Geographic Information Systems

The aim of the project is to determine whether or not RPAS LiDAR systems are cost effective and efficient tools for mapping and monitoring the effects of climate driven changes in the Western Arctic.

Climate driven changes are affecting the landscape and the way of life of the people of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). Therefore, it is important that Inuvialuit People acquire the tools and capacity to mitigate against these changes so that they can protect their way of life. As stewards of the land the Inuvialuit are in the best position to develop and implement effective and suitable climate change adaptation measures for the ISR. In moving towards with the above concept, the Inuvik Community Corporation (ICC) is seeking support for the assessment and monitoring of the effects of climate driven changes on Reindeer Station. The project will focus on monitoring permafrost thaw within the vicinity of Reindeer Station, as well as monitoring the drainage patterns in and around the Station. The results of the monitoring and assessment will be used to develop mitigation strategies to preserve Reindeer Station as an Inuvialuit Wellness Camp.

This project is a part of a larger initiative which aim at developing a NWT wide, empirically-based map products describing the sensitivity of permafrost terrain. The goal of the project is to support the NWT wide initiative through the development of empirically-based map products describing the sensitivity of permafrost terrain in the Western Arctic.

https://www.esri.ca/en-ca/home The effects of climate-driven changes on the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk are evident in all aspects of the community’s life. To better understand these effects and to communicate it to the residents, the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation (TCC) decided to undertake the “Tuktoyaktuk Community Climate Resilience Project.” The project aims to increase the awareness and knowledge of Tuktoyaktuk residents on the effects of climate-driven changes on their community. This will be achieved through the use of scientific methodologies, as well as the knowledge and wisdom of community Elders. A unique feature of this project is the measuring and monitoring of the effects of climate change will be community-based. The Aurora Research Institute (ARI) will support the Tuktoyaktuk Community Climate Resilience Project through capacity building and GIS services. ARI will assist the TCC in growing the community’s capacity to measure and monitor the effects of climate-driven changes, as well as develop GIS tools and services to efficiently collect, manage and disseminate the information.

Climate driven changes are affecting the landscape and the way of life of the people of the Northwest Territories (NWT). The effects of climate driven changes on the landscape of the NWT are visible along the coastlines, inland to the valleys, water channels, and along the slopes. Therefore, to mitigate against these changes and to protect infrastructure, people, and wildlife it is important that the necessary tools are available to support the efficient development and implementation of climate change adaptation measures. This project aims to develop and make available one such tool in the form of online hazard maps of the Caribou Hills.

ARI has developed a GIS to support the management of mineral strategies across the Western Arctic. A GIS of this nature will provide stakeholders with geospatial tools, as well as geoscience and geospatial information to better inform their decision-making with respect to mineral strategy management and land use planning in general. In addition, having mineral strategies developed with the support of meaningful, current, and accurate geoscience/geospatial information will results in better planned investment in mineral exploration, as well as exploration with reduced environmental impact. This translates into increase economic opportunity and protection of the Canadian environment.