An evolving relationship: map libraries and data producers

Grace WelchMay 31, 2002

ACMLA/CAPDU Conference

Outline Some history What are we missing in terms of

data? What are the outstanding issues? Future directions and priorities What can we do as individuals and

as an association to work with data producers?

A look at the past 1995: ARL GIS Literacy Program

comes to Canada First data arrives in our library:

DCW – only Canadian data in our libraries until

DLI – census boundaries, streets ArcCanada

You’ve come a long way baby!

Not quite famine to feast

But detailed national data now available

DMTI data DSP for maps Provincial deals

for academics

Milestones: DLI First consortia access to

government data Helped develop data expertise in

libraries training in Halifax, Saskatoon, London

Demand growing exponentially on our campuses

Supporting structure for libraries

Milestone: Geogratis Federal “legacy” data for download Began with CLI Now one of the most heavily used

data sites in Canada Largest user by type is other

government departments

Milestone: City of Ottawa & NCC

City of Ottawa provides GIS datasets on their web site for non-commercial purposes; free to download

NCC offers complementary data to “data poor” universities

First large scale city type data for universities

Milestone: DMTI First commercial company to offer

affordable access Over 40 university & colleges

participating in consortium Models for other educational

initiatives On-going support

Milestone: DSP for Maps Includes: digital topographic maps

and related products for entire country, digital geology maps

Available to educational institutions with GIS capabilities

5 year program, license to be reviewed in one years’ time

Other federal data initiatives CANSIS being enhanced Daily climate data to be included in

DSP- two CD set, translation still issue

Government policy initiatives: KPMG study on pricing Standard licensing for data sharing

GeoBase available in next year

Provincial gov’t: successesSeveral models for provision of data toacademia New Brunswick $1.00 sale to UNB (now free

and available to other universities) Alberta govt. agreement with universities 2

years ago Some provinces offer discounted prices for

NTDB Manitoba: new agreement Policies vary by province and by department

Provincial gov’t: challenges?

Problem areas: Ontario & Quebec Ontario: negotiating since 1992

Paying for infrastructure development Individual departments supportive, e.g. MTO, OMAFRA, Municipal Affairs, OGS

Quebec: still negotiating, considering DSP model

Provinces: issues Variation in support, hit or miss

depending on request E.g. roads data from B.C. Yukon DEM

Generally based on educational institutions in province – not always known to other institutions

Municipal data Like provinces, widely variable Arrangements based on single or

local institutions Hard to acquire comparable

municipal data for provincial/national studies

Lack of adequate metadata

Evolutionary process: THEN Our relationship with data

producers: Constrained by cost/recovery policies Mapping type services slashed in

early, mid-90s Had to justify GIS investments to their

managers Data leakage paranoia

Evolutionary process: NOW Most data producers supportive Recognize value of encouraging

GIS in educational sector Want policies to change but slow,

painful process Trying to standardize licensing Educational offers available

Factors promoting change CGDI and GeoConnections!!! Success of DLI Educational sector champions Government focus on knowledge

economy New models to build on: DMTI

Challenges Process slow and invisible Licensing – too many, too detailed No consistency in approach to

educational sector Still pockets of mistrust Copyright

Unresolved problems Institutes/collaborative projects:

usually outside licensing arrangements

Lack of knowledge about individual agreements

Management of multiple licenses Tracking of individual users

What can we do? Become involved in process Look for partnering opportunities Recognize success Share expertise Ensure data is used

To work on Need reciprocal agreements Promotion of metadata Development of our delivery

infrastructure Feedback into discovery tools such

as the Discovery Portal Communicate

Final thoughts Has our relationship improved?

You betcha! Is there still work to be done

No question!