Canadian Earth Observation Network (CEONet) 
T. Fisher, N. Denyer 
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Canada 
P. Price 
Canadian Space Agency, Industry Canada 
H. Edel 
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada 
L. Stirling 
Atmospheric Environment Service, Environment Canada 
Abstract 
Earth observation applications have reached a level of sophistication where data are 
required from many national and international databases. A particular application may 
require simultaneous access to land use, climate and atmospheric data. These data could 
come from widely distributed holdings. Furthermore, other types of geophysical 
information could be needed to complement the application. The data sources are often 
domestic, but increasingly they include foreign data banks as well. 
While Canada has extensive national and regional data holdings, many user studies have 
pointed out serious weaknesses in the data management infrastructure which hamper or 
preclude access to data. When data can be acquired, integration of the data is a major and 
costly task. To address these shortcomings in the Canadian earth observation data 
services, the CEONet program is being developed collaboratively by science based 
departments with major data holdings. The proposed CEONet program would improve 
access to data by providing an interoperable earth observation catalogue system for 
Canada, and by providing sample datasets and tools that will simplify catalogue access and 
visualization. It will also promote standards that will facilitate data integration. 
Keywords: Data Management, catalogues, earth observation 
these data bases has value as a 
Background separate entity, their value, if combined 
and linked to multidisciplinary users, 
Canada is rich in national databases of would be greatly enhanced. 
interest to both domestic and 
international users (Noetix and Roger Several independent user studies have 
Buxton Associates, 1993). The identified serious weaknesses in the 
Canadian archive of remotely-sensed Canadian earth observation data 
imagery contains more than 1.2 million management infrastructure that hamper 
images covering the Canadian landmass or preclude access to the data (Noetix, 
and territorial waters many times since 1993). When the data can be acquired, 
1972. Canada is also the custodian integration of the data is a major and 
for several international databases such costly task. Further, these studies have 
as the World Data Center for Drifting identified a common set of 
Ocean Buoy Data. Although each of requirements: users need to find out 
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