Community Mapping and Community Information Utility

Jeff Wentzell, Project Manager

Bob Maher, Sr. Research Scientist

Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG)Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Middleton, NS

Trevor Robar, CEO

Landmark Geographic Solutions Inc.

Outline

• Definition of the two concepts• Status of Community Mapping Projects– Inverness County– Annapolis County– Southwest Nova

• Status of CIU project• How can GeoNova help us• How can we help GeoNova• Questions• Contact

Community Mapping

• Engaging the community to create maps of features in the landscape important to them

• Community includes individual citizens, businesses, villages, RDA’s, government departments

• Rural Secretariat Project

Community Information Utility

• Assemble all available maps into a shareable spatial data warehouse

• Make available through Internet• Allow private sector businesses to create applications

based on CIU

Relationship between Community Mapping and CIU

Inverness Project

• Objective: To develop Web GIS application to edit and view locations of the ICSP sustainability assets in Inverness County

• Deliverables:– Database Design and implementation– Esri ArcGIS Server technology– Editor View– Public View– Widget development and implementation– Documentation and training

Inverness Viewer (Beta)

Inverness Editor (Beta)

Annapolis County

• Objective: To developing web based mapping applications to engage communities in Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI)

• Deliverables:– Develop web applications to encourage VGI– Engage partners through PAR to determine needs– Creative Rural Economy, Culture and Heritage, Tourism, Buy

Local, Businesses, etc…– Develop a sustainability model

Annapolis - Middleton

Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve• Objective: To develop a mapping application to

promote activities of the SWNBR • Deliverables:– Database Design and

implementation– Esri ArcGIS Server

technology– Editor View / Public View– Sharing of content

• i.e. photos, video, stories, etc…

How can GeoNova help us?

1. Access to base map layers2. Access to imagery3. Other thematic layers from line departments4. Collaborate on web development and data access5. Develop a Model for Governance and Business

Sustainability (Partnerships)

How can we help GeoNova?

1. Creating awareness at the citizen and municipal levels2. Engagement of local private sector (i.e. BIC)3. Bring in new ideas e.g. CIU4. Develop methods for sharing geographic information5. Broaden technical expertise6. Thematic maps from LiDAR, micro-climate network

Challenges

1. Need to develop access policies “open government”2. Capacity building, especially in rural Nova Scotia3. Create collaborative spirit4. Rationale for CIU– Focus on regional geography– Focus on certain thematic layers– Develop understanding– Provide training

Challenges cont’d

5. Moving target:– New tools available– New programs e.g. ESRI Community Mapping Program– New platforms “cloud computing”– Changing view of government

• e.g. CIO office, regional planning

Challenges cont’d

• Retraining, retooling– Advanced diploma programs– GIS professional certification– Student Internships– Faculty/Government/Industry exchange– Technology Transfer

Collaboration

Private Sector, Academia, Community and Government

ANNAPOLISVALLEY COMPUTERS

RURAL SECRETARIAT PROJECT WWW.COMMUNITYMAPPING.CA

ANNAPOLIS COUNTYSNBRADEDAFCDA

COMMUITY PARTNERS

Build New Ideas for Community Engagement

Sharing Technologies

Collect Data Once Use Many TimesBuild Community Information

Benefits

Learn New Technologies

GOALS

New Products or Tools For Market

• Engage Communities• Inspire Communities Ownership of Local

Data• Engage Government Organizations to

Contribute• Create a Community Lead Geographic

Information Tool

Contact

Dr. Bob Maher, Senior Research Scientist Trevor Robar, CEOApplied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) Landmark Geographic Solutions Inc.Email: robert.maher@nscc.ca Email: trobar@gissolutions.ca Phone: 825-5477 Phone: 825-5425 URL: http://www.gissolutions.ca Jeff Wentzell, Project Manager Twitter: @LGSINCApplied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG)Email: jeffrey.wentzell@nscc.caPhone: 825-1053

http://agrg.cogs.nscc.ca/projects/community_mapping/http://www.communitymapping.caFollow Us on Twitter: @CommunityMapsNS