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Users embrace single source for real property data
Attracted by the fact that they can get the information they require more quickly and less expensively, federal departments and agencies are embracing the Geomatics Community of Practice for Real Property.
“The Geomatics CoP for RP, as it’s known, had its first meeting in December 2003,” says Julie Leese, Director of Geomatics at Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), one of the federal departments spearheading the initiative. “It was clear at that meeting that federal departments would prefer to see a single authority responsible for geospatial information related to real property.” The Department of National Defence (DND), represented by Steve Hamilton, co-chairs this committee with PWGSC. As the two federal departments responsible for a significant component of the federal government’s buildings and properties, Julie adds, it made sense that PWGSC and DND take on a leadership role in any such initiative.
“Right now, the federal departments that manage and maintain real property (e.g. government-owned land, land holdings, bridges, docks and dams) work independently when acquiring the geospatial data they require,” says Kelly Dean, who maintains the secretariat role for this committee. “For example, different federal departments often approach the provinces, or private companies, to acquire data about real property. However, these Federal agencies often require the same data sets and it makes more sense for us to buy them once and redistribute from a single body like the Geomatics CoP for RP. It saves time and money for everyone concerned.”
Certainly, departmental representatives at the December meeting saw the advantages of such an approach. “We’re still less than a year old,” Kelly explains, “so we presented only a high-level overview of our plans at the December meeting. We stuck to explaining how we saw the relationship working and how we were all likely to benefit.”
Lively and informative introductory session
However, in what Steve Hamilton describes as a “lively and informative roundtable session” following the presentation, representatives from departments and agencies such as Natural Resources Canada (represented by Mike O’Sullivan, Surveyor General of Canada), the National Capital Commission, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Treasury Board and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation expressed their views – and their excitement – at the prospect of the Geomatics Community of Practice for Real Property. Other departments unable to attend the meeting, like Infrastructure Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, have since expressed an interest in being part of the initiative.
The Geomatics CoP for RP is part of a much larger undertaking in which GeoConnections, through the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) and its network of data, service and technology suppliers, is offering communities of practice the tools and resources they need to become more effective and efficient. Communities of practice are groups whose members share an interest in a particular topic or issue, who interact on an ongoing basis, and who accumulate and disseminate knowledge. Specifically, says Joanne Frappier, head of Policy and Partnerships Development at GeoConnections, the goal is to “assist communities of practice whose common concerns or problems can be addressed and supported through the CGDI.”
Establishing committee next step
For the Geomatics CoP for RP, the next step is to implement an inter-jurisdictional committee. It will provide a forum to discuss initiatives involving real property, act as a primary point of contact for any information concerning real property geospatial data for the CGDI, develop a communications network, gather real property user community requirements, and identify linkages and opportunities for collaborative strategic and technical requirements.
“Obviously, we’re here to do more than just provide information,” Julie Leese explains. “We want to become a single and influential voice with respect to real property geomatics.” And soon, she adds, the Geomatics CoP for RP believes that voice will reach provincial and territorial levels of government. After that, municipal governments will be encouraged to participate.
“We’re just getting started,” says Julie, “but it’s safe to say the future for the Geomatics CoP for RP – like other communities of practice – is bright.”