Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Providing Infrastructure and Services to aid the Development of an International Network for Preserving and Sharing Arctic Data  (Developing an International Network for Sharing Arctic Data)

Outline
Building on its current capability, the Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA; http://www.gina.alaska.edu) proposes to assist in developing and serving GIS capabilities that meet the needs of Arctic researchers, educators, managers, and the public. The approach is to initiate the development of an international network by creating and maintaining a US GIS ‘One-Stop’ portal that could act as a template for other such portals distributed across the Arctic. GINA will maintain this portal in accordance with best practices and guidance from an advisory board that includes international representation. Once implemented, the source codes for these services would be offered freely to other portals for expedient and cost-efficient implementation. In turn, other services provided elsewhere, could be folded into the US portal so that any user, anywhere, could enter the network from any site and have access to all services.The services GINA would provide include:Creating and delivering a sophisticated metadata search and browse capability designed for high-latitude regions using sophisticated information retrieval techniques and metadata harvesting.Creating an Arctic Gazetteer. This utility cross references geographic coordinates with feature names and attributes and is important for research planning, education, and outreach.Providing a suite of Web-mapping capabilities. Internet Mapping Services (IMS) provide GIS resources to users who cannot develop and maintain an independent GIS capability. Further, they allow sophisticated users to preview datasets prior to downloading them. Applications can serve framework data sets and IMS can be tailored to offer thematic applications such as educational outreach, research planning, and various research topics. As part of this task, GINA will refine an existing Java-based GIS application called PolarIS specifically designed for the Arctic.Delivering image and grid data in usable formats. GINA will provide Arctic researchers with a variety of satellite data products that constrain the biological and physical characteristics of the Arctic region. Many of these will be delivered in near-real time from GINA’s MODIS and AVHRR reception stations. GINA will also provide its complete 22-year record (64,000 images) of AVHRR coverage, 6,000 MODIS scenes, and approximately 1000 Landsat scenes covering Alaska and the Canadian Arctic. Creating time series showing changes in biophysical properties in the Western Arctic based on the satellite information. These products would be posted on the portal website for downloading and analysis. For display, these will be in the form of animations on the web portal; the actual data will be readily available to all users

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Themes 1 and 2: 20 year time series of satellite data, with several passes per day, covering the Western Arctic will be assessed to characterize cycles (amplitudes and phase shifts) in various biophysical parameters such as NDVI, brightness temperature, snow cover, sea surface temperature, wildfire activity, etc. Data Management Target: The geographic information network proposed will greatly facilitate the access to and preservation of Arctic data.Legacy Target: See below under 2.4

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
All nations with Arctic holdings and/or interests in the Arctic can benefit from and participate in the development of this legacy network.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
No field work, per se; however the real-time EOS satellite data we offer for logistical support covers the vast majority of the Arctic. Landsat data cover Alaska and Arctic Canada.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
None, in fact, the existing and proposed capabilities will provide satellite data and other GIS framework data sets to aid in logistical planning and support of other IPY projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Implementation of the proposed services in preparation for IPY will greatly strengthen international participation in developing the information network. The ability to share data freely and expediently across great distances and across international boundaries is a legacy that advances international cooperation, furthers scientific research and benefits all people of the Arctic.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Conceptually, through NSF/OPP and other agencies discussions of the need for such a network. Our NSF proposal to fund the initial steps in this process is currently being vetted.

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?


This project builds on existing capabilities but expands them considerably. International coordination and cooperation are required. A distributed network, where responsibilities are shared, spreads costs equitably across the Arctic nations and benefits from existing capabilities.

How will the project be organised and managed?
GINA will create the portal for ARCUS and provide services as outlined above with NSF and Advisory Board consultation. Coordination for the international network should be assumed by an international panel of GIS experts drawn from the suite of Arctic Nations. Protocols for web-based information exchange are standardized and readily implemented. Memoranda of Agreement between participants to establish data provision responsibilities, usage agreements, and other issues will need to be crafted and signed.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Establishment of the proposed portal and the network is an education, outreach and communication activity in itself. We will ensure that our Advisory Board includes at least one member with education and public outreach experience to guide specific activities.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All data collected at the portal will be freely available through the web and will be archived in accordance to current best practices. GINA has requested NSF to endorse this portal as a Arctic GIS clearinghouse. All data and derived products will be immediately available to the public with ISO compliant metadata.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
GINA core funding from the University of Alaska. Funding to augment existing capabilities to create the portal is requested of NSF/OPP. Additional funds secured through various competitive awards and cooperative agreements

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Director Virgil L. Sharpton
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Geophysical Institute
Fairbanks, Alaska
99775
USA

Tel: 907-474-6663
Mobile: no
Fax: 907-474-7290
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation