Spatial Data and the Arctic

Due to the current interest on climate change the Arctic has been subjected to intense scrutiny and as a result a wide array of data has been generated which is spatial in nature.  The approach to managing much of this data has largely been national or dedicated to specific issues.

As a result many of the existing datasets are distributed throughout many organisations. They are often not integrated or coordinated and it is difficult to find an environment in which these diverse datasets can be combined and analyzed together.

There is a need for a dedicated ADSI, which would provide for the development of the necessary standards and framework to encourage more efficient integration of and access to these datasets. It would allow for more robust management and manipulation of data for both research and management purposes.

The first steps are slowly being taken towards realizing the need for such an ASDI. In August 2007 The First International Circumpolar Conference on Geospatial Sciences and Applications (IPY GeoNorth 2007) was held in Canada. One of its stated goals was to try and encourage the eight Arctic circumpolar countries to move towards a common ASDI.