Carleton University
Integrating drone and satellite SWIR and thermal sensors for improved monitoring of peatland wetness and fire dynamics — The project will be carried out in collaboration with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun (FNNND), using space-based data to support local priorities, providing updated information for wetland mapping, and improving knowledge of local hydrology and carbon storage. The project will combine drone imagery, satellite data, and field measurements to capture the unique characteristics of peatlands in sloped areas. It will also test new quantum dot SWIR technology while assessing smouldering peatland wildfires by tracking their movement over time and will use field and drone-based observations to improve models that predict how smouldering fires on flat and sloped terrain start, spread, and stop. The project will deliver updated peatland maps, detailed time-series maps of smouldering fire progression, empirical models linking drone and satellite data, and validated insights into fire behavior that can be used to support wildfire monitoring, emissions estimation, and land management strategies