TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN QUEBEC 
Towards an Operational Mode of Interpretation of Remote Sensing Data. 
by 
Hervé AUDET 
Ministère de l'Energie &t.des Ressources 
du QUEBEC 
QUEBEC, Canada 
This paper puts forward a methodology based on human interpretation of a 
document specifically ''enhanced'' in view of a given field of application, 
by mean of special interactive processing. A number of experiences con- 
ducted in Quebec show that this approach, more than all others, helps satel- 
lite data applications to become operational. Among the ''enhancement'' tech- 
niques one founds the principal components algorithm, the addition of foreign 
data, such as topography and, in a certain manner, automatic classifications. 
In spite of some weakness, such as non digital output, the process has great 
advantages: similarity with conventional methods of photo-interpretation 
and, most of all, good flexibility and fitness in thematic classification. 
In an operational context, two kinds of participants take part in the 
process: on the one hand, those using computer systems to generate the 
enhanced document as a result of a series of operations according to a pre- 
established ''recipe''; on the other hand, thematicians who interprete images 
in a quasi conventional manner, using ground trouth and other related data 
if necessary. Provided custom ''recipes', developped by research teams, the 
first group can deal with any thematic application, unlike the second group, 
spread in a number of thematic specialities. Both kinds of work can be 
executed by technician staff. 
The technology transfer program undertaken in Quebec aims to transpose this 
methodology from research centers to private industry in order that services 
may be available commercially and readily for production of documents as well 
as for interpretation. Two kinds of companies should be involved in this 
market of remote sensing, like the two groups described earlier. A project 
conducted in a field of application previously assessed in a laboratory 
consisted in having all the operations done in a commercial context by people 
trained for that specific purpose; the success of the experiment shows that 
this methodology can be transfered. Other demonstration projects are conduc- 
ted with the object of determining the degree of demand. So far, the proces- 
sing has been carried out by mean of SCANIQ (Système conjoint d'analyse numé- 
rique d'images de Québec), available through the Quebec ministry of Energy 
and Resources. The objective of the program will be reached when, provided 
a large enough demand, a company of the first kind (processing) acquires the 
necessary pieces of equipment for producing commercially the enhanced documents 
and when these documents are used by several companies of the second kind 
(interpretation), each one in its own field of application; everything in 
accordance with established standards. This structure, which is particularly 
polyvalent, helps minimizing costs of operation. 
In its actual state, the recommended methodology has proved itself or is 
in process of doing so in a number of fields of applications like small scale 
forest cartography, northern vegetation and land use. A few illustrations on 
actual cases accompany the paper. Improvements are already foreseeable at 
mean term. Along with the coming of the new generation of satellites, that 
will result in new applications, particularly in basic cartography. 
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