January 22, 1998 For Immediate Release

On Wednesday, February 4th, the UNBC Northern Land Use Institute will host a worldwide leader in using satellite images to map the surface of the Earth. The presentation by Dr John MacDonald will mark the beginning of a Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted in cooperation with the Real Estate Foundation of BC. The presentation will be at the University in Room 7-212 (adjacent to the Northwood Winter Garden) at 7:30pm.

Dr MacDonald is a founder and now Chairman of the Board for MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. His presentation, Space-Based Earth Observations: A Useful Tool for Land Use and Resource Management?, will review the technology of Earth observation systems and discuss trends and implications for the future, with particular emphasis on the potential use of the technology for land planning and resource management purposes.

While at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr MacDonald led the design team for the first LANDSAT ground processing system, which produces highly detailed information about the Earth from Outer Space. He was born in Prince Rupert.

The Northern Land Use Institute will provide opportunities for northern communities to link with the University to undertake research related to land and resource use in the north. The ultimate aim is to improve land use, resource, and environmental decision-making in northern communities.