Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #251: Geomatics for the North - Circumpolar Conference on Basic Geospatial Information for Northern Development  (Geomatics for the North)

Outline
More and more every day, Northern people are taking charge of their development and using all kind of new tools to help them to better manage their land. Basic geospatial information is one source of information becoming crucial to support all kind of activities. It is time for us to show the change happening and help it move even faster through a geomatic conference dedicated to the North. Canada holds a very large part of the Northern hemisphere and, with a small sparsely distributed population, Canada faces mapping challenges. To circumvent some of these challenges, Canada has recently developed very innovative processes to acquire and maintain its digital topographic database. Canada continues to build its expertise on geospatial infrastructure for the North. The proposed international conference on basic geospatial information, which is a important component of northern development, would be hosted by Canada in 2007 and would be held over three days in one of the three Canadian territories. Scientists from interested circumpolar countries would be invited to report on their northern development expertise, activities and techniques and discuss mapping activities and techniques in support of northern development in their respective country and seek commitment around a common precision geospatial infrastructure that would allow for better sharing of information among countries. This Geomatics for the North Conference would constitute a great opportunity for Canada to share its knowledge with other countries and to learn and benefit from the experience of other countries. It would provide an excellent opportunity for Canada to showcase its latest expertise and tools for northern development, and enable Canada to learn what are some of the best practices and tools from other countries and discuss their application to a Canadian setting. With this conference, NRCan will show that the North and its development is of key importance and that by organizing the conference in one of our territorial capital will give visibility to our North. This conference will also provide a window to our industry involved in developping technologies to better map northern regions. This could bring to them contracts in other northern regions. The territorial government would be directly involved in the organisation of the conference. This involvement is of key importance to ensure transfer of expertise. It would also be useful to build in northern communities’ acknowledgement that geospatial information is of key importance to the North’s development.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This conference will put an emphasis on the North as being a global environment needing a global geospatial infrastructure to support its development. Basic geospatial information from the eight circumpolar countries has to be better integrated if it is to better serve the North in general. The main goal of this conference will be to build a link to ensure the legacy of one integrated dataset for the circumpolar North. The Geomatics for the North Conference will address five IPY themes in providing essential information on: -the current status of basic geospatial information in all circumpolar countries; -the status of historical mapping data in all circumpolar countries; -unmapped northern landmass and a plan to ensure consistent coverage for all countries involved; -basic geospatial information as a baseline to monitor changes. Changes are happening fast and their impact in the North is critical. Precise, up to date and integrated basic information is required to overlay other thematic data, which are also critical, to better monitor changes; and, -how to provide communities with a good geospatial infrastructure.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The proposed conference will serve as a circumpolar forum for geomatics scientists. Leading scientists will be invited from all eight circumpolar countries to serve as members on the program committee and to participate at the conference.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
No field activities

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The conference will be held in Iqaluit, Whitehorse or Yellowknife, where all required facilities are available. Coordination of this event would be provided by Natural Resources Canada, providing two persons to ensure logistics. Support from territorial government and circumpolar countries would be expected toward costs related to the attendance and for ancillary conference equipment.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
National agency
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

To secure logistics, we have to start as soon as possible to organize the event. This kind of event has to be prepared two years in advance. The cost of the Conference and of its organization will be covered by contributions from Natural Resources Canada, territorial government(s), and participants to the Conference.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Not yet. We are waiting support from ESS before looking for endorsement.

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?
Yes

This circumpolar conference is a new proposal. Initial support will be provided by Natural Resources Canada.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The organizing committee of the conference would include: - two FTEs from Natural Resources Canada, to provide secretariat functions; - one scientific representative of each circumpolar countries participating to the conference (up to eight), to develop the scientific program and activities of interest to all; and, - representatives of the territorial governments and other stakeholders. Once the location of the conference will be known, direct participation from the host territorial government and other important northern groups will be sought to cover all logistical and other local organisation aspects of the conference.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Outcomes of this conference are to facilitate northern development and, thus, communication of key outcomes will be made to the research community and to decision-makers for more effective and integrated northern development. Education and outreach activities will be a key element of the conference. We will target local communities and, in a follow-up to the conference, northern circumpolar communities at large.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Information on the upcoming conference will be made available on a dedicated web site that NRCan will support. Following the conference, proceedings will be made available on the web site and on CD.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Funding will be sought for 2 FTEs and an initial estimated $ 40K (CAD) for organizing the conference. It is expected that Natural Resources Canada will provide some funding and human resources to the project. Conference fees will cover logistics costs such as rooms and special events during the conference. Participants will have to secure their own funds for travel costs.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Such an activity would provide a fabulous opportunity to learn from projects and processes involving northern mapping. The topic is timely and will provide a forum for multi-stakeholders (governments, industry, academia, and northerners). Direct economic benefits will be significant for the hosting territory and local community.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Project manager Paul Jolicoeur
Natural Resources Canada
2144 King Street west,
Sherbrooke, Quebec
J1J 2E8
Canada

Tel: 819-564-5600 ext:287
Mobile: no
Fax: 819-564-5698
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation