SATELLITE & ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

Tracking climate hazards in Canada's freshwater environments

2

Hazard categories monitored

2+

Active Project Regions

Near-real-time monitoring

Monitoring outputs are updated using the latest available satellite passes and model runs. Temporal resolution varies by hazard type and satellite availability.

Interested In a pilot project? We are Running Projects Through the 2026 Field Season! Contact us to learn more.

Our Methodology

How the monitoring works

ACM’s SWIM Alert tool integrates freely available satellite data with established modelling frameworks. The workflow is designed to be repeatable and transparently documented.

01 Satellite data acquisition

Imagery is sourced from publicly available satellite programs including Sentinel-1 (SAR), Sentinel-2 (multispectral), and Landsat platforms. Data is processed through standardized preprocessing pipelines to ensure consistency across time periods.

02 Hazard detection & modelling

Hazard-specific algorithms and numerical models are applied to pre-processed imagery. Methods are adapted from peer-reviewed approaches and calibrated where possible using field observations from pilot study areas.

03 Map portal & alert delivery

Monitoring outputs are made available through an interactive web-based map portal. Registered users can configure email alerts for specific waterbodies or regions of interest.

02 Field validation & iteration

Where possible, model outputs are compared against field-collected data to assess detection accuracy. Results inform ongoing refinements to detection thresholds and model parameters.

What you can access

SWIM Alert provides monitoring products through a map portal and a configurable email alert system. Outputs represent current model estimates and should be interpreted alongside local knowledge and direct field observation.

  • Interactive map portal with hazard layers by region

  • Configurable email alerts for waterbodies of interest

  • Time-series data for monitored sites

  • Methodology documentation and data notes

  • Direct contact with the research team for field collaboration

Ready to set up monitoring in your region?

Contact us to discuss coverage requirements, data needs, or research collaboration opportunities.