GeoConnections Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure Advisory Network Node Meeting ##1

January 30, 2003
13:00-15:00 (EST)
Room 650, main boardroom, 615 Booth, Ottawa

Minutes

Minutes from the GeoConnections Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure Advisory Network Node (GERCIAN Node)

I - Welcome and introductions - LCol Bilodeau:

• List of members is included in 'Members'.

II - Approval of agenda - LCol Bilodeau:

• Agenda approved.

III - Communities of Practice (CoP) and GeoConnections mandate - Jennifer Sokol:

• Jeff Labonte sent his regrets and Jennifer Sokol gave a 15 minute presentation on the GeoConnections mandate and the concept of CoP. Click here to view presentation.

IV - Review terms of reference - LCol Bilodeau:

• Terms of reference were reviewed briefly, as this is the first draft. Any other comments are to be sent to Jennifer Sokol. Suggestions and changes include adding a statement about the length of commitment for this forum, and reviewing the TOR after one year.
• The Emergency Act was discussed and the need to define definitions for key terms. This will be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

V - Election of a co-chair - LCol Bilodeau

• Ian Becking (OCIPEP) volunteered to be the co-chair and the vote confirmed this appointment.

VI - Update of CANUS Military Geospatial Intelligence & Imagery Woking Group - Major Moore:

• Major Greg Moore provided an update on the various initiatives.

  Geospatial/Imagery Information and Services Working Group (GIIS WG)
  The GIIS WG (known as the Mapping and Charting WG until 2002) is subordinate to the CANUS Military Cooperation Committee, and has been in existence since 1949, meeting 52 times to date. An impressive membership of stakeholders from both countries meets annually with the stated mission to coordinate Canada & United States Geospatial / Imagery Information and Services in support of the Basic Security Document and subordinate Operational Plans.

  This mandate facilitates and promotes the sharing of geospatial data, products, plans and technology between the two nations. Of particular interest to the GERCIAN Node is a current focus of the WG on support to the CANUS Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Steering Committee through its Mapping Sub-group. Both the Steering Committee and the Mapping Sub-group were established by the Smart Border Action Plan signed by Deputy PM Manley and Governor Ridge in Dec 01. The focus of the Mapping Sub-group is to coordinate the availability of geospatial/imagery data in both countries, particularly over identified areas of high interest, and in formats readily used by planners and first responders.

VII - Update of CANUS CIP Mapping Working Group activities - Ian Becking

• Ian Becking provided an update on activities.

  Update of CANUS CIP Mapping Working Group activities

  The group currently comprises OCIPEP, Defence Geomatics and NIMA and is based upon existing linkages between Defence Geomatics and NIMA. The strategic objective of the group is to share infrastructure data and imagery over the Canada/US border in order to establish a base set of geomatics and infrastructure data. This will allow other working groups such as energy and interdependencies, to use geospatial data to fulfill their mandates.

  Over the next 12 months, the Mapping Working group will define regions of the border area and collect data and imagery for these areas. We will also determine the key infrastructure layers and corresponding data structure for this data and, as well address licensing and other obstacles. We will also look at a joint Canada/US concept of operations to support decision makers during an incident that covers the border region.

  The work plan is on schedule right now and a meeting of the working groups will be held in Washington the week of 17th March. The exercise Top OFFicials (TOPOFF)2 in May of 2003 will also be used to assess progress on the workplan.

VIII - Update of Canada Disaster Management Information System - Les Whitney

• Les Whitney provided an update on activities.

  Update of Canada Disaster Management Information System

  The Canada Disaster Management Information System (CDMIS) originated with CCEU approval of NRCAN's Natural Hazards Action Plan in late 2001. The original concept focused on emergency response and situational awareness, primarily for earthquakes but open to all natural hazards (e.g. Floods). User needs studies and conceptual design work was carried out in 2002 under Treasury Board funding. This activity included two major Workshops in Ottawa and Vancouver where two new factors emerged, the user requirement for All-hazard information and the need for planning and preparedness (training) information to be part of any national system. This requirement for an increase in scope has lead to a renewed initiative, the Natural Hazards Information System (NHIS) under the Earth Science Sector's new Natural Hazards and Emergency Response Program, under Bert Struik. All aspects of natural hazards information requirements will be assessed in consultation with stakeholders and users, primarily in B.C but possibly in Quebec, to redefine user requirements and commitment to implementation. An implementation plan, including any appropriate aspect of the CDMIS concept, will be submitted for approval in the fall of 2003.

  The CDMIS workshops identified three technical challenges: data access, telecommunications and visualization of geospatial in formation. Technology demonstration projects have explored telecommunications issues and showcased new visualization methods, supported by OCIPEP funding. Data access issues will be addressed as the NHIS project develops in collaboration with GeoConnections.

IX - Update on the Critical Infrastructure Protection Initiative - Jennifer Sokol

• Jennifer Sokol gave an update on the CIPI-1 project and status. View presentation here.

X - Geospatial Information on Natural Hazards - Mike Power

• Mike Power explained the contract that he has received from OCIPEP and GeoConnections to collect information on geospatial activities in Natural Hazards. He will gather information on the use and project activities of various Federal Departments. This information will be shared among all participants.

XI - Round Table - Review of activities by each member.

• Expectations given by each member Members were then asked if there are initiatives they would like to give some information about other initiatives.
• Denis De Gagné - updated us on GeoBase, Strategic Building Specifications, Toporama2, and the emergency site for Topographic Data.

Toporama2
Toporama is a site that provides easy Internet access to free topographic images of Canada. Toporama is temporarily unavailable. The address will be http://toporama.cits.rncan.gc.ca/. We are in the process of updating this site to Toporama2. We expect to have it back on-line by the end of February 2003. We are working on the development of an interface. The ortho-images will be available very soon.

Geobase
GeoBase is a recent NRCan initiative whereby the Federal and Provincial/Territorial governments have agreed to work together to ensure the availability of quality digital base maps over all of Canada. GeoBase has a web site opened for the CCOG members. The site will be launched in April 2003.

Strategic buildings
Mandate: Collect data on strategic buildings for cities more than 5,000 inhabitants. Phase 1: Quebec, Ontario and British-Columbia. Phase 2: Other provinces. Technical specifications are posted on the web site. For more information, click on the 'others' links.

Emergency site
CTIS is currently working on an emergency site. The address will be the same as the actual site http://www.cits.rncan.gc.ca/ and will be available in April. The emergency site will allow users to have access to CTIS products in case of an emergency. Users will need to identify themselves and justify their access.

• Laurent Tardif - suggested that someone from CRTI should be included on the node
• Bert Struik - explained the activities of assessing requirements for the Natural Hazards and Emergency Response Program
• Carol Verreault and Howard McBride - clarified that satellite information will be included in these discussions, as it is a part of geospatial. Also, it was expressed that there is a need for a central body to provide links to data, which would be available for emergencies (for preparation and the response).
• Maurice Bastarache - identified the need to streamline the demand for data, and suggested that someone from the RCMP be invited to the node.

XII - Security issues - LCol Bilodeau

• These issues will be addressed as they become significant.

XIII - Review membership - LCol Bilodeau

• The suggestions of new members include:

  • CRTI member
  • RCMP member
  • Canadian Transportation Agency

XV - Name of the node - LCol Bilodeau

• The name of the node was discussed and it was suggested that it be changed to the GeoConnections Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure Advisory Network Node (GERCIAN Node).

XVI - Summary and conclusions - LCol Bilodeau

• LCol Bilodeau raised some items such as limiting membership to an inclusive group, but still within manageable numbers. The node will meet on a quarterly basis. Any items that you would like to see added to the agenda for the next meeting, please forward to Jennifer Sokol.

XVII - Date of next meeting - LCol Bilodeau

• The next meeting is set for April 24th, 2003 at 13:00. The meeting will be hosted at GeoConnections at 615 Booth Street. However, if other organizations would like to offer to host a meeting, suggestions are welcome.