4
Languages
The course was designed to be more accessible across language needs, with online learning available in English, French and Spanish, and Plains Cree slides also provided.
Customer Story
How Natural Resources Canada made satellite Earth Observation more accessible for wildfire management
thriveGEO worked together with Natural Resources Canada to develop a digital learning course that makes satellite data more understandable and usable for wildfire management professionals.
Hosted on the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) learning platform, the free and open course combines interactive online learning, downloadable materials and real Canadian wildfire examples. It is available in English, French and Spanish, with slides also available in Plains Cree, helping broaden access across different learners, roles and contexts.
Course access
Free + open
Self-paced · CIFFC platform
Languages
4 languages
EN · FR · ES + Plains Cree slides
Knowledge
1.9/5 → 3.6/5
Satellite data + fire management
Application
4.3/5
Likelihood of using satellite data
Recommendation
100%
Would recommend to fire management staff
From 1.9/5 to 3.6/5
Knowledge increased
Based on initial feedback, average self-rated knowledge of satellite data and its use in fire management increased from 1.9 / 5 before the course to 3.6 / 5 after.
100%
Would recommend the course
All early respondents said they would recommend the course for fire management staff.
The Opportunity
Making satellite Earth Observation more accessible and relevant for wildfire management
Natural Resources Canada
Client: Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service
Canada’s vast and often remote landscapes make wildfire detection and monitoring a complex challenge.
Satellite data can support preparedness, detection, response and recovery, but using it well requires a clear understanding of what satellite information shows, how it can support decisions, and where its limitations need to be considered.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Turning specialist remote sensing knowledge into practical learning for wildfire professionals
Natural Resources Canada partnered with thriveGEO to make satellite Earth Observation knowledge more accessible and relevant to people working in wildfire management.
The learning was designed for professionals who need to interpret maps made with satellite data and use satellite information as one source of evidence for operational planning and daily preparedness.
Why this mattered
Access to satellite data alone is not enough. Fire management professionals also need to understand how satellite observations are produced, what different products represent, and how confidently that information can be used in operational contexts.
The aim was to connect specialist Earth Observation knowledge with the practical questions people face when preparing for, detecting, monitoring and responding to wildfires.
Operational context
The course helps learners interpret satellite information alongside other sources of fire intelligence, while understanding important trade-offs, limitations and uncertainties.
The programme focused particularly on helping learners understand:
- How satellite remote sensing works in wildfire contexts
- How hotspots, imagery and satellite-derived products are used in fire management
- How satellite data can support preparedness, detection, dispatch, monitoring and planning
- How to interpret trade-offs such as spatial resolution, temporal resolution and latency
- What limitations and uncertainties need to be considered when using satellite information operationally
- How satellite data fits alongside other sources of fire intelligence
The Solution
A practical course built around real wildfire management contexts
thriveGEO worked with Natural Resources Canada to develop An Introduction to Satellites in Wildfire Management – Types, Kinds and Uses, a self-paced digital course hosted on the CIFFC learning platform.
Rather than presenting satellite technology in isolation, the learning was designed to connect Earth Observation concepts directly to real operational needs in wildfire management.
Course design
A self-paced learning experience combining interactive online modules, practical comparisons, downloadable materials and real Canadian wildfire examples to make satellite Earth Observation easier to understand and use in fire management contexts.
01
Structured learning pathway
From fundamentals to application
The course moves from the fundamentals of satellite remote sensing, to incident-level uses of satellite data, and then to broader regional preparedness and response applications.
02
Real Canadian wildfire examples
Learning grounded in context
Learning is grounded in real examples from across Canada, helping participants connect concepts like hotspots, smoke, fire perimeters and burned areas to real decision-making contexts.
03
Accessible learning design
Making technical topics clearer
Interactive modules, clear visuals, practical comparisons and downloadable materials were used to make technical topics easier to understand for people from different professional backgrounds.
04
Inclusive access across languages
Broadening access
The course is available in English, French and Spanish, with Plains Cree slides also provided. This helps make the learning more inclusive and broadens access to key concepts and materials.
The Results
Stronger understanding, greater confidence
Early feedback suggests the course is helping learners build a clearer understanding of how satellite data can support wildfire management in practice.
Deeper knowledge of satellite data
Average self-rated knowledge of satellite data and its use in fire management increased from 1.9 / 5 before the course to 3.6 / 5 after.
4.3 / 5
Greater likelihood of using satellite data
After completing the course, respondents rated their likelihood of using satellite data in their work at an average 4.3 / 5.
100%
Would recommend it to others
All respondents said they would recommend the course for fire management staff, suggesting the content was relevant and useful in this context.
Practical
Directly relevant and applicable skills
Early feedback highlighted the usefulness of the presentation style, visuals and key knowledge points, as well as the practical relevance of learning how to better read and interpret maps made with satellite hotspot data.
Business Impact
Connecting satellite information with wildfire operations
The course helps bridge the gap between specialist Earth Observation knowledge and the people who need to use or interpret that information in wildfire contexts.
Core impact
Bridging specialist Earth Observation knowledge with wildfire operations.
Supporting more informed interpretation
Learners build a clearer understanding of what satellite products can show, what they cannot, and how they should be interpreted alongside other information sources.
Making technical knowledge more usable
By combining practical examples and accessible explanations, the course makes complex satellite concepts easier to apply in operational settings.
Broadening access through inclusive delivery
Offering the course online and self-paced in English, French and Spanish, alongside Plains Cree slides, helps extend access to knowledge and supports more inclusive learning across different audiences.
Tailored learning for geospatial teams
Looking for similar results in your own team?
thriveGEO designs practical learning programmes that make complex geospatial concepts more accessible, relevant and usable across technical and operational teams. We can tailor a similar course for fire management professionals using examples from your country or region.