Open Data Workshop - Okotoks - Nov 24

MISA Prairies is hosting a FREE Open Data workshop on November 24, in Okotoks, Alberta.

The purpose of the day- long event is to provide participants with the tools they need to understand and implement open data for their organizations. Workshop sessions will be very flexible with the first 10-15 minutes of each session spent on sharing specific municipal experiences on a topic, and then opening up the floor to questions and further discussion. Each session will be facilitated by municipalities that have already embarked on their open data journey, to enable others to learn from their experiences and then ask questions specific to their organization. The morning sessions will focus on creating the business case for open data, with a high level overview on steps to implement. The afternoon will focus on the process of creating open data, and ensure issues around security, legalities and risk are identified and discussed as well. Time will also be included during the day for people to connect with one another and create contacts with whom they can work with in the future. The organizing committee has had really strong support from our Prairies community for this event. We are excited about bringing people together to assist them on their journey towards open data, and in usual MISA Prairies style, it will be a lot of fun too

http://opendataprairies.blogspot.com/p/misa-prairies-open-data-workshop.html

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The National Information Exchange Model: An XML-based Framework for Data Sharing

Hello Everyone,

This initiative is worth watching, as it may prove helpful for the CRP in refining our data sharing framework over time:

http://blog.safe.com/2011/10/the-national-information-exchange-model-an-xml-based-framework-for-data-sharing/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ItsAllAboutData+%28It%27s+All+About+Data%29

Rural Residential Expansion Research

Hi everyone;

At our last Staff Committee meeting, I mentioned that we are updating the data set and revisiting our analysis of rural residential (exurban) expansion in southwestern Alberta. There was some expression of interest among the group so I thought I would provide a little more information.

In the first iteration (2002), we assembled a dataset (which you can download here) that enumerates the number of residential structures per quarter section, by decade, for six MD's in southwestern Alberta (Rockyview, Foothills, Ranchland, Willow Creek, Pincher Creek, and Cardston). We also published a report describing the process of compiling and harmonizing the data from tax assessment rolls, mapping the distribution of exurban development, and describing a first crack at modeling this development against landscape metrics - You can download the report here, or just the maps here.

Then in 2005, we revisited the spatial analysis of rural residential expansion. The previous model created a probability surface; the second time around, we attempted to predict the magnitude of expected development based on landscape and amenity-based variables. We found that exurban development is likely to be more extensive in areas that are close to the city of Calgary or to golf courses, and in areas with scenic mountain vistas. A summary of this research is downloadable here.

We are in the process of updating this data set to cover the last decade, and expanding it to include six new MD's (Crowsnest Pass, Bighorn, Mountain View, Red Deer, Ponoka, and Lacombe). One of the challenges (and biggest expenses) is in harmonizing data across municipalities - there is no standard for the creation and maintenance of assessment rolls across MD's, and some important fields for our work (like the one that contains legal land description information) are incomplete. Perhaps the CRP could consider development of regional guidelines for the collection of this data, like ongoing efforts regarding as-builts, metadata, land use zoning, etc.

One last note: Tuesday's meeting was my last, and marked the end of Miistakis' direct involvement in the CRP RGIS initiative. It has been a great pleasure to meet you all, to share your knowledge and enthusiasm, and to contribute to your success. I wish you all the best of luck as RGIS moves on to the next level, and hope you'll keep us in the loop.

Thanks,
greg

Sharing cadastral and utility geospatial data in British Columbia

A great example of data sharing in BC. Be sure to check out the data sharing agreement link listed at the bottom of the page:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/typepad/zeissg/geospatial