Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure  (ASDI)

Outline
For over a century, researchers have worked in the Arctic collecting data related to geographic location. Recent technological advances have enabled input of spatial data, new and old, into desktop computers for analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This innovation has propelled Arctic research far beyond basic mapping to the layering of diverse map themes such as geologic substrata, vegetation, and precipitation, and at scales from entire continents down to one-meter grids. For the first time, scientists have the ability to place their research in the context of spatially explicit information from a comprehensive body of arctic research, which has opened up avenues for collaboration and investigation never before possible. Internet Map Server (IMS) technology provides unprecedented opportunities to visualize and share this geospatial data and knowledge among researchers, agencies and the public. Spatial data requires special attention since it is often lost within the broader context of data management initiatives. This need should be addressed through an Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure (ASDI) with an Internet-based portal. Such a portal would include IMS applications; a custom search utility to target clearinghouses that host geospatial data for the Arctic; Arctic spatial data catalog; activities and recommendations of an international steering committee and associated working groups; relevant links; news and a bulletin board. Objectives: -Support/strengthen the ASDI community-building process through the formation of an international steering committee informed by focused working groups; -Foster a network of distributed and fully-interoperable nodes at key institutions; -Establish a centralized Internet portal to catalog and link geospatial data holdings for the Arctic with linkages to government and institutional geospatial clearinghouses; -Provide a hosting capability for data providers to publish data/metadata. Outreach activities: -Increase ASDI awareness among the arctic research community; build community interactions and technical capacity to ensure sustainability; -Promote spatial data standards with guidance from the Open GIS Consortium and the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure initiative; -Develop an online Arctic Gazetteer consisting of populated places, key geographic features and place names with printable maps; -Develop education modules (k12+) including internet seminars featuring Arctic research using mapping technologies including fly through visualization tools such as EarthSlot;-2007 ASDI Workshop; -Conduct training seminars on Geospatial One Stop technologies; -Build ASDI capacity in less developed regions; -Partner with the network of existing data centers to maximize input to the geospatial portal (e.g. similar US National Map.)

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
ASDI will address IPY themes 1-4 and 6, plus target education/outreach, communication, data management and legacy data. Development of an integrated, yet distributed ASDI will require significant outreach and communication within the geospatial data and Arctic science community. Educational outreach to implement best practices (metadata development, data archiving, communication protocols between clearinghouses, targeted online services) for data management will be central to this project. While legacy data will be integrated, young investigators (who are increasingly involved in digital data) will be encouraged to adopt best practices for publishing new spatial data.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Coordination is planned with the International Polar Year (IPY) Data and Information Service (DIS) for Distributed Data Management, Global SDI, Antarctic SDI, UNEP GRID-Arendal, Arctic Coastal Dynamics GIS Working Group, Asiaq Greenland Survey, International Permafrost Association, Circumarctic Environmental Observatories Network and International Bathymetry Chart of the Arctic Ocean Editorial Board.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
While this is not a field-based project, ASDI will include vigorous outreach to help researchers collect and contribute data (including project locations). Establishing methods and developing protocols in cooperation with field researchers will help ensure the best utility and availability of information during and after the IPY of 2007-2008.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
No field logistics support needs are required. Meeting rooms and conference facilities will be arranged by the Arctic Research Consortium of the US (ARCUS), university contacts and regional logistics providers.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The Internet-based portal will build capacity to connect a distributed network of resources that will be fully developed for IPY. The efficiency achieved with ASDI portal technologies will encourage active linkages among observation networks and participating organizations through data management activities and cooperative application development.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
National agency

Logistics needs are primarily limited to meeting rooms for working groups, conference forum for 2007 ASDI workshop, and training facilities. These needs will be addressed by ARCUS, the University of Alaska, UNAVCO, Barrow Arctic Science Consortium, Toolik Field Station, VECO Polar Resources and other participating institutions.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This Expression of Intent (EOI) is currently endorsed by ARCUS, International Permafrost Association, Circumarctic Environmental Observatories Network and is under consideration by the national IPY committees of the countries involved.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Exp

Synergistic Arctic GIS projects currently funded or pending funding are planned to continue through the IPY timeframe. ASDI would coordinate these activities through portal development, and collaboration with the proposed IPY Data and Information Service (DIS) for Distributed Data Management, DLESE portal, and the Electronic Geophysical Year.

How will the project be organised and managed?
An international ASDI steering committee will be informed by focused working groups targeting issues identified by the community (at the 2007 ASDI workshop) and the IPY Data Advisory Group. Direct coordination is anticipated with the Antarctic SDI community. Working group topics may include a focus on Arctic place names, GPS, remote sensing, metadata, education/outreach, framework data, security, etc. ASDI would formulate geospatial data standards for IPY projects, make those standards easy to follow, and work directly with IPY PIs to ensure success. Recommendations and activities of the working groups would be published on the internet-based ASDI portal.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
ASDI is inherently an education, outreach, and communication project including an internet portal, maps, education modules, infrastructure to support communications and coordination. Tasks include: the formation of working groups; 2007 ASDI conference; training/capacity building sessions regarding metadata, DGPS for spatial control, portal technologies for data discovery, use of IMS applications.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The organization, availability and access to geospatial data will be increased through internet portal development by fostering communication and connectivity among existing data nodes (including Asiaq Greenland Survey, GINA, NSIDC, ADCC, JOSS, Alfred Wegener Institute, USGS, UNEP GRID Arendal and other international organizations.)

How is it proposed to fund the project?
US based Arctic GIS projects have been funded or are pending funding by the National Science Foundation. ASDI (pending NSF) would fund the 2007 ASDI workshop, steering committee members, capacity building and portal development. Additional funding could be solicited through private foundations and international sources to further working group activities.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Various groups are tackling components of the vision for an integrated ASDI, but there is little coordination between synergistic efforts. Related efforts include: Circumarctic Environmental Observatories Network–Internet Map Server, Toolik Field Station GIS, Barrow Area Information Database–Internet Map Server, Circumpolar Arctic Geobotanical Atlas, Arctic Environmental Atlas, the Geographic Information Network of Alaska’s Java Swath Viewer. ASDI is directly linked to the following EOIs: IPY-DIS (Mark Parsons), IPA TSP/INPO (Jerry Brown), Arctic DEM (Matt Nolan), EarthSlot (Matt Nolan), ACCO-NET (Volker Rachold), POLENET (Terry Wilson); Canadian pre-proposal A Spatial Data Infrastructure for Polar Science: A Framework for Organization and Outreach.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ms Allison Graves Gaylord
POB 1483
Homer
99603
USA

Tel: 907-235-3476
Mobile: 907-399-1120
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation