Mark Empey
Mark sits on the advisory committee for the 2024 GoGeomatics Expo and has been a Calgary Group Leader for GoGeomatics for the past two years. He is a certified Geographic Information Systems Professional with over a decade of experience in the Geomatics and GIS industries and is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Geomatics Engineering at the University of Calgary. His background includes roles as a Sessional Instructor at the University of Calgary, teaching a graduate/undergraduate course in GIS, as well as working as a geomatics consultant for private firms, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions. Mark is also contributing to the development of the Geomatics Engineering Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering.
Sessions in which Mark Empey attends
Tuesday 7 November, 2023
Since 2018, students from geomatics programs across Canada have been participating in the annual National Geomatics Competition. Now in it's 5th year, the University of Sherbrooke will be hosting the next iteration in March.We invite you to participate in this discussion around the opportunity for industry and academia to meet at NGC 2024.
Is change the new normal? Every year seems to be the next warmest year. Those of us looking back at our planet from space are seeing these changes across our planet in near real-time through the eyes of satellites. But behind those pixels are real human stories of catastrophe and suffering. So, with all our constellations of satellites, massive computing power and new generative AI algorithms, can we do anything more than simply report what happened? What does the future hold for geospatial t...
Join us at the GoGeomatics Expo in Calgary for a concise panel discussion on the present and future of geomatics education. Our panel, comprised of professors and industry experts, will address the following key topics:1. Current State of Geomatics Education:Explore the status of geomatics education in Canada.Understand how educational programs are adapting to ind...
At the Earth Observation for the Environment Laboratory in The University of Calgary, we have been conducting research in developing remote sensing-based forecasting system for forest fire danger conditions since 2009. In the scope of this presentation, the chronology of such developments at daily, 4-day, and 8-day time scales will be discussed. We believe that these would be critical for managing forest fire regimes in Canada and elsewhere in the world.
In the face of escalating environmental challenges, Canada grapples with the urgent need for advanced solutions in wildfire monitoring, emissions reduction, and natural resource management. This panel discussion explores how the burgeoning "New Space" frontier offers innovative approaches to address these critical issues.We aim to provide a platform for various industry players to share their own innovative technologies and insights, creating a vibrant dialogue on crucial geospatial...
Flooding is Canada’s most costly natural disaster, and flood risk intensifies as a result of urbanization and climate change. These impacts will change over time and can jeopardize the overall sustainability of communities if they remain unaddressed. As socio-economic consequences worsen, it underlines the need for governments to provide current and accurate hazard information to vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities who are disproportionately affected, to make decisions...
Creating, managing and sharing geospatial information has never been easier, but how do we ensure the information we are using to make key business decisions is current, correct, accurate and the best fit for purpose? This session will explore the different types of geospatial information assets being used at The City and the different tools, methods and standards that are being used capture, manage and share authoritative City data across the organization and to the Citizens of Calgary.
As GIS professionals, we understand the pivotal role that geospatial data plays in decision-making across various industries. Now, imagine harnessing that power to transform facility management. This presentation delves into VertiGIS FM, a groundbreaking solution that revolutionizes facility management through the lens of spatial intelligence, creating new opportunities and efficiencies across organizations.
Geomatics is growing technically and economically at a rapid pace. The need for skilled, knowledgeable workers is higher than ever. Some may argue that the technical advancements of the industry reduce the need for skilled workers and will remove the event of human errors. Others will argue that the very technology that is reducing human error can lead to increasing other errors and be a cause of delays on projects if the person operating the technology is not perceptive ...
Wednesday 8 November, 2023
Great Leadership is central to our Industry – leaders that are adeptly able to connect and interoperate with business, government, and institutional entities. While traditional hub-and-spoke leadership structures remain, a wave of agile, resilient, and dynamic leaders are stepping up. But organizations aren’t made up simply of leaders. In our quest for the best leadership, have we overlooked or forgotten about the skills, resources, and commitment to developing and empoweri...
The lack of up-to-date, easily available flood risk data has slowed down Canadian attempts to mitigate flood damage, notwithstanding the substantial historical losses associated with frequent and devastating flood episodes. To address this problem, we present a novel flood risk estimation framework. The pipeline is extremely modular and consists of an advanced geographical pre-processing system, a probabilistic deep learning based marginal regional regression model, an advanced hydraulic mode...
Got a cool geomatics product, service, student project, or academic/science research project/paper? Pitch it to a select panel of geomatics press and industry experts at the GoGeomatics expo held in Calgary, November 6-8 2023.Top picks will have their pitch written up as an online article published and promoted by GoGeomatics.You’ll have 3 minutes to make your presentation, with 2 minutes of questions from the panel. You can present a PowerPoint, do a live demonstration, or j...
Join us at the GoGeomatics Expo for an insightful panel discussion that tackles the pressing question: Where will the next generation of land surveyors emerge from? Our panel, featuring experienced educators and professional land surveyors, will engage in a thought-provoking dialogue on strategies and solutions to attract and nurture the future leaders of the land surveying profession. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable perspectives on the future of land surveying.
Tuesday 29 October, 2024
The new Canadian Hydrospatial Network (CHN) is set to replace the National Hydrographic Network (NHN) for Canada. Designed for improved use in hydrological models, the CHN is analysis ready with full-network traversing ability, and value-added attributes such as stream order. The CHN is also created from higher-resolution source data and better aligned to elevation than the NHN, where possible, and has been streamlined for production and maintenance.Work is on-going to refine methods a...
Subsea acoustic sensors, including multibeam sonars and sub bottom profilers, provide users with a variety of data types to improve our understanding of the marine environment and effectively manage important resources. This includes bathymetry, which is a foundational layer for analysis, but also information on the bottom reflectivity to characterize sediment types, water column data to map mid-water material and organisims by providing a view from the sensor to the floor of our rivers and l...
Too often, when discussing the value proposition of geospatial data, we focus in on raw data or output products without spending a lot of time in the juicy middle of data throughputs. That is to say that modern geospatial is leaving a lot of value on the table and thus limiting our ability to good with our data by: -> Focusing too heavily on the capturing aspect of geospatial technologies;-> Ignoring or discounting analytical capabilities of geospatial technologie...
Water is one of our most vital resources, and its management is becoming increasingly complex in the face of climate change, population growth, and competing demands from agriculture, industry, and municipalities. This panel will delve into how geospatial technologies are revolutionizing water policy by providing the data-driven insights needed for smarter decision-making.Join leading experts from academia, provincial and federal gov...
The government of Alberta manages the production of riverine flood studies under the provincial Flood Hazard Identification Program, to assist communities in keeping Albertans safe and protecting their properties from floods. Flood maps improve public safety, support emergency management, and help us build safer and more resilient communities. The government of Alberta also manages the production of alluvial fan studies to help Albertans learn about flood risks in the steep terrain of Alberta...
The Riparian Web Portal (www.riparian.info) is an award-winning project, launched in 2021 by Alberta’s watershed community. This dynamic online space empowers Albertans to enhance riparian health through interactive access to comprehensive data and resources. It serves a crucial role in advancing the riparian health objectives pursued by various watershed groups.At its core, the portal integrates innovative GIS-based assessments from six watershed agencies, covering over 60,000 km of r...
Algal blooms, typically consisting of cyanobacteria which can produce harmful toxins, are a recurring problem on lakes around the world. Although Alberta has long-term sampling programs on selected lakes, monitoring is limited in time and space. Satellite remote sensing offers a way to monitor cyanobacteria blooms across the entire ice-free season and track spatial patterns of bloom development, dynamics, and spread across lakes. The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), Alb...
Wrap up the first full day of Canada's National Geomatics Expo with the GoGeomatics Meetup! This lively party and networking event, free to attend, starts right after the day's sessions, offering a perfect blend of fun and professional interaction. Held on the expo main floor, the meetup features a cash bar to help you unwind and enjoy the evening. Join us for an exciting night of music, mingling, and making connections with fellow attendees. Don't miss this chance to relax and expand your ne...
Wednesday 30 October, 2024
Join us for an engaging panel discussion on Geo-Entrepreneurship, featuring distinguished experts from geospatial consultancies, geomatics communication and event companies, and geomatics software firms. This session is designed for those interested in the intersection of geospatial technology and entrepreneurship.Journey to Entrepreneurship: Hear from our panelists on their motivations for leaving traditional careers to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in the geospatial field. Dis...
Reduced snowpack in the Rockies presents a severe drought risk for Southern Alberta. Mountain snowmelt in the Bow and Oldman basins maintains reservoir levels, crop irrigation, municipal and industrial supply, and ecosystem services. As climate and consumption pressures increase, accurate snow water equivalent (SWE) data is crucial for water supply forecasts, which impact allocations and emergency drought measures. Field snowpack monitoring does not provide accu...
In our rapidly evolving urban landscapes, inadequate accessibility maps leave many people with disabilities facing significant challenges. This talk begins by illustrating the problem with real examples of accessibility fails on platforms like Google Maps. Attendees are encouraged to check accessibility features on their phones, highlighting current gaps.We will then explore the necessity of specialized tools for meaningful navigation and destination planning for people with disabiliti...
