Better document and improve information on flood risks: $1.5M for a research project led by Thierry Badard
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (MERN), Jonatan Julien, recently announced the awarding of a research and development contract to Université Laval to meet the requirements of the Plan de protection du territoire face aux inondations (PPTFI). The initiative will support, to the tune of $1.5M over three years, a research project led by our researcher member Thierry Badard, director of the Centre de recherche en intelligence et données géospatiales (CRDIG).
Since the spring 2017 and 2019 floods and the April 2020 filing of the MIIPP, MERN has been implementing various plan initiatives.
MERN’s Geospatial Information Branch (GIB) is responsible for seven MIIPP measures, including Measure 15, which involves conducting an accurate vulnerability assessment of the built environment based on updated data on strategic buildings and infrastructure located in flood-prone areas.
In this regard, the DGIG has enlisted the services of the Centre de recherche en données et intelligence géospatiales (CRDIG) of Laval University, which has technological infrastructures as well as cutting-edge knowledge and expertise in the field of artificial intelligence in geomatics. The work carried out to date on the vulnerability of the built environment demonstrates the need for artificial intelligence.
The research project contract will establish a $1.5 million partnership over three years with Laval University, which is also responsible for conducting operational research, literature review and fundamental R&D. Knowledge transfer is also part of the contract.
This work is in line with the research project of the Ministère de la Sécurité publique (MSP), which aims to establish a portrait of the risk related to floods and their anticipation.
Quotes
Jonatan Julien, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the North Shore and Gaspé-Magdalen Islands regions
“Responsible for the main measures in knowledge acquisition essential to the implementation of several actions of the Plan de protection du territoire face aux inondations (PPTFI), the MERN is also working to improve the accessibility of information to the various publics and to better disseminate information on flood-related risks. In this sense, the expertise of Laval University in the field of artificial intelligence in geomatics will certainly help to better prevent floods and to implement measures of resilience and adaptation to these phenomena. This research project is also in line with the government’s desire in terms of digital transformation to prepare the jobs of tomorrow in the field of cartographic knowledge.”
Thierry Badard, director of the Centre de recherche en données et intelligence géospatiales (CRDIG) at Université Laval and researcher in charge of the research project
“The built environment holds a central place in the research conducted at the Centre de recherche en données et intelligence géospatiales of Laval University. It is at the heart of many of the challenges facing our societies, particularly in relation to climate change. I am delighted to be able to accompany MERN in the research and development of operational solutions based on artificial intelligence and geospatial technologies for the implementation of measure 15 of the Plan de protection du territoire face aux inondations. This collaboration provides a rich, multidisciplinary, and highly stimulating setting for training specialists who will help address current and future challenges affecting sustainable development and land use planning.”
Joëlle Boutin, MNA for Jean-Talon
“I am delighted that Laval University’s expertise is being put to good use and that it can pass on the fruits of its research to the various stakeholders and citizens. I salute the various initiatives implemented by MERN since the floods that occurred in the spring of 2017 and 2019. Faced with the magnitude of the phenomenon, our government has acted responsibly and consistently to increase the resilience of communities to flooding.”
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