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Earth Observation essential for geohazard mitigation
More than 250 scientists from around the world gathered for a five-day workshop at ESA's Earth Observation Centre in Frascati.
Resources & Tools
Clients exploring new Canadian Geoscience Knowledge Network
With the advent of the Canadian Geoscience Knowledge Network (CGKN), geoscientists now have an Internet portal to Canadian geoscience information. Whether they’re working in the petroleum and mining industries or dealing with environmental issues such as waste management, water conservation or natural-hazard prediction, geoscientists can now conveniently access geoscience data, maps and publications from a single on-line source.
An initiative of the National Geological Surveys Committee, CGKN is a comprehensive national geoscience network founded upon partnerships with the federal, provincial and territorial governments. One of the partners—GeoConnections—is responsible for the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI), and CGKN is the geoscience node of that larger national Infrastructure.
Broadening geoscience data access
GeoConnections has helped CGKN develop services and standards that will benefit geoscientists and other geoscience information users across the country. By establishing national standards for geospatial delivery on the Internet, GeoConnections enables CGKN to offer geoscience data in a common format using common protocols. This achievement equips a broad and diverse audience to take advantage of CGKN services and standards, some of which include the following:
- a single Internet portal that links clients with government geoscience data providers;
- on-line services that allow users to discover and evaluate government geoscience data; and
- tools and standards that will allow agencies and organizations to integrate, exchange and use consistent, standardized geoscience information.
GeoConnections has assisted CGKN in other ways as well. By integrating CGKN with its Internet Discovery Portal, GeoConnections offers users a convenient way to search for geoscience data. In addition, GeoConnections has helped CGKN to adopt best-practices for its development program.
Developing sustainable resources and managing our environment
CGKN links all of Canada’s provincial, territorial and federal geological surveys, allowing members to efficiently share their knowledge assets. By sharing information, geoscientists are better able to gain new insight into such issues as developing sustainable resources and managing the environment.
CGKN offers a number of tools and services to help achieve these goals. The CGKN On-line Data Catalogue enables users to discover geoscience data, maps and publications from federal, provincial and territorial geoscience agencies. And a geochemistry database allows users to access geochemical survey information using an interactive display.
Keeping Canada at the forefront of worldwide geoscience research
Whether they're analyzing the movement of continents, locating non-renewable energy resources, recording changes in the diversity of life, measuring sea-level fluctuations, or tackling any one of hundreds of other geoscience-related projects, Canada's geoscientists now have a new on-line ally. The benefits offered by CGKN will help ensure that Canada remains at the forefront of global geoscience research.