Canadian Open Data and Free Geospatial Data
Over the past few years CanadianGIS.com has been highlighting and promoting various cities and provinces in Canada that have done a great job providing data and applications to the public.
We created this page a few years ago to collaborate links of all the open geospatial data info (sites that offer data downloads at no cost and without restrictions), fee based geospatial data, online web mapping applications and other great sources of geospatial information (including National, Provincial and Regional levels).
This comprehensive list of open geospatial data, fee based geospatial data, web mapping applications and cartographic products is a valuable asset to many people (… we get hundreds of emails and requests regarding “Where can I find data for …?”) so we continue to update it with new information and sources of Canadian data sets.
Bottom line: There are too many associations and this leaves networking, professional development and working with others more limited and more expensive than it should be. The financial difficulties in the recent past in the CIG, GIAC and likely others tells us that the existing model doesn’t work. It used to be that the rest of the world followed Canada. Perhaps we should today look at other models used elsewhere. One idea I would support is to have an umbrella group that would bring them all together. Another benefit is that we would be in a position to keep the money from conferences in Canada – not go to the USA as some seem to do.
Hello,
I think you should definitely consider adding the North American Cartographic Information Society to your list.
NACIS.org.
Thanks!
Thanks, for your suggestion, have added NACIS to the list.
I recently blogged my opinion of professional associations for geomatics. In this age of social media it is hard to justify paying membership fees – http://geobern.blogspot.ca/2012/12/wither-our-professional-organizations.html