by George Kouroupis
Cloud mapping
brings government
services down to earth
Nova Scotia improves health services delivery and engages
citizens in conservation efforts through web maps
technology
"Cloud computing" has been one of the
hottest tech buzz words since early 2000.
It refers to hosted services delivered over
the internet. Many services are now avail-
able in the cloud: you can send email, store
data, collaborate with groups on the same
document, or augment your physical serv-
ers with additional processing power from
cloud computing services. Web mapping
technology has similarly evolved. From
paper maps to digital maps on desktops
and servers, maps have moved to the cloud
– making it easier to create intelligent web
maps, analyze and share information with
more users, and increase collaboration.
Nova Scotia, the most populous
province in Atlantic Canada with nearly
one million residents, has adopted cloud
mapping with remarkable results. They
incorporated a cloud mapping application
with their collaboration software to create a
secure portal that consolidates information
from provincial health organizations. This
allows them to view and share this data
through an intelligent web map, enabling
them to effectively coordinate health ser-
vices across the province. As well, they've
increased citizen engagement in conserva-
tion efforts by communicating information
via a public, interactive online map.
Mapping the Way to a
Healthier Province
Nova Scotia boasts of an exemplary
healthcare system focused on innova-
tion and sustainability. Their emergency
health services system is internationally
GEORGE KOUROUPIS is the
Technology and Solutions Di-
rector for Esri Canada, which
provides enterprise geographic
information system (GIS) solu-
tions. He has over 30 years of ex-
perience in GIS, software devel-
opment, and consulting. He can
be reached at .
recognized as a leader in the provision of
pre-hospital care. The province's use of
collaborative emergency centres to provide
round-the-clock emergency care in rural ar-
eas is also gaining wide-ranging attention.
The Department of Health and Well-
ness coordinates health services across the
province. Using a cloud-based mapping
service, they mapped all healthcare facili-
ties across the province; everything from
hospitals to nursing homes and paramedic
bases, which are all represented as points
on the map. The points are not just simple
pins, but intelligent features that contain
attributes stored in the cloud, which can be
analyzed using geo-analytics. This enables
the department to pan and zoom around
the map and easily identify gaps in services
and programs, both across the entire prov-
ince or within specific areas.
"The mapping function included with
this tool allows us to visualize coverage
and get regular, province-wide status up-
dates," said Oleg Mikaelov, Senior Project
Manager, EHealth Solutions, Nova Scotia
Department of Health and Wellness.
All groups that offer services included
on the map have access to the portal and
can update their information when it
changes. This includes the IWK, a regional
maternity and children's hospital, along
with nine district health authorities, 811
telehealth, and the emergency paramedic
service.
"It allows us to not only share data eas-
ily, but also, understand patterns and rela-
tionships that are difficult to detect in charts
and spreadsheets," said Mikaelov. "Maps
make it possible to communicate simple
or complex concepts based on a common
operating view."
Preparing for the Unexpected
In August 2013, a natural gas line rup-
ture prompted an evacuation in downtown
Halifax, and mapping technology was
leveraged to coordinate response. "The
mapping database allowed us to assess the
evacuation zone for impacted health facili-
ties early on," said Andy Boutilier, Man-
ager of Operational Readiness, Department
of Health and Wellness.
The department can also use the inte-
grated software to shift services between
facilities when needed. For example, the
Nova Scotia Hospital in Dartmouth pro-
vides a laundry service for other facilities
in the province. If it were to lose power,
planners could use a map view to identify
the facilities that may be impacted. When
a service is cancelled or reduced, this
information can be updated quickly and
reflected on the map. All users, including
emergency planners, can subscribe to alerts
January 2014 Municipal World 43