Senator Downe Congratulates Prince Edward Island
Provincial Government for Approval of Digital Elevation Mapping Project

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Charlottetown Senator Percy Downe congratulates the Provincial Government for funding and approving a proposal to conduct digital elevation mapping of Prince Edward Island through an initiative called the LIDAR project.

The LIDAR project will provide accurate digital mapping images and detailed elevation data to be used to construct a three dimensional model of Prince Edward Island to aid in the crucial monitoring of the effects of sea level rise and storm surges.

This project is a necessary step towards adapting Prince Edward Island to the impacts of the climate change crisis.  These digital maps of Prince Edward Island can be a tremendous aid for development, adaptation and emergency planning as well as for public awareness.

The LIDAR project will complete one of the recommendations of the Prince Edward Island Special Legislative Committee on Climate Change, which stated:

"There is an urgent need for complete digital elevation mapping of Prince Edward Island, with particular emphasis on our coastline, to determine "at risk" infrastructure, carry out effective emergency planning, and improve agriculture and forest planning.  Government is encouraged to work with Federal government counterparts to pursue the implementation of a major, island-wide study."

Senator Downe congratulates Premier Robert Ghiz and the Provincial Government for showing leadership on the issue of climate change impacts on Prince Edward Island by approving the LIDAR project.

Source:
A Vision for a Prince Edward Island Climate Change/Sea-Level Rise Project
PEI Coastal Impact Group, May 2005,   http://aczisc.dal.ca/pei-cc.pdf