SDI Snapshot - May 2018
Do you know about the new data released for the Canadian Arctic in High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM)? Check out what’s happening in Canada and globally in the world of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). This post contains a collection of the latest and most significant SDI news, data, products, and resources.
SDI News
High-Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) in the Canadian Arctic – new data available!
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has announced a new release of the High Resolution Digital Elevation Model (HRDEM) product for the Canadian Arctic! This new data covers nearly 3 million km² north of the 60th parallel. The data comes from the ArcticDEM project which aims to provide high-resolution digital surface models for all the Arctic regions of the planet.
New interactive tool visualizes importance of NAFTA for U.S. States
The US National Association of Manufacturers recently announced a new NAFTA-focused web application. The tool allows users to view historical trade flows of manufactured goods across Canada, US and Mexico, including data categorized by individual state, groups of states, year of imports and exports, and compared to global trade flows. The tool is intended to help underscore the importance of extensive NAFTA relationships for manufacturers of all sizes and sectors, across the United States.
Big data helps keep the lights on in Canada
The North American Electrical Grid is an interconnected network that generates and distributes electricity throughout the continental United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. The grid consists of a complex network of power plants and transformers that are connected by miles of high-voltage transmission lines. Monitoring and maintaining the electrical output of the different parts of the grid must work synergistically to keep all the lights on. Peak Reliability is beginning to depend heavily on the ArcGIS platform to monitor their portion of the grid.
Geomatics Association of Nova Scotia (GANS) Geographic Education Poster series
The GANS Geographic Education Poster series has been launched to help young people identify some of the endless possibilities that learning geography provides, by highlighting the various different geography-related post-secondary education programs and geospatial-related career opportunities available.
Why India needs a geospatial strategy?
Even though the heavy infrastructure push from the government has opened up great opportunities for the geospatial industry in India, the country can’t optimally leverage the benefits of this cutting-edge technology unless there is a studied, concentrated effort to collaborate — and not compete — open up data and stop obsessing about policies.
SDI Data
DataBC provides Web Map Services
DataBC offers publicly available Web Map Services (WMS) that allow users to view and query thousands of data layers from the British Columbia Geographic Warehouse (BCGW). These web services provide current data directly from the BCGW allowing users to work with the latest authoritative data.
Forest Inventory Zone data for BC now available as open data
The Forest Inventory Zone(s) (FIZ) was developed to provide a broad-based ecological classification of the forest land in British Columbia. The province is split into 12 FIZ zones with FIZ boundaries closely following the early Biogeoclimatic Zones developed by Dr. Krajina.
Free satellite imagery data sources for Canada and the world
A listing of earth observation data sources available to the public at no cost from space agencies around the world is available from GISGeography. If you want free satellite data of different areas around the world, including Canada, the guide provided on the site can be helpful.
Proposal for a revised European Public-Sector Information (PSI) Directive
The European Commission recently adopted a proposal for a revised PSI (open data) Directive with the aim to overcome the barriers preventing the full re-use of public sector information. The revisions include reducing market entry barriers, increasing the availability of data and business opportunities.
SDI Products
Vector-based information with Canada-wide coverage
Ecopia, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company that specializes in extracting insight from geospatial big data is offering off-the-shelf Building Footprints for Canadian cities. With the help of artificial intelligence tools and machine learning algorithms, imagery and data can yield critical insights about land use, vegetation, built environment and more.
Get acquainted with new user-focused features in ArcGIS Online
Esri continually updates ArcGIS Online to make it simpler and more impactful for users. With so many releases coming out in a given year, though, it can be difficult to keep up with all the improvements. To help users gain more familiarity with some of the recent updates to ArcGIS Online, here is an in-depth look at a few new features that help users’ content shine, make working in 3D faster, provide quick access to apps, and expand the ways in which files can be added.
SDI Resources
Esri's Open Vision video now available on YouTube
This updated OpenVision conversation between Esri president Jack Dangermond and Satish Sankaran, product manager in charge of Esri's open platform strategy, details Esri's multifaceted approach to open. Discussion topics include open standards, interoperability, open specifications, open-source software, open data and open innovation.