Community Mapping and Community Information Utility Jeff Wentzell, Project Manager Bob Maher, Sr. Research Scientist Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Middleton, NS Trevor Robar, CEO Landmark Geographic Solutions Inc.

Outline Definition of the two concepts Status of Community Mapping Projects – Inverness County – Annapolis County – Southwest Nova Status of CIU project How can GeoNova help us How can we help GeoNova Questions Contact

Community Mapping Engaging the community to create maps of features in the landscape important to them Community includes individual citizens, businesses, villages, RDA’s, government departments Rural Secretariat Project

Community Information Utility Assemble all available maps into a shareable spatial data warehouse Make available through Internet Allow private sector businesses to create applications based on CIU

Relationship between Community Mapping and CIU

Inverness Project Objective: To develop Web GIS application to edit and view locations of the ICSP sustainability assets in Inverness County Deliverables: – Database Design and implementation – Esri ArcGIS Server technology – Editor View – Public View – Widget development and implementation – Documentation and training

Inverness Viewer (Beta)

Inverness Editor (Beta)

Annapolis County Objective: To developing web based mapping applications to engage communities in Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) Deliverables: – Develop web applications to encourage VGI – Engage partners through PAR to determine needs – Creative Rural Economy, Culture and Heritage, Tourism, Buy Local, Businesses, etc… – Develop a sustainability model

Annapolis - Middleton

Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Objective: To develop a mapping application to promote activities of the SWNBR Deliverables: – Database Design and implementation – Esri ArcGIS Server technology – Editor View / Public View – Sharing of content i.e. photos, video, stories, etc…

How can GeoNova help us? 1.Access to base map layers 2.Access to imagery 3.Other thematic layers from line departments 4.Collaborate on web development and data access 5.Develop a Model for Governance and Business Sustainability (Partnerships)

How can we help GeoNova? 1.Creating awareness at the citizen and municipal levels 2.Engagement of local private sector (i.e. BIC) 3.Bring in new ideas e.g. CIU 4.Develop methods for sharing geographic information 5.Broaden technical expertise 6.Thematic maps from LiDAR, micro-climate network

Challenges 1.Need to develop access policies “open government” 2.Capacity building, especially in rural Nova Scotia 3.Create collaborative spirit 4.Rationale for CIU – Focus on regional geography – Focus on certain thematic layers – Develop understanding – Provide training

Challenges cont’d 5.Moving target: – New tools available – New programs e.g. ESRI Community Mapping Program – New platforms “cloud computing” – Changing view of government e.g. CIO office, regional planning

Challenges cont’d Retraining, retooling – Advanced diploma programs – GIS professional certification – Student Internships – Faculty/Government/Industry exchange – Technology Transfer

Collaboration Private Sector, Academia, Community and Government ANNAPOLIS VALLEY COMPUTERS RURAL SECRETARIAT PROJECT ANNAPOLIS COUNTY SNBR ADEDA FCDA COMMUITY PARTNERS

Build New Ideas for Community Engagement Sharing Technologies Collect Data Once Use Many Times Build Community Information Benefits Learn New Technologies GOALS New Products or Tools For Market Engage Communities Inspire Communities Ownership of Local Data Engage Government Organizations to Contribute Create a Community Lead Geographic Information Tool

Contact Dr. Bob Maher, Senior Research Scientist Trevor Robar, CEO Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) Landmark Geographic Solutions Inc. Phone: Phone: URL: Jeff Wentzell, Project Manager Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) Phone: Follow Us on