The Federal Geospatial Platform
CEOS WGISS
September 2015
Brian McLeod, CCMEO
1
Context:
The Importance of Geospatial Data…
“Data is Canada’s new natural
resource”…
Treasury Board Minister, Tony Clement,
July 2012
Canada
 Estimated contribution of $20.7B to GDP annually
 Open geospatial data has stimulated $600M in productivity
improvements
Around The World
 England & Wales: Estimated £320M impact to public service
delivery in 2008-09
 New Zealand: $1.2B (NZ) increase in productivity in 2008
 Australia: Estimated impact between $6.43B to 12.6B (AUS) in
2006-07
 Global Geo Services estimated to be larger than video game
industry
 GEO Key to unlocking resource potential in the oceans and on the
land…
“…countries with the best data will win…” Kevin Lynch
2
…and ensuring the government’s
geospatial data is managed
effectively is essential
to decision-making, innovation, and
productivity
Context:
Geospatial Data: A widely used national resource…
Numerous challenges in using this asset however:
Examples of Geospatial Data Use.
 Sharing, and integration of cross-disciplinary “trusted”
data across the federal family and with partners is limited
– technology, standards, licensing barriers
 Lack of coordination in acquiring acquisition and use of
geospatial information, services, technology, and
expertise by departments and agencies have not been
well coordinated (e.g., Wildfires mapping)
 No existing inventory of federal geospatial data assets,
and no way to identify data gaps and needs at the
enterprise level
 GEO evolves very quickly, within a tight fiscal context,
aging infrastructure and public service demographic –
innovation and efficiency is required
 We are better at sharing among provinces and territories
than we are within the department.
…to support national objectives & citizen well-being
3
Context:
About the Federal Geospatial Platform Initiative…
A three-year Government of Canada (GC) Initiative taking
place between 2014 and 2017 that:



Supports horizontal efforts to advance economic growth,
social cohesion, well-being, and environmental
management
Will fundamentally change the way the GC shares, uses,
and manages geospatial assets to better support the
delivery of programs and services
Facilitates a coordinated approach to geospatial thereby
reducing duplication of efforts in acquisition and
management of geospatial data, tools, and services
 Focus on getting the right data right

Involves 21 GC departments and agencies of the Federal
Committee on Geomatics and Earth Observations (also
known as the FCGEO)
4
Vision:
Geo-enabling the Federal
Government
The vision means:
 Leveraging the power of location and
geography within workflows and business
processes
 Sharing the best technology and data to
produce applications and services which
support decision-making
 Allowing non-technical users to discover,
access and use geospatial information to
produce their own maps
 Making the most relevant and current triple
“A” geospatial information available to our
leaders, analysts, and scientists to support
decision-making
 Open geospatial information, services and
applications are presented to the public
coherently
Strong Whole-of-Government Governance…
 Federal Committee on Geomatics and Earth
Observations (FCGEO) championing the FGP
(with members from 21 federal departments)
FGP Executive Sponsor: DM
 Strong departmental
participation in
governance structure
FCGEO
FGP Management Board
 Decision-making based
on clear accountabilities
and responsibilities, and
departmental input
(FCGEO & Dept's - ADMs/DGs)
FGP Client Board of Directors
(from FCGEO & Dept's - Directors)
 True enterprise approach;
recognized in 2013 by Clerk
of Privy Council and DMs of
Board of Renewal
FGP Core Project Team
(Director & Manager from Dept's)
Statistics:
- Over 100 consultation meetings with multiple
stakeholders
- Key Senior Managers (ADMs – DMs) briefed:
- FCGEO, MPMO, Brd of Mgmt Renewal, SSC, ESDC
- Federal CIO Community was briefed
- Quarterly meetings with FCGEO ADMs
- Interdepartmental engagement meetings
Working Groups,
Subcommittees
Data Integration; Client Services;
Data Management; Policy &
Standards
5
(from FCGEO & Dept's Resources)
5
Context:
The FGP in a nutshell…
 Best possible pathway for GC
Spatial Analytics
 Use of common suite of GCwide tools

Example of the FGP in Action: Responsible Resource Development
The FGP will support the Government of Canada’s outcome area of Strong
Economic Growth – National to local perspectives
Online Decision Support Tools
Users can search, discover, access,
and visualize data to support
informed decision-making
Outcomes
 Has a comprehensive collection
of “Triple-A Data”
 Accurate, Authoritative, and
Accessible geospatial data that can
be viewed, used, and shared
 Shared governance and
management
Trusted data, visualized together for
faster and more accurate decisionmaking
Map layers
based on data
from several
departments

streamlined review
process

strengthened
environmental
protection

enhanced
consultations with
Aboriginal peoples

stronger economy –
job creation
 Sharing of geospatial assets and
capabilities, through operational
standards and policies
 Client centric design
FGP: Data Repository, Catalogue, Web Services
Policies & Standards
6
Interoperability
Authoritativeness
Annex: FGP geospatial data by theme…
7
Next Steps
October 2015


Release 1 - Initial functionalities – repository, catalogue, and viewer
Training begins for departments on integrating their geospatial data within the FGP
January – March 2016

Future Year 2 releases: new features and functionalities added to FGP - repository, catalogue, viewer,
collaborative mapping environment, internal/external web presence
−
Make regular improvements to enhance overall usability and user experience
Ongoing

Undertake sustained engagements and outreach with stakeholders to:
−
−
−
Onboard new partners to assist with implementing the FGP (e.g., CBSA, ESDC, NavCan, PWGSC)
Solicit new data opportunities for inclusion in the FGP
Showcase the power of the FGP to the senior management and policy communities
8
Questions?
General Inquiries:
nrcan.fgp-pgf.rncan@canada.ca
9
Contact Information
 Judith Bossé, Assistant Deputy Minister, Earth Sciences Sector
Co-chair, FCGEO and FGP Management Board
judith.bossé@canada.ca
 Prashant Shukle, Director General, Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth
Observation
Co-Chair, FCGEO Shadow Committee
prashant.shukle@canada.ca 613-759-1196
 David Harper, Director of the Federal Geospatial Platform Initiative
david.harper@canada.ca 613-694-2542
 General Inquiries: nrcan.fgp-pgf.rncan@canada.ca
10