GeoForum 2007

1. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG GeoSpatial Working Group

2. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG GWG Role To advise the JISC Collections Team and JISC Committees on policy and acquisitions to • Secure and promote access to a critical mass of high quality geospatial content including sufficient discovery tools • Provide the UK educational community with seamless access to geospatial resources through encouraging the use of international standards to promote interoperability • Continue to invest in the creation of tools to make these technically challenging resources more easily accessible

3. GWG Membership William Kilbride (Chair) City of Glasgow Bob Abrahart (Member) University of Nottingham Stuart Dunn (Member) AheSSC Vince Gaffney (Member) University of Birmingham Peter Halls (Member) University of York Kimberly Kowal (Member) British Library Peter Muller (vice-Chair) University College London Matt Pritchard (Member) CLRC Chris Rusbridge (Member) Digital Curation Centre David Medyckyi-Scott (Co-opted Member) EDINA Keith Cole (Co-opted Member) MIMAS GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG

4. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG GWG Vision • Preface: Space and time are fundamental to the human experience. Geospatial data are inherently fascinating, and are fundamental to research, learning and teaching. Space and place are also powerful metaphors for thinking about information. They provide intellectually coherent ways of reconciling diverse content, and they provide readily understood entry points for retrieving it. Geospatial data and the technologies which support them are of universal relevance. They are capable of transforming how we store, discover and analyse many different types of data. They are not arcane specialisms to be reserved for the privileged few or the disciplinary elite.

5. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG GWG is a component of JISC • GWG does not operate in isolation, but in collaboration with the full range of JISC services and functions. • The development of the spatial infrastructure must continue to be an integral component of the JISC E-framework, promoting interoperability through common and appropriate standards.

6. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Thus the GWG Vision encompasses • Spatial data provision • Data Standards • Intellectual Property Rights • Support for Research • Support in Teaching and Learning • Training and Information • Tools • Critical Relationships • Digital Preservation and Curation • Futures

7. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Spatial data provision • The goal is a spatial data infrastructure that • Interoperates with the other JISC / Academic services • Provides the common reference spatial data required to support spatially enabled research and learning that are • Offered in standard format(s) ready for incorporation with whatever software the user requires • Of reliable and documented content and quality • Accessible and available for the end user's purposes

8. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Data Standards • Standards are intended to provide an assured way of maintaining, transferring and incorporating data from any source to the required destination. • Much of the Geospatial standards work is vested in the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) • There are also relevant ISO, national and industry standards • The inherent complexity of spatial information makes adherence to standards a necessity rather than an option.

9. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Intellectual Property Rights • We are both users and creators of information • We depend upon others observing our rights in the material we have created • Others depend upon us to observe their rights • IPR is both a blessing and a curse • It is an area of legal complexity • Part of the JISC funded GRADE project concerns IPR • It is essential to enable the sharing and reuse of expensively collected information

10. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Support for Research • One primary reason for JISC's involvement • Important to recognise that this primarily concerns those employing spatial information and methodologies • Those researching spatial information or methodologies are primarily supported by their research councils / funders • Hitherto has focused on the British Isles • Research generates information and methodologies ...

11. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Support in Teaching and Learning • Another primary reason for JISC to be involved • Focuses on T&L in disciplines applying spatial methodologies • Across the range of Arts & Humanities, Social, Medical and Natural Sciences • Requires data and methodologies appropriate to their specific needs • Even teaching GB requires context!

12. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Training and Information • How do end users find out what is available from central sources? • How do end users find out how best to exploit that which is available from central sources? • Primarily through resources local to their institution • How do new users come on board, where their institution has hitherto had little or no activity in the spatial arena?

13. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Tools • Spatial data, because of its inherent complexity requires specialist tools for its storage, manipulation, analysis and display. • Primarily this provision must be a user / institution responsibility • GWG, the HEA and CETLs have a role in providing access to advice concerning appropriate tools • Eduserv CHEST is responsible for central software purchasing • There may be a role in facilitating the development of essential tools not otherwise available • GWG and the CETLs may have a role in assisting users / institutions to share sources of advice

14. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Critical Relationships and the GI Industry • GWG sits between the Academic Community and a number of key suppliers and actors in the GI industry • In particular, the Association for Geographic Information (AGI), the British Library and Ordnance Survey • Through Edina projects, we are linked to the Digital National Framework (DNF) • Eg geoXwalk

15. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Digital Preservation and Curation • JISC has led the world in this area • Especially in the development of resource discovery standards and methodologies • It is, however, an aspect of research that appears to get a low priority from those generating the information • Saving the data should be as important as writing the papers ...

16. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Futures • Where next? • Enhanced data resources? • E-spatial services?

17. GeoForum 2007 JISC GWG Finally ... • Over to you ... • To contact us ... • GWG web page http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/workinggroups/geospatial.aspx Or me ... P.Halls@york.ac.uk