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Doktor der
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VISUALIZATION OF GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT DECISION MAKING
Siekierska E., A. Muller, K. Francis, P. Williams, S. Westley
Mapping Services Branch, Natural Resources Canada,
615 Booth Street, Ottawa, Canada, K1A OE9
(Eva.Siekierska@nrcan.gc.ca)
Commission IV, WG IV/6
KEY WORDS: Visualization, Decision Support, Sustainable Development, Natural Resources, Internet/Web, Animation,
Multimedia Representation
ABSTRACT:
Visualization refers to various types of graphic representation of geospatial information ranging from static to dynamic
presentation (cartographic visualization), to exploratory data analysis (scientific visualization). Visualization projects
carried out by Natural Resources Canada focus primarily on the former: web-based, interactive, dynamic representation
of information, suitable for effective communication of geospatial concepts in support of decision making. The general
objective of the visualization projects is to explore, develop and implement visualization techniques capable of
translating complex scientific information into a form that readily communicates sustainable development forecast
scenarios to various user groups, in particular to policy decision makers in the federal government of Canada.
Currently, a visualization project is being carried out within the Sustainable Development through Knowledge
Integration Program of the Earth Sciences Sector of Natural Resources Canada. Previously, various visualization tools
were developed to support knowledge communication about Canada's recently created northern territory, Nunavut.
Several web-based visualization techniques were developed for effective communication of geospatial information.
These include: integration of heterogeneous data, such as raster and vector geospatial data and textual social
development information, dynamic representation of 2D and 3D data, intuitive interfaces, and others. This paper
discusses the challenges involved in the promotion and use of geospatial data for sustainable development by decision
makers.
1. INTRODUCTION Making, are discussed and preliminary results in creating
alternative user interfaces for the Georgia Basin Digital Library
Canada’s natural resources are important economic, (GBDL) are presented. The new interfaces will facilitate the
environmental and social assets. To preserve these assets for application of the GBDL for sustainable development decision
future generations, the Government of Canada has adopted a making.
Strategy of sustainable development. The strategy involves all
Sectors of society, as the information needed for decision
making is both vast and varied. Integrating data, information
and knowledge from various regions of the country is essential.
2. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT NATURAL
RESOURCES CANADA
Natural Resources Canada is responsible for federal resource
Effective cartographic representation and advanced policies, and science and technology that support the
visualization techniques facilitate comprehension of large and sustainable development of energy, forest, minerals and metals
complex volumes of geospatial data. Several visualization sectors. The Department uses the United Nations Brundtland
techniques capable of integration and interactive use of Commission definition of sustainable development. For the
geospatial information within the Internet environment have natural resources sector, sustainable development requires that
been recently developed by the Natural Resources Canada. The social, environmental and economic considerations be
ability of these techniques to effectively communicate integrated into resource development decisions.
geospatial information to decision makers has been tested in the
new northern territory of Canada, Nunavut. These techniques 2.1 Sustainable Development Strategy
will be described in this paper and issues related to the web-
based implementation will be discussed. Further, the goals and
assumptions behind initiation of a new project, Visualization of
Integrated Knowledge for Sustainable Development Decision
Natural Resources Canada was one of the first departments
within the Government of Canada to adopt a Sustainable
Development Strategy (Natural Resources Canada, 1998). The
second Natural Resources sustainable development strategy:
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