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DISCUSSION PAPER TOWARDS A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ARCHITECTURE TO SUPPORT THE CANADIAN GEOSPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE (CGDI) A Report for the GeoConnections Secretariat by Sue Nichols, David J. Coleman, and Kutalmis Saylam Department of Geodesy & Geomatics Engineering University of New Brunswick Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5A3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) promotes the sharing and expanded use of geographically related data by providing an appropriate technical, institutional, and information foundation nation-wide. Successful implementation of the CGDI will create an enabling environment for users to find, access, integrate, and analyze geospatial data from diverse sources, including provincial, territorial, federal, and private organizations. The CGDI initiative has been supported since 1996 by the Inter-Agency Committee on Geomatics (IACG) and the Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG), and in 1999, the federal Cabinet expanded its support to this important national initiative. This research was commissioned by the IACG through the GeoConnections Secretariat to address issues surrounding Framework Data, one of the five main thrusts of CGDI. The research objectives were to define Framework Data and to develop a conceptual model for the Framework Architecture. International developments, especially in the area of standards, were also examined for their potential influence and impacts on Framework Data. 1. Vertical and Horizontal Integration: the Key to Access The power of the CGDI is in improving access to geospatial data for use in existing applications and for creating new applications and value added services. How effectively and efficiently data can be integrated both horizontally (i.e., with different datasets at the same scale) and vertically (i.e., from one scale to another) will be major factors in determining the quality of this access. (See Section 3) 2. CGDI as a Potential International Leader A review of international developments in national geospatial data infrastructures showed that the United States is both further ahead than other countries in their efforts and faces geographical and jurisdictional challenges similar to those in Canada. Canada may perhaps be in a more favourable position to move the initiative forward due to its history of interjurisdictional co-ordination through CCOG. This research therefore recommends that the GeoConnections Secretariat continue to monitor international developments and, in particular, liaise with their American counterparts to co-ordinate development of terminology and to capitalize on lessons learned. (See Section 4) 3. Defining Core and Framework Data During the course of the research, several workshops and a National CGDI Co-ordination Meeting were held by the GeoConnections Secretariat. One result of this collaborative effort was preliminary provincial-federal agreement on definitions for Framework Data and Core Data. In Section 5 of this report, these definitions were evaluated and they were found to need further clarification. This research proposes the following definitions. Core Data: Data that is available to all users nationally (as opposed to federally) and is essential for using CGDI, in particular the data comprising the various geospatial referencing systems in CGDI. Framework Data: Data that provides a unique geospatial referencing framework that enables the spatial integration of data both horizontally and vertically. Furthermore it is recommended that the Canadian stakeholders, with the assistance of the Secretariat, continue efforts in collaborating in development of the CGDI terminology and concepts. However, the Secretariat should take a lead role in ensuring that the concepts and definitions are clear and compatible. 4. Defining Framework Architecture The definition of Framework Architecture proposed by the National CGDI Co-ordination Meeting was also evaluated. To clarify the definition, this report provides definitions of the components of the Architecture and recommends the following definition for the overall Architecture: Framework Architecture: the process models, standards, technologies, specifications and procedures used to represent, transform, and generally accommodate the integration, maintenance, and use of Framework Data, within an appropriate environment that includes policies, partnerships and global standards to facilitate access to geospatial data. Several preliminary models for Framework Architecture were developed in the research (See Section 6) and these illustrated the relationships among components and with the other four thrusts of CGDI. An example of an application of these models highlighting critical issues and research requirements is also provided. The models are based on the definition of Framework Data recommended in this report; it is expected that the models will evolve as the various thrusts of CGDI are developed. 5. Moving the Definition Process Forward It will be important in the development of CGDI for all stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the infrastructure and its components. Therefore several specific recommendations are made in Section 7 of this report to move this process forward and they are summarized here. If accepted by the Secretariat, it is recommended that the definitions proposed in this report be communicated to the various stakeholders in order to begin using consistent terminology and concepts in any future research, activities, and reports. It is essential that the GeoConnections Secretariat work closely with IACG and CCOG members in further defining the specific datasets to be designated Core and Framework Data. It is recommended that a special task force be formed to initially define the generic characteristics of each Core Dataset and the generic responsibilities of the custodians of these datasets. 6. Standards for Framework Data The importance to CGDI Framework Data of clear and common shared geospatial data standards cannot be overestimated. Ongoing work by a number of national and international bodies will influence Framework Data, and already specific IACG and CCOG member organizations have adopted international standards for metadata description and organization. It is recommended that such work on standards be co-ordinated as closely as possible to minimize any unnecessary duplication of effort. It is also recommended that further investigations, development work and pilot projects be undertaken to extend this support to standards development, in particular in the areas of: a) harmonization; b) spatial transformation; c) minimum metadata requirements for Core Data. It is also recommended that, using findings of the above activities, the details of the proposed Framework Architecture be developed through a series of standards-based, cooperative pilot projects and longer-term research projects designed to promote the objectives and vision of CGDI. Examples of such pilot projects and longer-term research projects might include: a) extension of Core Data-sharing activities with respect to topographic data; b) co-operative development of processes and procedures for updating road network data; and c) participation in long term research activities such as the GEOID Network Centre of Excellence. 7. Conclusion CGDI is a critical component of the information highways being developed provincially, nationally, and globally. The IACG, CCOG, and the GeoConnections Secretariat have made significant progress in establishing the foundation for CGDI. The research reported here specifically reviewed the initiatives in defining Framework Data, Core Data, and Framework Architecture. Recommendations have been made to move the Framework Data thrust forward. We strongly believe that by working together, as they have in the past, the public and private sector stakeholders across the country have an opportunity to make CGDI an international model for enhancing both the access and use of geospatial data. http://cgdi.gc.ca/english/index.html |
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