The Media Room

2011/46 (a)

Backgrounder

Renewal of GeoConnections (2010–2015)

Initiated in 1999 and housed at Natural Resources Canada, GeoConnections leads the development of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI), an online resource that enables disparate geospatial databases to be connected and used as one.

Geomatics is one of today’s fastest growing information technology sectors, helping Canadians deal with a variety of important challenges, including:

  • emergency preparedness, by making sure that police, fire departments, local 911 authorities and other critical care first-responders are able to respond more quickly by using accurate, up-to-date and standardized location data;
  • public safety, by enabling local health authorities and hospitals to track and project pandemics, such as H1N1;
  • more efficient oil, gas and mineral exploration, by integrating modern mapping data with geological information; and
  • agricultural production, through better crop management based on a better understanding of geography, hydrology and geology and their integration with a knowledge of soils, rainfall patterns and sunshine.

The first two phases of GeoConnections (1999–2010) helped build a foundation for a geospatial data infrastructure. The CGDI is an online resource that improves the sharing, access and use of Canadian geospatial information — information tied to geographic locations in Canada. It helps decision makers from all levels of government, the private sector, non-government organizations and academia make better decisions on social, economic and environmental priorities.

Today, with dramatic changes in technologies, investments in the CGDI are yielding results as users of this data are able combine data from diverse sources to enable better decision making, while enabling the creation of powerful new tools and products within the private sector. The role played by NRCan to ensure that these tools, technologies and data are all interoperable also ensures the reduction of duplication of cost and effort, resulting in a more effective and efficient geomatics sector.

With renewed funding to 2015, GeoConnections III will ensure a federal leadership role in the long-term sustainability of the CGDI. It will also ensure that Canadians will benefit from policies that prevent barriers to rapid growth in the geomatics sector; spur the creation of high value-added jobs in the digital economy; help develop better emergency management and public safety; and lead to stronger returns on investment in a range of industrial sectors, and continued technological innovation.

Media may contact:

Richard Walker

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister

Natural Resources Canada

Ottawa

613-996-2007

or

Media Relations

Natural Resources Canada

Ottawa

613-992-4447

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media/index-eng.php.