CHAPTER 5

Using Discovery Mechanisms within the CGDI

The first step in promoting your services within the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure is to choose a discovery mechanism. Discovery mechanisms connect users and suppliers of geospatial services and resources. This chapter:

• Explains how users find, evaluate and access geospatial resources with a discovery mechanism; and
• Describes the provincial, thematic and national discovery mechanisms within the CGDI.

5.1 Mechanisms to Discover Geospatial Resources

In a data infrastructure like the CGDI, a discovery mechanism is an online service that brings together suppliers (those providing resources) and users (those using the resources). Discovery mechanisms allow users to discover, evaluate and access geospatial information in the form of data products, services, resources or organizations.

Users perform a search within the chosen discovery mechanism to find a resource. They can then access the desired resource using whatever access methods the supplier has provided for those products.

Figure 6, Using a Discovery Mechanism, illustrates how a user typically finds, evaluates and accesses resources from a discovery mechanism within the CGDI.

Figure 6 Using a Discovery Mechanism

5.1.1 Finding Resources

The first step in finding resources is to browse or search through a directory or inventory of geospatial data and services. A directory is a type of catalogue in which collections of data are described through metadata. An inventory is a catalogue that lists individual data products. A catalogue is a complete list of things, usually arranged systematically. Most databases are comprised of inventories and catalogues.

5.1.2 Evaluating Resources

Once users have found a resource of interest to them, the next step is to evaluate it to see how and if the resource meets their needs.

There are several ways of evaluating resources found through a discovery mechanism. The first is with a textual description. Metadata (information about data) offers a standardized group of categories that describes a data product or service. Metadata allows users to evaluate a resource using detailed and resource-specific information. For satellite imagery, for example, this would include the resolution, cloud cover, time and date of the image.

The second evaluation method is to use visualization tools. For satellite imagery, low-resolution pictures provide a means for visual evaluation of the high-resolution image. For other data, web map servers allow users to view and interact with the dataset.

5.1.3 Accessing Resources

Once users have found and evaluated the desired resource, there are several ways for them to access, or obtain, the resource in question, depending on whether the resource involves data products or services.

Users can directly access data by web access, Internet downloading, telephone ordering, email ordering, Internet-based l-commerce and format conversion services used in conjunction with one of these means of access. Some directory services also provide a means to broker data whereby the directory service acts as an initial intermediary between the user and the data supplier. Other means of access included using web services or visualization services.

5.2 Discovery Mechanisms within the CGDI

There are several kinds of discovery mechanisms in the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure, including provincial, commercial, thematic and national.

Not all discovery mechanisms are infrastructures, since they do not all meet the requirements of spatial data infrastructures (as discussed in 4.1, Spatial Data Infrastructures).

You may choose the discovery mechanism(s) that best fits your needs.

5.2.1 Provincial Discovery Mechanisms

Provinces are contributing at different levels towards the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure. The Canadian Geomatics Accord was created in an effort to record the interest, will and commitment of federal, provincial and territorial governments and Crown corporations to cooperate in geomatics initiatives of mutual interest.

To date, British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Department of National Defence have signed the Accord.

They are cooperating together towards the following goals:

• The establishment of a Canadian geospatial data infrastructure;
  
  
• Data and information production, integration, and sharing;
  
  
• Data distribution and licensing;
  
  
• Standards and specifications;
  
  
• Technical and policy research; and
  
  
• Applications development.
  
  

The CGDI comprises provincial geospatial data infrastructures that include directories of data and services of interest on a provincial level. These provincial discovery mechanisms include:

• The Ontario Land Information Warehouse (http://www.lio.mnr.gov.on.ca/), an application that enables users to quickly examine land information. Land Information Ontario's web-enabled data browser makes it possible to access a growing collection of seamless geospatial, base and thematic data.
  
  
• Nova Scotia's GeoNOVA Program (http://www.nsgc.gov.ns.ca/), which aims to make geographic data accessible at the desktop. This initiative is intended to provide Nova Scotians with online access to the discovery, sharing and use of Nova Scotian geospatial data, services and applications. The intent is to make Nova Scotia geographic data accessible on the Internet and to participate in the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure. (Note: work in progress).
  
  
• Land Information BC (http://www.gov.bc.ca/bvprd/bc/keyInitiativeHome.do?action=landInfoBCUser&navId=NAV_ID_province ), the information service initiative of the British Columbia Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. It is a new vision for the effective delivery of integrated, science-based land, resource and geographic information in support of government's vision of economic development and a vibrant provincial economy, a sustainable environment and health communities. (Note: work in progress).
  
  

The following provincial discovery mechanisms have geospatial data available on the Internet but are not infrastructures:

• AltaLIS Ltd (http://www.altalis.com/) is responsible for making Alberta's base mapping infrastructure more available, accessible, accurate and affordable. AltaLIS features four primary provincial mapping datasets: Urban Cadastral, Rural Cadastral, Topographic and Small Scale.
  
  
• The Atlantic Coastal Database Directory (http://www.dal.ca/aczisc/acdd) is an inventory which describes more than 500 databases of relevance to the integrated management and sustainable development of the coastal zone of Atlantic Canada. The databases are maintained by governments (federal, provincial, municipal and regional), academic and research institutions, the private sector and non-governmental organizations.
  
  
• Service New Brunswick (SNB) (http://www.gov.nb.ca/snb/e/index.htm) delivers transactional services to the residents of New Brunswick and leads the management of government information infrastructure such as land information and personal and property registry data. SNB's Real Property Information Internet Service (RPIIS) provides Internet-based access to the property map and ownership information on all land parcels in the province.
  
  
• Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (SNSMR) (http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/land/) is responsible for developing, maintaining and distributing the province's corporate, primary geographic information, including the Nova Scotia Topographic Database, the Nova Scotia Coordinate Reference System, the Nova Scotia Property Records Database, and the Nova Scotia Aerial Photography Archive which consists of maps, electronic databases and aerial photographs.
  
  
• Geographic Data BC (http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/bmgs/) specializes in the provision of base map and geo-referencing data, corporate datasets and derived products as well as derived information to clients in government and the private sector.
  
  
• LandData BC (http://www.landdata.gov.bc.ca/) is a clearinghouse for land-related information about the province of British Columbia.
  
  
• The web site for the Manitoba Land Initiative (MLI) (http://mli.gov.mb.ca) is the source for geospatial information from the Government of Manitoba. It enables online access to the MLI corporate land data warehouse and its metadata catalogue.
  
  
• The Northern Information Network (NIN) (http://esd.inac.gc.ca/nin/) directory contains over 500 descriptions of databases pertaining to the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  
  
• Le Territoire (http://www.mrnfp.gouv.qc.ca/territoire/) provides a wealth of information about Quebec's territory and energy, forestry and mineral resources as well as legal and technical tools related to the sustainable management of these resources and their development.
  
  
• The mandate of the Information Services Corporation of Saskatchewan (http://www.geomatics.isc-online.ca/) is to create a one-stop source that integrates all land titles, provincial survey, mapping and geographic information system (GIS) needs of everyone doing business in Saskatchewan.
  
  

5.2.2 Commercial Discovery Mechanisms

The CGDI links to commercial discovery mechanisms that publish information and services for people who use a common application or product.

• The ESRI Canada Geography Network (http://www.geographynetwork.com/) is an example of an established commercial spatial data infrastructure.
  
  The Geography Network is a global network of geographic information users and suppliers. It provides the infrastructure needed to support the sharing of geographic information among data suppliers, service providers, and users around the world. Through the Geography Network, you can access many types of geographic content including dynamic maps, downloadable data, and more advanced web services.
  
  The Geography Network is managed and maintained by ESRI, a company specializing in GIS products and services. ESRI sponsors the Geography Network to promote the sharing and discovery of geographic information and services. It is intended to support the vision of a spatial data infrastructure enabling ready access to geographic information.
  
  

5.2.3 Thematic Discovery Mechanisms

The CGDI connects to thematic discovery mechanisms based on topics of interest such as ecology, forestry, geology, etc. Thematic discovery mechanisms are coordinated by several organizations at the federal, provincial, municipal, commercial and national levels, and include the following:

• The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) (www.eman-rese.ca) is comprised of linked organizations and individuals involved in ecological monitoring in Canada to better detect, describe, and report on ecosystem changes. The network is a cooperative partnership of federal, provincial and municipal governments, academic institutions, aboriginal communities and organizations, industry, environmental non-government organizations, volunteer community groups, elementary and secondary schools and other groups and individuals involved in ecological monitoring.
  
  
• The National Forest Information System (NFIS) (http://nfis.org/index_e.shtml) will enable the consolidation, coordination and analysis of dispersed forestry-related information held by resource management agencies such as federal, provincial and territorial governments and others in support of national and international reporting requirements for sustainable forest management.
  
  
• The Canadian Geoscience Knowledge Network (CGKN) (http://cgkn.net/2002/index_e.html) is an initiative of the National Geological Surveys Committee (NGSC) to provide an Internet portal to Canadian geoscience information. Through the CGKN web site, clients are able to discover, view, evaluate and obtain consistent and standardized geoscience data, maps and publications. The NGSC has coordinated partnerships with federal, provincial, and territorial government agencies, as well as private-sector organizations, to establish a nationally comprehensive network in the CGKN. As one of the partners, GeoConnections is the program responsible for the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure; for its part, the CGKN will become the geoscience component of the CGDI.
  
  

5.2.4 National Discovery Mechanism

The GeoConnections Discovery Portal (http://geodiscover.cgdi.ca/) is both a dedicated geospatial search engine and a national discovery mechanism for the CGDI. It allows users to find, evaluate and access resources within the CGDI.

The GeoConnections Discovery Portal's key component is its directory. The directory contains descriptions of geospatial data, services (including web services) and the organizations that provide them. Users can search for content using spatial, temporal, keyword and textual constraints or browse the directory contents. Suppliers can register and update their registration information from their web browser into the GeoConnections Discovery Portal. Appendix 2, The GeoConnections Discovery Portal, provides more details about this national discovery mechanism.