PROJECTS
Satellite-Enabled Road Condition Monitoring for Rural & Northern Regions (SERCM)
An European Space Agency Kick-Start feasibility project exploring how satellite Earth Observation can support safer, more resilient rural and northern transportation corridors.
Project status: Ongoing
Project period: September 2026 – February 2027
Led by: Terra Motion Canada
Activity: ESA Kick-Start
Rural and northern transportation corridors are essential to communities, public services and economic activity, but they can be difficult and costly to inspect. Long distances, limited access, severe weather and changing ground conditions can restrict conventional monitoring and delay the identification of emerging problems.
Satellite-Enabled Road Condition Monitoring for Rural & Northern Regions (SERCM) is an ESA Kick-Start feasibility project led by Terra Motion Canada. The project is assessing whether satellite Earth Observation can provide useful, repeatable information on ground stability and environmental change affecting roads and associated infrastructure in remote regions.
SERCM is exploring the use of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar together with complementary radar and Earth Observation analytics. The proposed approach is intended to complement engineering judgement and field inspections by helping users identify locations that may warrant closer review.
About SERCM
Why the project matters
Rural and northern roads can be affected by permafrost degradation, freeze–thaw cycles, flooding, slope instability, settlement and other forms of ground movement. These conditions may develop across large areas where regular field inspection is logistically difficult.
Transportation authorities and infrastructure managers therefore need practical ways to:
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improve visibility across extensive and remote road networks
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identify unusual surface or ground behaviour
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prioritize inspections and maintenance activities
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understand changes through time
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strengthen transportation resilience and emergency preparedness
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incorporate local knowledge, environmental context and appropriate data-governance considerations into future monitoring approaches.
The need for better road-condition information, maintenance planning and rural situational awareness aligns directly with ESA’s Rural Transportation Networks Kick-Start, which identifies road monitoring, emergency response and environmental impact assessment as relevant applications of space technology.
Project Objectives
The SERCM Kick-Start is focused on four public-facing objectives:
1.Understand user needs
Engage transportation authorities, infrastructure professionals, northern and Indigenous stakeholders, emergency-management users and other relevant organizations to understand operational requirements and priorities.
2. Assess technical feasibility
Evaluate whether satellite Earth Observation and geospatial analytics can provide useful information on ground stability and environmental change along rural and northern transportation corridors.
3. Define a high-level service concept
Develop a user-centred concept for translating satellite observations into understandable maps, trends and decision-support information.
4. Evaluate pathways for further development
Assess demand, economic viability, partnerships and the steps required for a possible follow-on demonstration or pilot activity.
Project Focus
Turning satellite observations into actionable transportation intelligence. The concept brings together:
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satellite radar and other Earth Observation data
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InSAR measurements of surface movement
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SAR indicators of environmental and surface change
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relevant terrain, hydrology, permafrost and infrastructure context
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clear information products intended to support user review and decision-making.
The project is examining how these information sources could be combined to help users recognize changing conditions, review areas of interest and prioritize appropriate follow-up. Potential public-facing outputs include maps, time-series information, corridor-level summaries and indications of locations requiring further investigation. SERCM is a decision-support concept. Satellite-derived observations are not intended to replace engineering assessment, field inspection or responsibility for operational decisions.
Help Shape the Future of Rural and Northern Road Monitoring
Terra Motion Canada is engaging with potential users to better understand current road-monitoring challenges, operational priorities, and where satellite Earth Observation could provide the greatest value.
If you work in transportation, infrastructure management, engineering, emergency management, northern or Indigenous communities, or related sectors, we would welcome your input.
Your feedback will help us understand user needs and guide the development of a practical, user-focused approach to satellite-enabled road condition and ground stability monitoring.
Customer Engagement Questionnaire – Fill in form
The questionnaire is intended for potential users and stakeholders and should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.