This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

FOCUS ON:

Earth Observation essential for geohazard mitigation

More than 250 scientists from around the world gathered for a five-day workshop at ESA's Earth Observation Centre in Frascati.

more

Upcoming Events

more

DACS-in-a-Box

This project proposes to develop a commercial DACS-in-a-Box software product based on existing open-source software. The product is intended to meet the security needs of those who share and use geospatial data and services in collaborative infrastructures such as the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI).

The CGDI's success relies on data contributors, applications designers, and users easily accessing and sharing data. At the same time, organizations need to protect their data from unauthorized access. Today, however, implementing secured and distributed access controls for web-enabled services challenges all collaborative infrastructure users and suppliers. For instance-how should a user's credentials be verified among web services within the CGDI?

Current open-source DACS software will allow organizations some flexibility in controlling access to CGDI web services, but this software has shortcomings. For one thing, it is complex and must typically be deployed by experts. It also requires improvements to its access control. Moreover, it needs further refinement and development before it can be made commercially available.

Simplicity and security team to enhance CGDI

DACS-in-a-Box will build on open-source DACS software and provide a general-purpose authentication and access control mechanism suitable for a wide variety of environments and applications. For example, having been successfully authenticated by one jurisdiction, a user may then access resources at any participating jurisdiction, subject to access controls set by each party.

A robust, scalable, easy-to-install, and easy-to-use commercial product built on open and interoperable OGC standards, DACS-in-a-Box will enable organizations to minimize the costs to adopt, administer, and participate in web-enabled and secure collaborative geospatial information infrastructures. Based on a consensus-driven security architecture using the concept of an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) service, DACS-in-a-Box will include identification-authentication, single sign-on, and access control, supporting the roles of various users and suppliers within the CGDI.

For instance, by using the authentication services that currently exist within organizations, DACS-in-a-Box will avoid the significant administrative task of creating and maintaining accounts for the same user at many locations. It also spares users from having to remember several account names and passwords.

Increased security to boost demand for CGDI services and connectivity

DACS-in-a-Box will most interest organizations that want a single simple solution to their security requirements. The product is expected to foster demand for even more CGDI services and connectivity as service providers become aware of the DACS-in-a-Box security provisions. And by expanding the reach of on-line processing capabilities beyond the traditional boundaries of public-domain map publishing, DACS-in-a-Box will move us closer to connecting all Canadians.


For more information...


Primary Partner: CubeWerx Inc.  Hull,  Quebec;

Partners: Match-Tetra Corp., Distributed Systems Software Inc., Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, Environment Canada, Agriculture Canada and Agri-Food Canada.

Funding From GeoConnections: $192,505.00 ( 36.1 %)

Estimated Inception Date: April, 2004

Estimated Completion Date: April, 2005