Request for Information: Geoportal technologies
Summary
The GeoConnections program, led by Natural Resources Canada, is conducting a technology investigation in the area of Geospatial Portal technologies. GeoConnections is a national partnership program to evolve and expand the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI). The CGDI provides Canadians with on-demand access to geographic information (e.g. maps, satellite images) and related services and applications in support of sound decision making.
GeoConnections is inviting solution providers to present products, services, and offerings to GeoConnections staff and partner organizations who are contributing to the future evolution of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure. The presentations should include a demonstration of the functionality and, where possible, operational use of the technology in support of a user community. Details regarding the specific functionalities and user communities of interest to the GeoConnections program are provided below.
If you would like to schedule a presentation, please contact us before June 16, 2006 (point of contact listed below). Please note that this is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI may be used by GeoConnections to guide future investments in technologies to support the continued evolution of the CGDI.
GeoConnections reserves the right to schedule presentations, and to reject presentations that are not in scope. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by GeoConnections to contract for products and/or services. GeoConnections will not pay for any information provided as a result of this notice and will not recognize or reimburse any costs associated with the RFI. Responses to this RFI will not affect a potential bidder's ability to respond to any Request for Proposals (RFP) that might follow. GeoConnections will ensure that any sensitive or protected information provided and derived from this process will be kept confidential and not released externally.
For additional information, please phone/e-mail the point of contact listed below.
Functionality
Core services to support a geospatial portal are detailed in the Geospatial Portal Reference Architecture[1]. Additional consideration should be given to alignment with the CGDI Target Vision and Implementation Plan – Vision, Roadmap, Architecture[2] and to integration/interoperability with non-geospatial portal environments and associated standards.
A summary of core geospatial portal services [1] follows:
Portal Services – Provide the single point of access to the geospatial information on the portal. In addition, these services provide the management and administration of the portal.
Catalog Services – Used to locate geospatial services and information wherever it resides and to provide information to the user on the services and information found.
Portrayal Services – Used to process the geospatial information and prepare it for presentation to the user.
Data Services – Used to provide geospatial content and data processing.
Existing Infrastructure
The functionality provided by current CGDI core infrastructure Geospatial Portals, most notably the GeoConnections Discovery Portal (http://geodiscover.cgdi.ca/) and GeoGratis (http://geogratis.gc.ca/), also should be considered.
User Communities
Priority issues and user communities for the GeoConnections program include the following:
Public Health – Health and well being are significant in the everyday lives of Canadians. Although the use of geomatics by epidemiologists, population health specialists, and others within this community is still nascent, geomatics offers tremendous potential to improve the efficiency with which different health jurisdictions across the country interact. Public health clients include researchers, health officers and workers, policy advisors, and federal/provincial/territorial government health officials.
Public Safety – Location-based information may be used to deal with threats that have the potential to undermine the security and safety of Canadian society. Potential areas for use include critical infrastructure identification, situational awareness on disaster effects, and assisting with the management of consequences. Public safety and security clients include emergency preparedness and planning officers and managers; policy, health and safety advisors; utility companies; and first responders.
Aboriginal Communities – Aboriginal (i.e., First Nations, Métis and Inuit) communities in Canada are facing increasing pressures with respect to lands (including traditional lands and territories) and resources. These pressures and demands are a result of devolution under self-government initiatives, resource exploration activities, and the need to provide opportunities for their members while ensuring that their lands will continue to be productive in the future. Balancing the needs of today with those of tomorrow requires communities to take advantage of modern technologies to assist in their planning and development. Aboriginal clients include researchers, land claim and treaty negotiators, land and forestry managers/planners, and Chiefs and Councils.
Environment and Sustainable Development – There is growing
recognition that Canada needs an integrated approach to effectively manage and
sustain its lands and waters. This approach involves balancing environmental,
social, and economic factors, as well as future visioning when looking at development.
Geospatial information has had, and will continue to have, a significant impact
on integrated land/water planning. Environment and sustainable development clients
include planners, conservation officers, policy advisors, and researchers.
Additional information can be found on the GeoConnections Web site [3]
Point of Contact
Mohamed Habbane, Ph.D.
Project Leader
GeoConnections
Phone: (613) 947 1309
E-mail: mhabbane@NRCan.gc.ca
References
1. Geospatial Portal Reference Architecture, OpenGIS© document
OGC 04-039, Open Geospatial Consortium.
https://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/index.php?artifact_id=6669
2. CGDI Target Vision and Implementation Plan – Vision, Roadmap,
Architecture
http://www.geoconnections.org/en/communities/developers/index.html
3. GeoConnections Web site - http://www.geoconnections.org