to making decisions about land use.
Government collects information, says Morris
Seiferling, assistant deputy minister, Land Use Secretariat.
Its one thing to collect it and another to be able to use
it effectively. We realized we needed to do a better job.
In an effort to ensure that Albertas planners and decision-makers have timely access to relevant information,
the Government of Alberta plans to create an improved
integrated information management system that moni-
tors land use in the province. Architects plan to build on

existing information-sharing initiatives to facilitate access
to information. They also hope to improve protocols for
information sharing and incorporate scientific and traditional ecological knowledge to inform land and natural
resource planning and decision-making.
Its important, Seiferling says, that we agree on
intended outcomes and what we need to monitor to achieve
these outcomes, agree on standards and information to
support this monitoring, and develop the partnerships
needed to coordinate collection, sharing and analysing of
this information. In the framework, the government also
committed to creating a monitoring and evaluation system.
Any such monitoring program would require access to
standardized data collection and analysis and standardized
metrics so consistent and current information could be
applied across regions.
To learn more about the Land Use Framework visit
www.landuse.alberta.ca
Watching the Land
Any monitoring program Alberta adopted would surely require

some geospatial imaging and delivery technology. This system
will be guided by several principles. It must be:
Comprehensive, monitoring economic, environmental and social
outcomes.
Practical: results from monitoring must support decisionmaking.
Understandable by government and the public.
Forward-looking and report on outcomes that are relevant now
and in the future.
Adaptive, with a framework that can adapt to new knowledge
and issues.
RE SO L U TION 2009
Skys the Limit

BY CAITLIN CRAWSHAW
People at Iunctus Geomatics Corp. embody that unique

blend of industry experience with a great southern
Alberta can-do attitude. And Iunctus is as much about
its attitude and its people as it is about its cutting-edge
technology. At Lethbridge HQ, folks are keeping one eye
on the sky, but their feet are firmly on the ground.
10
RES OLU T ION 2009
a mountain, for instance, you have to correct for elevation.

Much of this process is automated.
However, when it comes to blending images or colours,
for instance, or maintaining quality control in general,
people are critical. So, there are some aspects that cant be
automated.
Can you tell me about a few of Iunctuss large projects?
Probably one of the biggest contracts weve got now, in
terms of geographic area, is a five-year project to collect
satellite imagery from across the country for Natural
Resources Canada. We have to collect data for approximately 11 million square kilometres. Thats probably in the
neighbourhood of 10,000 images. Were about 70 per cent
finished on this project.
We also have contracts with the Alberta government to
update the entire province annually with satellite imagery.
Weve been doing this for four consecutive years.
Why is this needed?
Albertas a really big place and its tough to know whats
happening on your land surface all of the time. From our
imagery, youre able to monitor land use and change,
including where the cut lines are, the new access roads for
oil and gas, where transmission corridors are, where pipelines are, timber harvesting and so on.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH NOVAK
UPWARDLY MOBILE
Iunctus Geomatics Corp. sets the benchmark in terms of
the imagery, data services and solutions it can provide its
many and varied clients. Brett Michelson, vice-president
business development, explains what puts the company
ahead of the competition.
How would you describe the philosophies that guide
Iunctus?
I think were really customer-focused. We try to ensure that
we get customers what they want and that we do it very
efficiently. We also use technology to our best advantage.
We spend a lot of time and money creating and using technology that works for us and weve been very successful at
it. Weve automated many of our business processes, too.
What parts of your business are automated?
A major part of our business is around spatial data and
services. So, part of our business involves getting data
directly from a satellite and processing that data. We have
that system almost completely automated.
Basically, the imagery is taken by several satellites in the
SPOT constellation that were originally developed by the
French space agency, but are now operated by French company SPOT Image. Satellites send raw data to our receiving
station in Lethbridge, which turns it into an image map.
Because youve got a flat image, when you have a photo of
RE S O L U TION 2009
11
Brett Michelson
VP Business Development
Kristin Grant
Canadian Order Desk
Many services need up-to-date information and old data

can even be dangerous. If youre fighting a forest fire and,
say, the fire changes direction you have to know where the
access corridors are. You need to get your firefighters out
of there, you have to know where the cut lines are and how
to access them.
Why is satellite imaging superior over other kinds of
aerial imaging?
Were able to collect data for very large areas in a hurry,
since the satellite is always in orbit. Satellite imaging is also
more economical than taking photos from planes or helicopters, which require expensive fuel. Thats one reason we
do a lot of work in the Arctic, because to get a plane out
there is very expensive.
GROUND LEVEL
Iunctus calls on cutting-edge technology to pull images of
the Earths surface from orbiting satellites. Its pretty cool
stuff. But in the end, old-fashioned customer service is the
heart of the company. The ability of Iunctus staff to put
the products in the hands of folks who need the images in
to do their work thats what counts.
Together, the staff of 12 functions as a well-oiled
machine or perhaps a well-calibrated satellite dish but
they say its the mix of individual success and collaboration
that defines the workplace culture.
We each have our specific jobs, but everyones is interconnected, says Kristin Grant, who runs the Canadian
Order Desk. She says Iunctus tends to attract detail-oriented,
focused people who can work well on their own and in
a group.
This is critical, as the company is always balancing shortand long-term deadlines, and meeting the needs of clients
as varied as the federal government, farmers, oil and gas
companies and the occasional unusual request.
12
RES OLU T ION 2009
I once got a call from a hunter looking for a picture

to help him find where moose were hiding, laughs Grant.
She was unable to help, but, she says, in terms of our
usual projects, theres nothing out of the blue.
Staffers also share a commitment to giving back to the
community. Each year, the team participates in the Relay
for Life to raise money for cancer research, and each
Christmas they collect on behalf of the Food Bank.
Recently, staff members also participated in a golf tournament to raise money for an association that makes horseback riding accessible to people with disabilities.
This camaraderie enhances the culture of the office, says
Grant, and may explain why a company of only 12 employees has secured such large-scale contracts. Its work that
others might think takes a lot more people to do.
COMMUNICATING BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY
Len Simpson, receiving station operator at Iunctus, plays
middleman between satellites called SPOT 2, 4 and 5 and
the Lethbridge receiving station where the digital mountains of data they produce are stored. Its no easy task, but
Simpson and the crew have ensured that part of the work
does itself.
Why is the satellite receiving station located in
Lethbridge?
To supply clients with great service, Iunctus negotiated with
the owner of the SPOT satellites to build a receiving station
in Alberta. Since weve had the station, weve been able to
provide a much faster turnaround time to our clients.
Having the receiving station at the University of
Lethbridge which communicates with servers in Iunctuss
office in downtown Lethbridge allows for a lot more efficiency on our end. Were able to produce a better product
for the client. Also, having the satellite at the university
ensures the area around the station isnt blocked by tall
Matt Heffernan
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Len Simpson
Satellite Receiving Station Operator
buildings, and that data can flow freely.

How many people work at the receiving station?
Weve managed to automate a lot of the systems. When
we first built the station, France said we needed five or six
people running the system 24 hours a day, but weve managed to automate a lot of it. Right now, its just myself and
a back-up person working at the receiving station.
What does the satellite receiving station do?
Basically, we download information from three SPOT satellites SPOT 2, 4 and 5. Each day, our salespeople talk to
clients to find out what their needs are. They submit these
requests to France the main place where the satellite
passes for each receiving station are planned. Each morning, I receive pass files (the daily schedule of the satellite
orbits), which tell the dish where to move and what position to be in order to track the satellites and collect the data
clients are seeking. After the data is recorded, its downloaded to the receiving station.
How important is sustainability to Iunctus?
Since we built the station in 2004, weve received hundreds
of terrabytes of data. This is data we store for clients, and
the amount of energy we need to do this is quite large.
Recently, we signed an agreement with BullFrog Power,
a green energy provider, to provide power to both the receiving station and office. Because the energy is entirely produced from wind, its 100 per cent emission-free. Now, well
save 117 tonnes of emissions each year. For such a small
company, I think thats a very significant improvement.
LEADING THE WAY
Matt Heffernan is no stranger to information technology or
executive management. The current president and CEO of
production operations management firm Zedi Inc. has held
leadership roles in companies such as Exocom Systems
Corporation, Outrider Technologies Inc. and Telus.
In fact, he first became acquainted with Iunctus a few

years ago when Telus became the Canadian dealer for
Iunctus products. Ultimately, Heffernan ended up on
Iunctuss board of directors as a representative for Telus,
and when Iunctus decided to go ahead without funds from
Telus, Heffernan was asked to stay on as chairman of the
board. It was an easy decision, he says, as Iunctus is advancing rapidly.
I think theres significant growth potential in a number
of key areas. First, the ability to capture data and get data
from several satellites Id say Iunctus is the best in the
world for doing that. And once the data is received, how its
managed is an area of growth for the company, he says.
Iunctus is unusual in that it houses client data in perpetuity.
This allows customers to focus on their own business,
coming to us when they need it.
Heffernan says hes one of many experienced industry
players on the board of directors, whose backgrounds
include everything from real estate to technology. This
knowledge base is helping to steer Iunctus in the right direction, and make the most of its unique situation in the market. Unlike so many other information technology companies, Iunctus is virtually recession-proof, says Heffernan.
At the 100-foot level, theyre a niche-market, best-inthe-world company located in Lethbridge, Alberta. But
certain trends are likely to boost the company further. As
climate change continues to alter the face of the Arctic, the
governments need for up-to-date images of the land and sea
ice will only increase, as it keeps close tabs on new waterways opening up as ice recedes. The need for current data is
also likely to grow as a result of government agencies and
companies working with limited budgets.
Heffernan is certain Iunctus will expand its government
and industry contracts in the near future as a result of these
trends. Iunctus fits dead centre.
13
Dishing About
Infrastructure
BY DAVID DICENZO
Iunctus is reinventing the business with the

construction of its Inuvik ground station and,
eventually, 11 massive satellite dishes
RYAN JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO

14
RES OLU T ION 2009
YAN JOHNSONS GOAL IS TO MAKE IUNCTUS

Geomatics Corp. a global entity. The president of
the optical satellite imagery provider is taking that
task literally. Over the course of the past three years,
Johnson has travelled the world in search of potential partnerships, seeking out companies that have the same innovative vision as those people who have made Iunctus a remote
sensing industry leader in Canada.
Johnsons international excursions have taken him to
China, Sweden, Germany, Chile, Thailand and France,
among other stops. Its a lot of Air Miles, the Iunctus
boss says with a laugh.
All the travel allows Johnson to build global relationships with organizations that want to use the Iunctus infrastructure. It also lets him contract with other organizations
that may have data resources that Iunctus can call on.
All of those trips, its been about finding those champions who want to work with us, Johnson says, and who
share the same vision of how important that base infrastructure is.
The expansion of infrastructure has been key to the success of the 10-year-old company. Iunctus provides two main
types of products: individual satellite images, which it can
collect in any area of Canada, and large area satellite mosaics, essentially a collection of images over a particular area,
the biggest offering being the Western Canadian
Sedimentary Basin Mosaic covering British Columbia,
ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAVID MOORE
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Clients in the oil and

gas, forestry and agriculture fields, both private and government-based, utilize the unique pictures Iunctus can produce.
With the additions to infrastructure, Iunctus has been
able to change the way it provides its data. Five years ago,
the company invested heavily to build the first ever commercial ground station in Canada. Located on the University of Lethbridge campus, the station pulls down data from
SPOT 2, 4 and 5 satellites, owned by Toulouse, Francebased SPOT (for Satellite Pour lObservation de la Terre).
The ground station is a small, domed structure that
has helped Iunctus accomplish in hours what used to
take days or weeks. And the success of the ground station
has spawned an interest in expanding that potential.
Iunctus is now working on a second ground station project
in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, where it will partner with
international and national organizations. One of the partners to the project is the Canada Centre for Remote
Sensing (CCRS) of Natural Resources Canada. CCRS is
currently operating two federal receiving stations in Prince

Albert, Saskatchewan, and Cantley, Qubec, and is also
looking to develop ground segment capacity in Canadas
Arctic through a new business model.
With the federal responsibility for the operations and
development of the remote sensing ground segment as well
as public data access and archival capacity, CCRS is a pivotal organization for partnering and aligning more than 20
other government stakeholders for the Inuvik project. A
station in Inuvik puts Canada at a comparative advantage,
providing access to the expected increased number of polar
orbiting satellites. The station will meet Canadas public
needs in areas such as security and sovereignty, environmental monitoring, economic and northern development,
and will allow more frequent access to data than southern
stations can.
Were offering the capacity to pull information from a
whole variety of satellites from different organizations
around the world, says Scott Soenen, Iunctuss research
and development manager.
When the Inuvik station opens in September, it will
house an automated data centre and eventually 11 massive satellite dishes, each of which is 13 metres in diametre.
Its going to be an enormous volume of data coming
through that station, says Soenen.
15
16
RES OLU T ION 2009
has been done in a good spirit, all the way through.

The data that Iunctus is bringing down and capturing at
Inuvik will need to be managed and processed. The Inuvik
ground stations will become a hub over the next few years.
Johnson says that the presence of the company will bring a
lot of value to the North, in terms of how people there
manage their region. They picked up on that right away,
says Johnson. Out of any group weve met, northerners
are more tied to the importance of the land than most of us
in the southern part of the country.
And northerners are eager to learn more. Were very
happy to see that kind of technology in Inuvik, Brown
says. We would like to do what we can to grow the technical components that are necessary to sustain it and support the project.
Infrastructure expansion has been critical to the Iunctus
business plan, but so has the management of data and the
methods in which the company processes that information.
From the outset, the company has been heavily involved in
research and development, particularly in terms of how
raw imagery is managed and processed. With assistance
from the Alberta government Precain Inc. and Western
Economic Development, Iunctus was involved in a joint
ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAVID MOORE
One of the partners in the Inuvik project is the Swedish

Space Corporation (SSC). When representatives from
Iunctus and the SSC met, a mutual trust was formed. It is
a company with the right background, competence and
business approach for the type of partner we were looking
for in Canada, says Mikael Stern, SSCs general manager,
Satellite Operations Division. The main opportunity is to
create a facility in Northern Canada that can support operators from all over the world when they need to contract
their polar orbiting satellites.
While Iunctus will be able to leverage that network globally, one of the more satisfying aspects of the project has
been the obvious boost to Northern Canada. Inuvik-based
groups, and the Town of Inuvik itself, have been very
receptive to the idea of hosting the ground station, which is
good news to Johnson.
Once we all had the same vision, it was pretty amazing
to see groups come together, Johnson says. Thats what
has surprised me more than anything: the speed with
which things can get done once theres a will and people
share a vision of what can be built.
Its been a good experience, agrees Sara Brown, senior
administrative officer for the Town of Inuvik. Everything
When the Inuvik station
project to build a system that could take all the

opens in September, theres
raw imagery stored on site and generate largegoing to be an enormous
scale image mosaics.
volume of data coming
That project allows us to make the best use of
through it.
our enormous archive of satellite imagery, says
Soenen. We can process an area the size of
Scott Soenen
Research and development manager
Alberta and we can generate an image mosaic
that covers the province in a week. Doing that
manually typically takes three or four months.
On the Ground at Lethbridge
Iunctus is also completing another project, funded through Canadas
Industrial Research Assistance Program, that offers a method of imagAs Iunctus has become more engaged with big players around the
ery management and distribution that essentially makes these largeglobe, the company has come to understand the problems these
scale mosaics available over the Internet in a way similar to what you
giants face.
would see with Google Maps.
Access to data is a big one, says Iunctus president and CEO
Management of imagery has become a pretty big issue lately,
Ryan Johnson. These big global players, they operate across
says Soenen. This distribution method allows us to stream our imaggeographies and political boundaries that dont influence their
ery through a URL into basically any geographic information system
business. They need ubiquitous services on a global basis. So if we
software that might be used by our clients, as well as to provide a
step back and look at how to create solutions for them, infrastrucfront-end, web-based interface for our clients to view their imagery
ture becomes a big part of that.
and manage it.
To date, the Iunctus ground station located on the University
The focus of Iunctus is to expand infrastructure and working hard on
of
Lethbridge
campus has been one of the most influential infraresearch and development has provided a solid foundation that is allowstructure
additions
for the remote sensing company. While small
ing the company to grow. But its far from done in terms of establishing
in
comparison
to
the
current ground station being built in Inuvik,
that global presence. Soenen says that one of the interesting aspects of
the
Lethbridge
station,
home to a satellite dish thats five metres in
doing business in Alberta is the interaction with major resource managediametre,
is
no
less
important.
ment groups in Calgary.
Built in 2004, the station collects data from three SPOT satelTheir interests arent all within Alberta, says Soenen. Their interest
lites,
to whose imagery Iunctus owns the Canadian rights. Imagery
is all over the world. Were looking at taking that one extra step up the
is
acquired
over Canada from the U.S. border to just below the
food chain where we would have our own constellation of satellites that
North
Pole.
we could task anywhere in the world and be able to provide the inforIts quite a large area, probably one of the biggest aside from
mation globally rather than just focusing on Canada.
Russia
that is mapped with SPOT images, says receiving station
That likely means more Air Miles in Johnsons future. While talent is
operator Len Simpson. We are probably one of the busiest coma key component of success, ambition is what puts the greats over the
mercial ground stations for SPOT imagery in the world.
top in any field. Johnson and his staff have thrived with a pioneers spirit
Simpson says that the importance of the station is that it is able
and, in turn, have revolutionized the industry.
to download imagery from a greater number of satellites than ever
Johnson and his team were able to capitalize on new infrastructure by
before. The station collects images in various resolutions Level 0,
shaking up an old business model. The way we look at the business is
for example, is a raw image, while Level 3 is more enhanced.
dramatically different than the traditional way people have looked at
Heres how it can work: A salesperson speaks with a client who
remote sensing, the president explains. In the past, most of the people
wants a particular area shot at specific dates and times. The direcwho used the data were technical experts in remote sensing.
tions are uploaded to the satellite(s), which capture the images
Now, end users such as surveyors, biologists, land management peoand download them to the ground station for storage and processple, oil and gas field workers and so on are the target consumers of data,
ing. Simpson makes sure those files are correct before delivering
rather than remote sensing experts who arent in the field with them.
We took on a lot of the work at our end, Johnson says, to create
them to clients.
products that are more effective and easier to use.
17
Spatial
Insight
Its trite but true that a picture paints
a thousand words. Organizations
are relying on satellite imagery
more than ever
LOCATION: 7920N, 10428W
18
RES OLU T ION 2009
ATELLITE IMAGE RESOLUTION IS IMPACTED BY

four different elements: spatial resolution, spectral
resolution, temporal resolution and radiometric resolution. These have to do with the ability to distinguish
between closely spaced objects on an image, the frequency
at which the satellite captures images, the ability of the
satellite to render high and low contrast, and the subtlety
of variations in colour. These aspects of image resolution,
gathered for Iunctus by SPOT satellites 2, 4 and 5, reveal
many things about the surface features they are capturing.
Here are a few examples.
THE BIG MELT: Climate change is altering the face of the

Arctic. Sea ice, which at one time was always present in
Canadas Arctic, is beginning to disappear. This change is
drastically altering sensitive environmental ecosystems, a
bellwether for the rest of the planet. Its also creating questions about national defence and new opportunities for
northern shipping routes. This 10-metre resolution image
was acquired by the SPOT 5 satellite.
HEALTHY CROPLAND: Remote sensing is used in a wide

variety of industries, including agriculture. This 10-metre
resolution multispectral image, acquired by the SPOT 5
satellite, shows potato crops on Prince Edward Island. The
image shows a pseudo-colour configuration with infrared
reflectivity shaded red. Vegetation is highly reflective when
captured in infrared wavelengths, so agriculture experts
often look at crops in this manner. Through careful analysis of the image, scientists are then able to determine vegetation type, health and yield.
19
OIL AND GAS FROM ABOVE: Satellite imagery is an integral part of mapping and planning in Canadas oil and gas
industry. Having an up-to-date view of a project area can
be critical for making timely and informed decisions. With
new developments occurring all the time, the landscape is
rapidly changing. To provide a vast archive of current
image data, the SPOT 5 satellite is always acquiring new
images, such as this 2.5-metre resolution black and white
image, over the oil and gas producing areas of Western
Canada.
PROSPECTING IN CANADAS NORTH: The North is

abundant in natural resources. In Canada, both government and industry invest significant time and money to
discover deposits of precious metals and minerals. Satellite
imagery helps prospectors stake claims, helps biologists
plan field work and helps scientists study the Earths
surface for geologically significant areas. This SPOT 5,
2.5-metre resolution color image shows an area of Baffin
Island that geologists think may be rich in minerals.
20
RES OLU T ION 2009
21
The Service
Solution
BY SAM LIEFF
Organizations have specialized uses for

satellite imagery. Iunctus creates pinpoint
solutions, as individual as each client is.
Look at how some are using Iunctus products
22
M IN MY FIFTH YEAR IN SALES AND BUSINESS

development at Iunctus Geomatics Corp. In that short
time I have seen our field revolutionize, and Im proud
to say that Iunctus has been a leader.
Historically, geospatial imaging companies have had
rather rigid business models. I think what allows Iunctus
to provide better, timelier solutions for our customers is the
fact that the company dissected that stale business model
and started fresh.
We revisited agreements with our partners, Telus and
France-based SPOT Image. They have been great, and they
have given us the flexibility we were looking for to create
specialized products for a variety of sectors, offering clients
different image types, processed in different ways, based
on what they need. At the same time, the ground station in
Lethbridge has allowed us to amass and maintain data sets
that make up a very comprehensive image library of the
surface of Canada.
That means that a client can approach us with a very
specific request. What once took weeks or months is now
nearly instantaneous. We are sometimes able to consult
existing images online, in conjunction with a client, right
away. Other times it might take a few hours. Its a huge
leap of efficiency that not only sets Iunctus apart, but also
sets our clients apart, some of whom have been able to
adjust their business models and best practices to keep pace
with the technology we offer.
For example, historically a forestry biologist might have
RES OLU T ION 2009
SAM LIEFF, SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,

needed to consult several archives to find an image, which

might be sorely out of date and take months to secure.
Now, in consultation with Iunctus, that same biologist can
have near-instant access to an image that was acquired
today. Further, the biologist can now order custom data
sets, asking Iunctus to monitor a particular area over multiple seasons and even years. It adds up to our clients being
able to take their work to a whole new level, increasing the
value of our imagery services to our customers.
Thats what sets Iunctus apart: its currency, its coverage
and the speed at which it can supply state-of-the-art satellite imagery. We are expanding our data sources to other
satellites and airborne imagery sources to improve services
and expand product offerings to our clients.
The way people can now visualize the planet is fundamentally changing our approach to exploration, conservation, agriculture, land management, forestry you name it.
There isnt a field that is not currently or will not soon be
impacted by geospatial imaging. Its how we choose to
leverage this new way of looking at the world that will
define us and govern what we do as we move forward.
In the following pages, youll meet some of Iunctuss
clients. They are doing novel work in a variety of settings.
What unites them is their forward-thinking and their
ability to leverage strength from cutting-edge Canadian
technology.
Read their stories and discover what they are using
Iunctus solutions for.
Case
Studies
24 Its Good to Work Together
Summit Liabilitys integrated liability

management solutions gives oil and gas clients
peace of mind
26 Plug and Play

geoLOGIC Systems Ltd.s software analyzes
high activity oil and gas areas
28 Minding Industry
TERA Environmental facilitates and monitors
energy sector commitments
30 B.C. Benefits
Pacific Geomatics Inc. trains pilots, maps
islands and monitors the pine beetle
32 Freshwater Mapping
Ducks Unlimited Canada maps and monitors

conservation areas
23
Its Good to
Work Together
BY STEPHANIE SPARKS
A Calgary company helps its clients

manage their liabilities and reduce the
negative environmental impacts of
doing business
N TIMES OF ECONOMIC CONFUSION,

two companies are working together to
remain strong in their markets, delivering
better service than ever for their clients. And
they are laying the groundwork to ramp up to
new business once the recession is over. Turns out, the
partnership has deep roots.
Theres been a friendship between Ryan and myself for
years, says Jason Pecht, vice-president of operations for
Summit Liability Solutions Inc. Hes talking about Ryan
Johnson, the president of Iunctus Geomatics Corp., who
hes known since junior high. So I kind of knew what he
was up to and recognized that our line of business and
Iunctuss technologies could have benefits for both companies. A circuitous route led the two companies to build
each others skill sets and business offerings.
Summit evolved out of its partners 65 years of combined
experience. Jason and I, and the other partners, have been
in the business for a number of years, explains Summits
president, Russel Orcutt. When Orcutts employer at the
time closed down his division in 2005, he decided to strike
out with long-time friend Mike Bowie. His colleagues Jeff
Carratt, Robin Weseen and Pecht were eager to be a part
of the new endeavour and are now partners in Summit.
We all got together and never looked back, Orcutt says.
Summit focuses on bringing integrated liability manage-
24
RES OLU T ION 2009
AHEAD OF THE PACK: Summit Liability

Solutions works with Iunctus technology to
reduce customers liabilities
ment solutions to oil and gas companies.

Under this umbrella, it provides services
in reclamation and remediation, spill
cleanup, pre-drilling environmental
assessments, drilling waste management
and pre-acquisition, and divestiture
evaluations.
PROFILE: Summit Liability Solutions Inc.

Year established: 2005
Number of Canadian employees:
About 100
Goals: Summit aims to reduce the number of non-compliant oil
and gas activities in the environment; reduce operating costs
and the liabilities associated with the activities of customers;
improve efficiencies for Summits field staff; improve relationships with regulators, landowners and customers; provide staff
with leading-edge technology; grow Summits market share
Well do environmental assessments on properties that

Company A may be buying from Company B, says
Orcutt, so they know where theyre at from an environmental liability perspective before closing that deal.
He adds that the company is distancing itself from its
environmental name. We felt that every company was
hanging out a sign on their window that said, Were an
environmental company, and we do more than that. We
manage our customers liabilities and try to reduce them in
the environmental aspects of their business.
Headquartered in Calgary, Summit has staff working
remotely across western Canada. There isnt a corner of
these four provinces we cant service, says Orcutt of
Summits Western Canadian reach. He has staff as far
away as Manitoba and northern British Columbia.
Because of so much remote activity, Summits goal is to
improve the efficiency of its long-distance communications
to better serve its clients. Thats what got Jason Pecht
thinking about his old pal Ryan Johnsons satellite imagery
and services company, Iunctus. Pecht talked to Orcutt and
the others about working with Iunctus.
One of the main drivers behind getting together with
Iunctus was to develop some remote reporting software,
says Orcutt. We have staff working all over Western
How Iunctus helps: We believe, with [Iunctuss] technology and

the software that weve built together, that were far ahead of our
competition. Russel Orcutt, Summit president
More information: www.summitls.ca
Canada, so we wanted a web-based system that would
make for efficient transfer of information and easy access.
The group at Summit sought to discover if Iunctus
would be keen to develop software that would tie their
existing services into Summits business. There was definitely interest, and Iunctuss in-house software engineers
were charged with the project.
The project involves implementation of updated satellite
imagery into Summits current reporting software. It
ensures none of the images used by Summit is older than
12 months. The fact that its Internet-based allows us to
communicate very quickly and efficiently, says Orcutt.
He adds, Our goals are to reduce our operating costs
through these efficiencies and gain some market share by
demonstrating to our customers that we can lower their
expenses as well. We want to maintain throughout the
slow time and be ready to ramp up with an efficient system
when things turn around. We believe with Iunctuss technology and the software that weve built together that
were far ahead of our competition.
25
Plug and Play

BY PHOEBE DEY
High-resolution imagery from Iunctus plugs into

geoLOGICs software to provide and analyze details
about high activity oil and gas areas
N 1983, WHEN JOE HARRIS STARTED GEOLOGIC

Systems Ltd. as a tool to help look for oil and gas, he
knew he wanted to offer his customers cutting-edge
technology. At the time, the personal computer was just
starting to make its way into peoples homes and offices
and Harris, an experienced exploration geologist who had
spent much time in North and South America, spent years
perfecting his innovative software before taking it to the
marketplace.
geoLOGICs philosophy isnt much different today.
Although the Calgary-based companys proprietary software has turned data into actionable information for two
decades, geoLOGIC continues to push the technology
envelope. By partnering with Lethbridge-based Iunctus
Geomatics Inc., a satellite imagery company that offers the
most up-to-date and detailed images, geoLOGIC continues
to have an edge on its competitors. Before Iunctus, the
industry had to rely on out-of-date aerial photography
which could not keep up with Albertas ever-changing nonrenewable resources landscape.
We saw Iunctuss comprehensive coverage as a gamechanger in the marketplace, says David Hood, president
of geoLOGIC Systems Ltd. The industry needed a quick
and up-to-date way of being out in the field, without actually having to send people out to survey it, and thats one
of the things this satellite imagery provides. It changes the
way our customers do business.
geoSCOUT is the companys flagship technology and
26
RES OLU T ION 2009
LUCAS SOUTZO, GEOLOGICS

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
was the first Windows-based software of its kind, designed

to store and manage interpretive geological data. But the
company didnt stop there. It has spent much effort looking at how to enhance its products while priding itself on
being able to make rapid changes to keep up with client
demands. For instance, geoSCOUT is regularly and
frequently updated and, 15 years after its inception, is on
version 7.5.
SPOT high-resolution imagery from Iunctus can plug into
geoSCOUT software to provide specific details and analytical capability about high activity oil and gas areas in Western Canada. For instance, the images can supply a real
view of a well site and can show existing pipelines, tell you
where a valley crosses a stream or if a farmhouse exists on
a specific section of land. This technological combination
packs a strong arsenal of information that allows
companies to make well-informed decisions and plan for
the future.
Having the ability to see exactly what is out there saves
hundreds of thousands of dollars for our clients because
when they get to the well, there are no surprises, says
Lucas Soutzo, senior account manager with geoLOGIC.
We can tell the entire story from production rates to the
reserves to existing infrastructure anything you want to
know, we can tell you whats there and our clients appreciate that when it comes to making business decisions.
That is the goal of Iunctus. The company spends a lot of
time developing services and infrastructure to make it easy
to plug into applications such as geoSCOUT to widen the

net of information already being provided, says Sam Lieff,
sales and business development with Iunctus.
When we work with geoLOGIC, our goal is to provide
end users with everything they need to make a sound business
decision or analysis, says Lieff. For clients of geoLOGIC,
the benefit is that rather than send people out to the field, they
can do the exact same thing from a computer.
By pointing and clicking online, it is as close as you can
get to being there, says Hood.
The resolution Iunctus provides fits our application
very well, he says. We dont want to be able to read
licence plates or see facial expressions but we want to see
the topography and thats what it can do.
Financial companies use the combined technology to
help determine the value of an oil and gas company while
government or regulatory agencies use it as a verification
tool. Instead of sending surveyors out to physically map
the land, the government can use the images to check
company reports and activities as well as boundaries.
geoLOGIC has also donated a total of $16.5 million to
universities for research and to train students on their
software.
TRAINING ROOM: geoSCOUT can read SPOT imagery from Iunctus
When you work in this industry, you have to keep up

with change or you fall behind, says Hood. And thats
one of the reasons we have a good relationship with
Iunctus. They are of the same mindset about listening to
what customers want and it really is something to be able
to offer the availability of that level of imagery so quickly
and so simply. Its impressive.
PROFILE: geoLOGIC Systems Ltd.

More than 100 people
How Iunctus helps: It makes sense.Having the ability to see
exactly what is out there saves hundreds of thousands of dollars
for our clients, says Lucas Soutzo of geo-LOGIC. More than 80
per cent of assets traded in the Canadian oil and gas market
were geoLOGIC clients. Iunctus Geomaticss land cover product
is second-to-none its the benchmark.
More information: www.geologic.com
27
Minding Industry
BY LISA OSTROWSKI
TERA Environmental Consultants uses Iunctus

solutions to facilitate workflow and better monitor
its energy sector commitments
IELD BIOLOGIST KRISTEN FOREMAN WAS RECENTly looking to locate a particular plant kind of rare
sand verbena, in Southern Alberta. Using information from the Alberta Natural Heritage Information
Centre (ANHIC), she found accounts of previously
observed occurrences of the plant somewhere in the Taber
area. So she consulted some SPOT 5 satellite imagery from
Iunctus that showed exactly where the sand dunes could be
found. The information from ANHIC, in conjunction with
the imagery, let her locate the sand verbena easily without
having to spend days in the field.
Iunctus Geomatics Corp. has pioneered the use of a
novel satellite imaging technology that has completely
changed the way Alberta-based TERA Environmental
Consultants goes about its environmental assessments and
consulting. TERA was established more than two decades
ago, and it has been involved in many energy sector projects around Alberta, focusing on the environmental
aspects of the energy industry.
Harnessing the power of Iunctus technology, TERA has
had the opportunity to work alongside many hundreds of
energy companies that assess potential environmental
problems which could occur on new projects and postproduction reclamation and restoration projects. TERA
also advises clients about how to lessen the potential negative environmental consequences. Using the most up-todate information available from Iunctuss satellite imaging,
TERA has become a major force for consultations and
assessments in the Alberta energy sector.
SPOT 5 satellites are continuously taking new pictures,
28
RES OLU T ION 2009
and are able to provide end users with an updated image

every one to five days. Iunctus is able to train its SPOT
satellites on particular areas to customize its products to
suit TERAs needs. Involved in many projects (most of
which are confidential) that require detailed information
about land use, TERA benefits from Iunctuss services,
from initial site reviews to producing the necessary maps
to continue with the assessment process. Iunctus is able to
provide employees at TERA with an accurate depiction of
what a site will look like before they get there. Its a valuable tool that enables workers to increase productivity
once they arrive on site.
We use Iunctus SPOT 5 as a basis for our mapping.
It has a good resolution and great value. When you compare the cost with the quality of the product itself, it really
is a valuable tool for us, says Andrew Povey, a senior
environmental planner at TERA.
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of Iunctuss
services is the up-to-date images it provides clients.
Iunctus is able to provide detailed images of much of
Western Canada that are current, a particularly valuable
tool for companies such as TERA, whose site assessments
depend on the currency of images. In the past, TERA
might have used topographical maps and aerial photography to begin the site assessment process.
Kristen Foreman, a biologist with TERAs vegetation
team, is responsible for seeking out environmental effects
on rare plants. She explains that Iunctus products help
with her work because of the comprehensive nature of the
maps, but also because of the convenience they offer her.
PROFILE: TERA Environmental Consultants

Number of Canadian employees: More than 150
How Iunctus helps: TERA Environmental Consultants uses
Iunctus products to help it assess environmental impacts for its
growing client base, many of which are found in Albertas energy
sector. TERA is a growing industry leader for involvement in
energy-related environmental projects.
Goal: TERA Environmental Consultants is an industry leader
committed to its clients energy-related environmental projects.
More information: www.teraenv.com
RE SO L U TION 2009
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KRISTEN FOREMAN
The up-to-date details of Iunctus images are central to carrying out the field biology that Foreman undertakes. Given
that much of a field biologists time is spent visiting different sites, its important that she be able to find her way
around without difficulty. Iunctus can help. Imagery is
available in great detail, with resolutions ranging from 2.5
metres to 20 metres, which enables biologists like Foreman
to have a more precise idea of site conditions.
Before heading into the field, Im able to plan potential
rare-plant hot spots by interpreting the imagery. I often
make notes directly on the imagery maps, and this proves
extremely useful for when Im compiling the data and writing the report for my clients, she notes, adding that the
Iunctus maps are also beneficial when compared to the
competition because of ease of use. She adds, I love having the imagery. Before I worked with TERA I used topographical maps that were nowhere near as current or
detailed or easy to interpret.
The innovative imagery provided by Iunctus benefits
TERA Environmental Consultants, allowing the company
to streamline its workflow and facilitating some of the
most current and accurate project assessments in the environmental energy sector. Given the importance of this sector to the economy of Alberta, its likely that TERA will
continue to grow, building on its own expertise using
imaging products from Iunctus.
29
British Columbia
Benefits
BY ANH CHU
A company in B.C. uses spatial imagery from Iunctus

to train pilots, map the islands and monitor the
march of the pine beetle
HE BOEING AIRPLANE IN THE SKY

above us; the mountain pines that
sprout from the land at our feet; the
minerals and gems below us: these are all
connected by something literally out of this
world. We might not be wholly aware of
how satellites have permeated our daily lives,
but spatial imaging and remote sensing are
tools that have become necessary to gathering and synthesizing information about the
Earth and our place in it.
We specialize in providing ready-to-use
satellite imagery to a wide range of clients,
begins Dr. Geoff Tomlins, president of the
British Columbia-based Pacific Geomatics
Ltd. The company delivers custom data to its
clients worldwide in three major areas: visual
simulation for pilot training, mining and
exploration, and forestry and environmental
land management. Tomlins credits Iunctus
Geomatics the exclusive Canadian distributor of data from satellites of the Francebased company SPOT Image for enabling
his company to access and develop markets
for medium-resolution satellite imagery in
Canada.
Iunctus brought a new business model to
North America and developed new markets
for SPOT data, he explains. SPOT satellite
data, especially from the 2002 SPOT 5 satellite, provides high resolution (2.5-metre, fivemetre, 10-metre) data over large geographical areas from any location in the world.
Iunctus demonstrated to land regulators and
the oil and gas industry the value of a western Canadian geographic database. The
database is maintained with new imagery so
30
RES OLU T ION 2009
it has become a repository for both current and historical

imagery that has unparalleled value for monitoring and
change detection, says Tomlins.
Iunctus, with support from the federal government, is
building a Canadian national SPOT mosaic, which Tomlins
explains now assists in the update of national mapping.
These large databases were made possible by the construction of the companys satellite receiving station in
Lethbridge, Alberta, enabling Iunctus to dramatically
increase the volume of SPOT imagery collected in Canada.
Prior to Iunctus, access to SPOT data was time-consuming
and rigid, explains Tomlins. SPOT orders were processed
through SPOTs base in Toulouse, France, and a data order
could often take a month or more to be fulfilled. It may
sound trite, but before Iunctus, it was very difficult to market SPOT imagery in North America, he says. It was very
expensive and a take it or leave it product. That has
changed. Iunctus now supplies Pacific Geomatics with imagery of countries all over the world for use in mineral exploration, and in Canadian-made flight simulators. Imagery of
Canada is easy to purchase, Tomlins says, because its
available by the square kilometre rather than by the scene.
Hes no longer forced to buy data he doesnt need, which
increases both his and his clients bottom lines.
When Iunctus first arrived on the scene, Tomlins
approached its president, Ryan Johnson, and proposed an
arrangement where Iunctus would provide scenes of raw
data of the entire B.C. coastline, and Pacific Geomatics
would process the data to remove cloud, create a seamless
and accurate mosaic, and find a market for the product.
The results were fruitful as Pacific Geomatics was able
to build, from scratch, markets within the forest sector
throughout B.C.
A major B.C. forest company benefited from images
acquired from Iunctus in its battle against the mountain pine
beetle. Pacific Geomatics used the data to help its client
clearly identify areas of outbreak. When fused with same-
date multispectral imagery, the satellites 2.5-metre resolution

provided enough detail to identify small clusters of newlykilled trees.
In another example, Pacific Geomatics provided the B.C.
Ministry of Environment SPOT 5 mosaics of the 32,000square-kilomtre area of Vancouver Island for each of the
years 2004, 2006 and 2007. The multi-date imagery allowed
ministry scientists to map and classify landslides as part of
the development of a landslide risk model.
Pacific Geomatics also creates textures for flight simulators that are used for pilot training on commercial airlines.
Its quite challenging, but also very satisfying work,
Tomlins says, describing the process that combines imagery
from three different satellites to create an accurate flight
landscape for the pilot. The different resolutions of each satellite image are used to simulate various elevations, using
higher resolution ones to simulate takeoffs and landings.
Weve had a great relationship with Iunctus from the
outset, Tomlins says. We use data from many different
satellites but were very happy Iunctus is there.
Iunctuss SPOT satellite images allow us to remotely
sense and measure the canopy of forests or agricultural
areas, and can be used to detect changes over time, explains
Tomlins. Spatial imaging provides an absolutely vital tool
for understanding whats happening to the landscape it
cannot be done any other way.
PROFILE: Pacific Geomatics

Number of Canadian employees: five
Goal: Provides ready-to-use satellite imagery to world-class
clients in the flight simulation, mining and environmental sectors.
How Iunctus helps: Imagery was used to find clusters of trees
damaged by the mountain pine beetle in British Columbias pine
forests. We could not put together a five-metre mosaic of the
entire B.C, coastline until Iunctus came along. Iunctus has been
critical to our work.
More information: www.pacgeo.com
31
Freshwater
Mapping
BY ANH CHU
A cornerstone of conservation is being able to

map and measure an area. Ducks Unlimited
Canada is using Iunctus imagery to help
HE PRAIRIE SUN IS SHINING AND THE LAND IS

covered with rough fescue grass. A half dozen northern pintail glide smoothly across a small marsh. Its a
scene right off a postcard of western Canada. But, for Lyle
Boychuk, the value of the nations wetlands is deeper than
a photo opportunity.
Wetlands filter our water theyre the kidneys of the
watershed. Everything we drink at some point would have
cycled through wetlands, begins Boychuk. These swamps,
bogs, fens and ponds provide other benefits. They moderate climate change by sequestering carbon, contribute to
biodiversity and provide habitat for wildlife and mitigate
flood damage, acting like giant sponges.
In the settled areas of Canada, as much as 70 per cent of
wetlands have disappeared. Boychuks job at Ducks
Unlimited Canada (DUC), a non-profit organization with a
mission to conserve wetland habitats, is crucial as are the
tools used to aid DUCs conservation efforts.
Boychuk is manager of Geographic Information Systems
and Inventory Programs for DUCs Western Region.
Among his responsibilities are to gather scientific data for
conservation; work with individual, industry and government stakeholders; and to advocate for wetland and agricultural policies. We cant address anything until data is
quantified and known, says Boychuk, explaining the
necessity of gathering information from satellite images.
Use of technology must supersede land development so
that conservation efforts can keep pace. Remote sensing
is critical to conservation.
32
RES OLU T ION 2009
Since using imagery provided by Iunctus Geomatics,

Boychuk has seen a significant increase in work-flow efficiencies. The quick, comprehensive, digital format means
that DUC can immediately evaluate the potential for conservation of a land base by pulling up the digital images
prior to heading to the field.
The big benefit is having a current snapshot of the
entire agricultural portion of Saskatchewan in one swoop,
he continues. The imagery is a source for baseline information thats readily accessible to our field people across
the province.
Prior to engaging the services of Iunctus five years ago,
the process for acquiring photography was onerous. Photos
were culled from a variety of sources. Without a single
source of current photography in the province, DUC staff
often found themselves searching for these materials internally as well as across agencies. With Iunctuss products,
the organization saves time and, ultimately, money. It has
proven essential for an organization with staff scattered
across the provice.
Iunctuss Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin Mosaic
panchromatic imagery is an alternative to aerial photography in that it provides high-resolution images. It allows
DUC to assess an area, usually after the landowner contacts the organization to inquire about DUC programs.
(The benefit to the landowner might include access to
funding or technical assistance for enrolling his lands.)
DUC can refer to widely available imagery during, or
shortly after, discussions with landowners.
Our project plan starts from this base imagery,

Boychuk says. Habitat areas defined with the imagery are
a starting point for further consultation with the land
owner its critical to what we do operationally. Later,
the imagery can be used to check landowners compliance
to conservation agreements.
For landscape classification over large areas, DUC
employs the SPOT 5 satellite multi-spectral images provided by Iunctus. The moderate-resolution images are used to
map tough-to-classify upland vegetation to capture the
distribution of small habitat patches.
Prairie wetlands pose an even greater challenge as they
tend to be small features with characteristics that change
seasonally and annually. Boychuks team has been experimenting with incorporating traditional wetland mapping
from aerial photography with SPOT multispectral imagery.
The process shows potential for future applications.
Were measuring small upland features like trees and
grasslands with higher confidence and fidelity, while
accounting for the majority of wetlands, he says.
DUC recently developed an 18-month comprehensive
biophysical inventory for the Lower Souris River watershed, an area that encompasses much of southeast
Saskatchewan. The data DUC generated is critical to
understanding the economic benefits of conservation and
will be used to refine conservation programs for the watershed region.
DUC had Iunctus collect three seasons of imagery in an
attempt to use seasonal differences as potential classifiers
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA
POPULOUS PROVINCE: Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

account for 60 per cent of all waterfowl produced in North America
of grassland communities.
Boychuk credits the images fine resolution, combined with the flexibility of
Iunctus in allowing DUC
to use unconventional programming, for the projects
success.
Conserving wetlands just makes good public sense,
Boychuk says. Every time a wetland gets drained,
degraded or cultivated, society loses the benefits.
Fortunately, DUC, using solutions and imagery
provided by Iunctus Geomatics, is doing what it can
to clear the air and water for Canadians. A beautiful
snapshot, indeed.
PROFILE: Ducks Unlimited Canada

Approximately 400
Goal: Conserving wetlands is critical to human health and
sustaining wildlife populations.
How Iunctus helps: Evaluates site potential before initiating
field work; checks compliance on conservation agreements;
creates comprehensive habitat inventory.
More information: www.ducks.ca
33
Remotely Close
Satellite technology zooms in on resource management
and conservation
ATELLITE IMAGING HAS MADE

natural resource management more
effective and efficient in many
cases saving time and money. The uses and
timeliness of this technology are changing
the way people approach fieldwork. While
climate change is altering the landscape,
remote sensing is transforming conservation
efforts, in too many ways to list at length.
Here are a few ways satellite imagery is
making a difference:
Detects changes over time.
Changes in habitats can be analyzed
over months, years, even decades. The
abundance of vegetation affects wildlife

populations. Industrialization can affect
watersheds and water resources. Glacier
and ice shelf cracking could hold clues to
climate change.
Reduces the need for field work.
Quantitative data from satellite images can
be used to monitor progress and compliance
on conservation efforts. And it reduces the
footprint of traditional surveying techniques
in environmentally sensitive areas.
Improves field efficiency.
Field personnel have a better idea of what
they are facing before they get to the field,

so they can use their time there more effectively.
Covers large geographic areas.
In Canada, Iunctus is working on the
National Imagery Project to image all of
Canada (in conjunction with Natural
Resources Canada and the Centre for
Topographical Information Sherbrook).
In Europe, theres a project underway
called The Global Land Cover 2000
Project, initiated by the Joint Research
Centre of the European Commission, to
map vegetation for a global database.
A New Investment Fund

Iunctus Geomatics Corp. has developed specific knowledge and
skills in the area of geomatics, and has used its expertise to create
and execute a number of industry-specific investment opportunities since its inception.
The Iunctus executive is investigating the creation of a dedicated
Geomatics Industry Investment Fund, to expand the companys
investment capacity and capitalize on the numerous opportunities
for profitable growth available to Iunctus.
The creation of a dedicated Geomatics Industry Investment
Fund coupled with Iunctuss proven track record, industry expertise, contacts and experienced management team would allow
investors to access major geomatics related opportunities typically

restricted to large institutions.
The Investment Fund would be sponsored by Iunctus, and invest
in areas of strategic importance to the long-term growth and profitability of the company. The Investment Fund would target opportunities in remote sensing and integrated resource management areas
of geomatics, with specific emphasis on opportunities surrounding
the acquisition, reception, storage, analysis, production, management and distribution of geomatics data, including satellite imagery. The Geomatics Industry Investment Fund has an anticipated
minimum investment of $3-million, per investor.
PLEASE CONTACT CRAIG ECKART, CFA,
AT
craig.eckart@fusion-capital.ca
FOR MORE INFORMATION.
This information is for reference purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be
any sales of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under
the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
At Iunctus Geomatics Corp. we are changing

the way our clients look at the world and how
they do business. Contact us to find out how
you can get involved.
FIND OUT MORE

#401 - 817 4th Avenue South
Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 0P3
PHONE 1-877-604-2800
www.terraengine.com
FOR CLIENTS
Brett Michelson, vice-president,
Business Development and Sales
PHONE 780-493-4114
FAX 403-381-2804
EMAIL Brett.Michelson@terraengine.com
ORDER IMAGES
Imagery Order Desk
PHONE 403-381-2800 (ext. 1)
FAX 403-381-2804
EMAIL Imagery Order Desk
info@terraengine.com
FOR INVESTORS
Craig Eckart, president
Fusion Capital Corporation
PHONE 403-836-2958
FAX 403-974-3251
EMAIL craig.eckart@fusion-capital.ca

Iunctus Resolution 2009

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Iunctus Resolution 2009

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An Iunctus ground station

revamps Canadian imaging

The Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB)

integrated with existing geospatial data, perfect for GIS

The View From Above

RESOLU T ION 2009

had to buy the jumbo 42-image package of class pictures

Iunctus Geomatics Corp.

Venture Publishing Inc.

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

4 The View From Above

Rodrigo Lpez Orozco

Anh Chu, Caitlin Crawshaw, Phoebe Dey,

8 The Time is Now

Land use framework and

10 Skys the Limit

Iunctus Geomatics Corp. is

Iunctus previews its Inuvik

A picture paints a thousand

22 The Service Solution

24 Its Good to Work

Summit brings liability

26 Plug and Play

geoLOGIC offers a great platform

TERA Environmental facilitates

Pacific Geomatics trains pilots,

Ducks Unlimited Canada maps

34 Plus! Investment Fund

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sale

The imagery will be made available to all partners on the

RED RIVER RISING

Nearly 2,000 southern Manitobans were

Approximately 800 square kilometres of the

Hundreds of properties were damaged.

More than 40 people in communities north

A 48-kilometre floodway protects the city of

The 2009 floods are thought to be the

Nearly 1,000 people registered as volunteer

RESO LU T ION 2009

BEFORE AND AFTER: The Red River at normal levels

2009 CNES - IUNCTUS GEOMATICS CORP.

ping, land claims and environmental monitoring, for

The word geomatics entered the Canadian lexicon a couple of

MOVE A SATELLITE BY PHONE

2009 CNES - IUNCTUS GEOMATICS CORP.

Initiatives improve Albertas land use and

ATELY, THE NEED FOR BETTER ACCESS TO SATELLITE

RESO LU T ION 2009

The benefits of the IRM Centre will be many. The

The Aims of IRM

2009 CNES - IUNCTUS GEOMATICS CORP.

Its one thing to collect information and another to be

tors land use in the province. Architects plan to build on

Watching the Land

Any monitoring program Alberta adopted would surely require

Skys the Limit

People at Iunctus Geomatics Corp. embody that unique

RES OLU T ION 2009

a mountain, for instance, you have to correct for elevation.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH NOVAK

Many services need up-to-date information and old data

RES OLU T ION 2009

I once got a call from a hunter looking for a picture

buildings, and that data can flow freely.