Dr. Ian Church is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering and the Assistant Dean of Engineering at UNB. He leads the Ocean Mapping Group and is the chair of the Canadian Ocean Mapping Research and Education Network (COMREN). He specializes in ocean mapping research and training with 20 years of experience in the field. He runs the IHO/FIG/ICA S5 Category-A recognized degree program at UNB and won the UNB Allan P. Stuart Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2022. His primary research interests are currently automated multibeam sonar data processing and quality assurance, applied physical ocean modelling simulations, and coastal vertical datums. He has a BScE, MScE and PhD in Geomatics Engineering from UNB and previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Marine Science with the Hydrographic Science Research Center at the University of Southern Mississippi (Stennis Space Center campus). He manages the seabed mapping Research Vessel Heron, based on Vancouver Island, and has been involved with sonar data acquisition, management and student training on the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Amundsen since 2005.
Sessions in which Dr. Ian Church participates
Wednesday 14 May, 2025
With still about 75% of our ocean still insufficiently surveyed, the hydrospatial challenges ahead are immense - yet so are the opportunities. Join this dynamic panel of LEADERS to hear their vision and insights on the future of ocean, coastal mapping and digital data. The discussion will feature experts in: Hydrospatial Information Systems (HIS/GIS)Satellite-Derived Bathymetry (SDB)In-situ SurveyingResearch & EducationGovernm...
The Canadian Ocean Mapping Research and Education Network (COMREN) is a national group of academic, non-profit, and federal researchers in ocean and coastal mapping. Since 2016, COMREN has focused on developing research activities, technology transfer to industry, and educational programs that support ocean mapping as a network of dedicated individuals. The group partners with government agencies and international organizations to increase Canada’s domestic and global ocean and coastal mappin...
Sessions in which Dr. Ian Church attends
Tuesday 13 May, 2025
Wednesday 14 May, 2025
The Oceans cover more than 70% of our Planet… with offshore, near shore and coastal waters including rivers and lakes that are navigable or not.This Keynote Address will kick off the Hydrospatial Track on Day TWO of the GeoIgnite 2025 - Ottawa. The presentation will articulate the context and the timing of WHAT is HYDROSPATIAL in the global Geospatial community? SO WHAT is important to Measure, to Monitor an to Model? THEN WHAT is the Strategy, the Challenges, t...
Presenting the CHN and highlighting how its new features leverage advancements in hydrography to improve both water-related models and their applications to support decision making. The Canadian Hydrospatial Network (CHN) was officially launched this past May, marking a significant milestone in the development of hydrospatial networks in Canada. Over the past year, the network has expanded and grown in importance, positioning itself as a key resource for the future of its field. CHN continues...
Under the FHIMP, Natural Resources Canada, supported by Public Safety and Environment and Climate Change Canada, collaborates with provinces and territories to create, and disseminate engineering-level flood hazard maps and information. In this presentation, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) will provide an update on the ongoing work under FHIMP with results of the first stage of the FHIMP (2021-24) and the kickoff of the FHIMP expansion (2023-2028) which will see investments in every jurisdic...
The successful implementation of the S-100 suite hinges on various factors, with final product specification and comprehensive testing of route monitoring layers being paramount. Canada is proposing an international designated area for these tests, underscoring its commitment to the S-100 suite's success and global maritime safety. Canada has selected the St-Lawrence River in Québec as the S-100 sea trial area for 2025. The trial aims to evaluate the S-100 system's ability to ingest and displ...
In 1976 the Canadian Hydrographic Service was the first hydrographic agency to recognize and display a satellite-discovered feature on a nautical chart. This was the discovery of Landsat island off the coast of Labrador.In the time since the capabilities of satellites to survey coastal waters have grown exponentially yet the use of satellite based depth information on nautical charts has not. Satellite based surveying offers a multitude of benefits to the safety of operations, empowering ...
Aerial thermal infrared (TIR) surveys have been a crucial tool supporting river restoration project across the North America as many salmonid-bearing rivers are projected to warm in the coming decades due to increases in atmospheric temperatures and concomitant decreases and earlier melt of snowpack. The objectives of collecting TIR imagery are to assess the current summer thermal state and the distribution of cold-water refuges within the river system, and to identify opportunities and...
In this session, we will explore key trends and insights from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data for the United States. Using publicly available data from OpenFEMA, we will analyze patterns in flood risk and claims frequency, with a particular emphasis on the impacts of major flooding events such as Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Hurricane Sandy (2012). Through a deep dive into historical claims data, we will uncover trends over time and examine how these significant storms, al...
New innovations in hydrography has led to the use of a next generation Uncrewed Survey Vessel for the collection of bathymetric data in Canadian waters. The Canadian Hydrographic Service contracted IIC Technologies to test the suitability of the latest Autonomous Survey Technology in remote locations with challenging weather conditions. The contract required the acquisition of high-resolution bathymetric data in water depths of up to 200m over an 8002km area off of Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
Enjoy a fresh and satisfying lunch featuring a house blend of baby spinach, kale, and mesclun greens with feta cheese, pumpkin, chia, and poppy seeds, dried cranberries, and golden raisins. A tomato and cucumber salad with lime and avocado dressing adds a refreshing touch, alongside a medley of mixed greens with assorted dressings.For the main course, savor freshly roas...
Join us as we wrap up another incredible edition of GeoIgnite with a celebration on the tradeshow floor. We’ll come together for a group photo of all our amazing participants, partners, and friends.This final moment is our way of saying thank you to everyone who helped make GeoIgnite a success — from speakers and sponsors to delegates and volunteers. Let’s end on a high note and capture the spirit of Canada’s national geospatial leadership event, together.