Projets

The SAFARI project (Space Analysis for Forestry health monitoring And Remote Imaging) aims to design an innovative satellite constellation dedicated to forest fire prevention. Current solutions are generally reactive, focusing on assessing damage after the fires have occurred. In contrast, the SAFARI approach aims to intervene upstream of the problem.
The project plans to develop a satellite equipped with a multispectral sensor capable of flying over vast Canadian forests. The collected images will be processed using various indices to characterize the territory: vegetation health and stress, soil and environmental moisture, topography, etc. By combining this data with artificial intelligence, it becomes possible to identify high-risk areas, anticipate potential fire propagation trajectories, and inform authorities.
One of the main objectives of the prototype is to perform image processing directly on board, significantly reducing the latency between capture and data reception while enabling direct access to images in the field.
The prototype development also raises several technical challenges. The main structure of the satellite is manufactured using 3D printing, reducing the time between iterations. A gimbal, also 3D-printed and mounted on board, will allow capturing orthogonal images throughout the mission and testing certain imaging techniques such as pixel shift.
To ensure reliable transmissions, the system integrates hybrid communication redundancy: on the one hand via the 4G-LTE network when available at low altitude, and on the other hand via long-range radio frequency (S-band) for isolated environments. In the long term, the project also envisions direct communication with existing constellations to ensure continuous and resilient coverage, independent of ground infrastructure.
A first prototype is under development. It will be launched using a weather balloon that will fly over the Timmins and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions to assess the feasibility of the concept.