Transcript Slide 1
Centre for Sustainable Watersheds
and DM Solutions Group
Watersheds InfoXchange
Leveraging Open Source GIS Software in a
Non-Profit Organization
presented by Mark Sunohara
June 9, 2004
Open Source GIS Conference
Presentation Outline
Common Thinking
Centre for Sustainable Watersheds (CSW)
Open Source Solutions in Daily Observations
WIX History and Objectives
WIX Applications
Benefits of CGDI
Leveraging CGDI-endorsed / OpenGIS
Specifications
Old and new paradigms
Common Thinking -Community is key
“Community groups can be effective participants in
integrated water resources management but require
support and guidance”
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network CO
Canadian Community Monitoring Network
Canada Stewardship Agenda
National framework endorsed by several
federal and provincial agencies
National Watershed Stewardship Coalition
Discussion of provincial representatives of
watershed stewardship across the country
Common Recommendations
Improve access to data for all watershed stakeholders
and facilitate data management for community
participants
Cost-effective and accessible, using coordinated
approach to meet needs of all stakeholders
Data sharing networks available through the
Internet, free of charge
Data needs to be of high quality – promote
standardized protocols, develop support and
expertise for training and data verification
Centre for Sustainable Watersheds
CSW evolved out of established lake association
Non-government, non-profit organization formed to
facilitate community participation in watershed
stewardship
Fosters cooperative approaches to water resource
protection by cross-linking among various agencies
Sustains effective partnerships between
Government and Community through
communication and cooperation
Links partners to maximize use of limited
resources, improve communications, and help
build consistency among programs
Our Objectives
1. Develop and promote shared responsibility for
water resource protection
Explore roles of community and government
2. Assist community participation in water resource
protection
Support for community level program delivery
Data management tools, stewardship training
and resources
Networking and learning/engagement
opportunities
3. Improve understanding of watershed dynamics
Watershed processes and impacts
Community Based Monitoring
CSW has Experience in:
Working with a network of environmental resource
partners
Coordinating “Lake Links”, a Community of Practice
of Lake associations, community groups, and small
environmental organizations
Information sharing: meetings, website, email,
workshops
Data collection and management
Access to data and data sharing
Status reporting
Open Source in Our Daily Operations
Alignment with Open Source Model of communal
interest
Lower total cost of ownership than proprietary
Resources towards H/W instead of S/W
No adversarial relationship between vendor and
client
Active User’s Groups exchanging experiences
Functionality can continue to improve
Open Source in Our Daily Operations
Linux Servers
Web and File Services
Apache, PHP
Databases
PostgreSQL
Project Collaboration
Tiki Wiki
Open Source in Our Daily Operations
Desktop Workstations - OpenOffice
Open Source in Our Daily Operations
Desktop Workstations - Email - Ximian Evolution
Open Source in Our Daily Operations
Desktop Workstations – Web Browsers - Mozilla
Open Source Desktop GIS Solutions
JUMP - Digitization of Shoreline Inventory
Open Source Desktop GIS Solutions
OpenEV - Visualization of Imagery
Open Source Web Mapping Solutions
Custom Web mapping solutions
Spatially-enabled Internet application
Compliance with Open Standards
Interoperability with other Organizations
Keeping it simple for the user
Needed to handle the mapping logic behind the
scenes
Share common geographic data and Web structure
Watersheds InfoXchange (WIX)
A community-driven web-based mapping and
database application that will help engage
community group participation in monitoring
WIX will allow community groups to input, manage
and view monitoring and stewardship data via the
Internet
Provide cost-effective model for access and
management of community group information
Guide effective community group monitoring
strategies
Follow government-approved data collection
programs protocols and standards
WIX Applications
Water Quality Monitoring
Ontario Ministry of Environment Lake Partner
Program
Fisheries Populations
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Volunteer
Angler Diary
Environmental Health
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network
NatureWatch program
Communication and Sharing among Stewardship and
Monitoring Groups
Ontario Stewardship Organization Information
Open Standards and Specifications
Optimal Interoperability through OpenGIS® (OGC) Compliance:
MapServer - OGC compliant WMS and WMS client
GeoServer – OGC compliant WFS-T
PostGIS/PostgreSQL – OGC compliant spatial database
Chameleon – PHP/Mapscript – access to all OGC Standards
Styled Layer Descriptors – cartographic presentation
Filter Encoding – control of feature selection and presentation
Web Map Context – XML description of WMS data
Geography Markup Language – data transport and storage
CGDI Gazetteer Services - lookup services, gazetteers
Discovery Services - Z39.50 Metadata Search and Retrieval
Services
Benefits of the CGDI to WIX
1. WIX provides on-line access to community-collected
geospatial data, information and services
Increases awareness of community efforts
Better access to quality community-collected
information for more effective decision-making
Leveraging CGDI-endorsed Specifications
GeoData Discovery Service - Z39.50 Metadata
Search and Retrieval Services
MapServer - OGC compliant Transactional Web
Map Service
GeoServer – OGC compliant Transactional
Web Feature Service
Enter and View Monitoring
View Thematic Maps Communicate
Data
with Others
of Community and
Involved with Monitoring
Government Data
Benefits of the CGDI to WIX
2. WIX enables community to integrate and
standardize their data into a common national
framework
Leverages a standards-based approach
Improves quality of and access to community
data
Leveraging CGDI-endorsed Specifications
MapServer - OGC compliant Web Map Service
and WMS client
CWC2 - Chameleon – PHP/Mapscript – access
to all OGC Standards
Manage Monitoring Sites
Support for Developing
Monitoring Strategies
•Add new sites
•View existing sites
Lookup Services
Find /Add locations
Watersheds
Postal Codes
NTS Map sheets
Place names
Use Gazetteer Services
to Help Find Locations
Input Metadata on Locations
– avoids duplication
Use Mapping Tools to
Pinpoint Locations for
Observations
Enter Collected Data
and Have it Validated
Benefits of the CGDI to WIX
3. WIX enables community to increase the use and
application of geo-info
Provides cost-effective model for access and
management of community information
Leveraging CGDI-endorsed Specifications
CGDI Gazetteer Services
Filter Encoding – controls feature selection
and presentation
Gazetteer Service to
Help Locate and Extract
Spatially Specific Data
Benefits of the CGDI to WIX
4. WIX enables partnerships between government and
community
Community can capitalize on collective expertise
Uses existing and reusable services
Facilitates a coordinated model for sustainable
governance of shared resources
Facilitates networking
Easily integrate and function with other groups
Query Tools to help
pinpoint
Data Tables
Make Custom
Create Charts
Download Data
Benefits of the CGDI to WIX
5. WIX simplifies the use of geo-info for community
Minimum GIS Expertise required
No need for GIS software, only Internet access
Provides standards and protocols
Supports the necessary distributed data model,
providing access to government data
Easily integrates multiple WMS data sources into
a seamless view
Simple Mapping Tools
Makes it Easier for Users
Thematic Mapping
to Support Users
Health
Old Paradigm
Stats
DFO
EC
WIX
COMMUNITY
NRCan
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Resources required
• GIS expertise
• data expertise
• locating data
• data sharing agreements
• compiling data
• locating standards
• metadata
MNR
OGDE
Parks
AgCan
Health
Stats
DFO
EC
COMMUNITY
`
CGDI
Access
WIX
COMMUNITY
NRCan
`
Policy
Technology
&
Innovation
Standards
COMMUNITY
`
Frameworks
MNR
OGDE
CGDI Paradigm
Parks
AgCan
In Summary
Open Source software improves the ability of
Community to be effective participants in integrated
water resources management
CSW is developing WIX to provide support and
guidance for community groups to input, manage
environmental monitoring data via the Internet
WIX follows CGDI-endorsed specifications and OGC
specifications for optimal interoperability
WIX is being developed through collaborative, costefficient partnerships
Our Partners
GeoConnections
DM Solutions Group
Environment Canada
- EMAN CO
- Ontario Region
- CISE
Ontario Stewardship
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
Human Resources Skills Development
Hewlett-Packard
Contact Information
Mark Sunohara, Project Manager, CSW
[email protected]
+01-613-272-5136
Sarah Rosolen, Partnerships and Development, CSW
[email protected]
+01-613-272-5136
Dave McIlhagga, President, DM Solutions Group
[email protected]
+01-613-565-5056