How artificial intelligence can help crisis managers respond during extreme weather events

Researchers from McGill University have figured out a way to put our endless Twitter scrolling to good use during extreme weather events.

Using deep learning (a subset of artificial intelligence) and social network analysis, the McGill team has been able to make social media posts about extreme weather events more useful for crisis responders and scientists.

The researchers reduced the social-media “noise” to filter valuable information from all those tweets, allowing them to better assess trouble spots and assess users’ reactions to extreme weather events.

Learn more.

Indigenous climbing with Cassie Ayoungman

Cassie Ayoungman knew from a young age that she wanted to work for her nation. Passionate about sport and fitness, she took a job at Siksika Nation and pitched her boss on setting up a series of fitness classes for the Siksika community. Then, after going to school to become a paramedic, and becoming a medic in the military, she discovered the outdoors: rock climbing in particular. Now Ayoungman is a mentor for other Indigenous youth and is encouraging people to think about the land they’re on when they’re outside.

Canadian Geographic spoke with Ayoungman about her work — and what she hopes to see for her nation, and Indigenous climbing, in the future.

Read the interview.

Picturing the mountains

On a summer's day in 1886, French-born Canadian surveyor Édouard-Gaston Deville planted a camera on a mountain, pointed it at the horizon and took panoramic shots of the soaring peaks around him. After measuring the distance between each peak and the survey point, Deville made a photogrammetry map of the mountainous region. Excited to share his invention, he took the method to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Photogrammetry is the use of photography to make maps. A camera is carried up to a high point, then used to take photos of the surrounding area. The photographer-surveyor records the altitude and measures the angles to other peaks and photo stations. The photos are then combined with the field measurements to create a topographic map.

Read the story.

New masks available in the Society Shop

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society has teamed back up with Roots to produce limited edition, lightweight reusable face masks featuring the Compass Rose. Support the Society and keep your loved ones safe, with proceeds from each mask sale going towards supporting the critical education programming of the RCGS. Made in Canada.

Get yours.

Limited Edition RCGS x Roots Compass Rose reusable face mask (All-black)

CA$22.00

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