Project Profile Assignment – GeoConnections

Please be warned!!! Any non-FIS students will not want to read this post. This is a project that I am required to post to my blog. Thanks :)

GeoConnections is a national alliance directed by the Natural Resources of Canada, which provides assistance in the daily operation of geomatics (the technology and science of the acquisition, management and application of geospatial information). The data gathered and shared about the environment, people, geography, and natural resources of a country encourages well-grounded administration in social, environmental and economic projects (National Resources Canada, 2005). GeoConnections has various partnerships with different organizations such as NatureServe Canada, which provides a scientific basis for conservation efforts, and the Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives (ACMLA). GeoConnections also operates on a collaborative level with international agencies and partners, such as the Open GIS Consortium Catalog (GeoConnections, 2005, Welcome). The list of the national partnerships is quite extensive with organizations from the public sector (federal departments and agencies, federal project partners, provinces and territories, provincial project partners, municipal and local-level project partners, and government organizations), the private sector (industrial project partners), academic groups, non-governmental organizations, and international agencies.

Some examples of the practical use of GeoConnections are, in the case of emergency services, the coordination of geospatial data which can provide the geographic data necessary to identify the locality of an emergency. Criminal activity can be closely monitored by the police; health data against the endangerment of such incidents as toxic waste dumps for community health and safety and governments can plan more efficiently founded by information about traffic patterns, business distribution and population (FindArticles, 2005).

GeoConnections is highly regarded in many fields as advocated by the Minister of Natural Resources Canada, R. John Efford who stated, “GeoConnections contributes to our high quality of life by helping us understand the world around us through geomatics" and Dr. Robert Moses, President and CEO of PCI Geomatics, who in a speech in 2003, stated three times that “Canada needs more GeoConnections” (Moses, 2003). The GeoConnections website provides a sample of the hundreds of success stories volunteered by many Canadians, which emphasizes the strength of the GeoConnections program.

Writing as a novice on this project and subject matter, the website is clearly set-up in an understandable and user-friendly manner. The website offers FAQ’s, Help and Tutorials in both English and French. Under data search for finding geospatial data, the search results provide icons to indicate if the data is Canadian, metadata verified and whether the data is available for free or not. There are sections for satellite imagery, topographical data and aerial photography. The links to access the data take the user to an external website in order to access it (for example, when accessing the data for the aerial photography of the plant pest data in Canada, the link takes the user to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Online government website).

GeoConnections also supplies a list of links for such topics as GeoBase (a free geospatial base data for Canada), GeoGratis (free geospatial data of Canada), The Atlas of Canada (maps and related information about Canada), Quicklook Swath Browser (browse recent satellite image acquisitions), Global Landsat 7 Data Catalogue, North American Landsat 7 Archive, and Interactive Tsunami Disaster Mapping by DM Solutions. The user has the opportunity to subscribe to the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) for an electronic mailing list for a monthly e-Newsletter which showcases news as well as upcoming workshops and training sessions. However, the only information available in the workshops section of the GeoConnections website, show that all workshops (with the exception of the CDGI Development Network) were all in the late 1990’s and early 2000. Considering the constant growing and evolving information and technology of GeoConnections, it would seem in their best interests to maintain these workshops on a yearly basis. GeoConnections Discovery Portal and its CEONet engine only average approximately 24 hours of downtime each year and a differential backup of its directory is completed every day with a complete backup executed once a month (GeoConnections, 2005, Discovery Portal).

GeoConnections was initially established in 1999 in order to supply all Canadians access to amalgamated location-based information through the internet. The program worked on establishing the CGDI through technology, policy, standards, and partnerships. This new program also advanced Canada as a, “world leader in developing, delivering and using on-line geospatial information” (National Resources Canada, 2005). In recent development, on June 15, 2005, the Government of Canada indicated their intention to provide funding of 60 million for a five-year renewal of the GeoConnections program. The new initiative is designed not only to remain updated with new technologies but to better understand the user’s requirements, particularly in four specific areas; Aboriginal issues, the environment and sustainable development, public safety and public health (GeoConnections, 2005, About). There is a listing of eight Aboriginal success stories on the GeoConnections website and while these stories show great promise for the benefit of Aboriginal communities, time will tell if the geographical information systems (GIS) will continue to benefit these communities or not. Calling the stories “success stories” seems a trifle premature considering the majority of stories are all in the beginning stages of inception. An example of this is in the “success story” of the Kivalliq Inuit Association in Nunavut who have developed a GIS system to aid in better decision-making in the land and sea resources of Kivalliq, but this is where the “story” ends. This is the beginning of an auspicious future for the Inuit of Kivalliq and hopefully the good intentions of the new initiative behind the renewed program of GeoConnections will remain diligent (GeoConnections, 2005, Media Room).

GeoConnections is a unique national partnership and online catalogue for all Canadians enabling the access of countless geospatial data products. The new initiative and funding by the Government of Canada indicates the importance of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure as an important program for all Canadians, and the world. According to the aforementioned Dr. Moses, “This technology also has a large export potential, and fits with the new vision of transplanting “capacity” rather than “product” to the developing world… GeoConnections is needed domestically in Canada. And we can export the technology. And we can help the world with it” (Moses, 2003).

Resources

FindArticles (2005). Summit: GeoConnections stimulates government and business. Retrieved September 29, 2005
<http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3993/is_200310/ai_n9245265>

GeoConnections (Sept. 8, 2005). Discovery portal. Retrieved September 19, 2005.
<http://geodiscover.cgdi.ca/gdp/index.jsp?language=en>

GeoConnections (June 16, 2005). About GeoConnections: welcome to GeoConnections. Retrieved Sept. 26, 2005.
<http://www.geoconnections.org/CGDI.cfm/fuseaction/aboutGcs.whatIsNew/gcs.cfm>

GeoConnections (July 15, 2005). Welcome to the renewed GeoConnections program. Retrieved September 26, 2005
<http://www.geoconnections.org/CGDI.cfm/fuseaction/home.welcome/Lang/E/gcs.cfm>

GeoConnections (July 5, 2005). Media room: success stories. Retrieved October 1, 2005.
<http://www.geoconnections.org/CGDI.cfm/fuseaction/mediaRoom.successStories/gcs.cfm>

Moses, Dr. Robert (2003). PCI Geomatics: Canada needs more GeoConnections. Retrieved September 30, 2005
<http://www.pcigeomatics.com/company/papers/DrMosesSpeech_GISDay.pdf>

Natural Resources Canada (June 16, 2005). GeoConnections: Funding renewed. Retrieved September 28, 2005
<http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/media/newsreleases/2005/200543_e.htm>