SDI Snapshot - August 2019
How can users make their own Policy Maps using the power of data and spatial analytics? What is Jack’s vision of technology to connect the world? How can you create and manage metadata in ArcGIS Pro? Find out what’s happening in Canada and globally in the world of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) in this collection of the latest and most significant SDI news, data and products. Please note this will be the last issue of SDI Snapshot. From September onwards, we will publish more SDI commentaries each month. Stay tuned.
SDI News
Top 10 tips for making effective policy maps
Policy maps use the power of data and spatial analytics to highlight a need for change in our communities. These maps help decision-makers make data-driven decisions by providing clear narratives about where to intervene or change a policy strategy. Users can easily make their own maps for public policy. Find out some tips that can help make policy maps more effective.
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has progressed rapidly in recent years, matching or surpassing human accuracy at tasks such as image recognition, reading comprehension and translating text. The intersection of AI and GIS is creating massive opportunities that weren’t possible before. For instance, AI, machine learning and deep learning are helping increase crop yield, fight crime and predict when the next big storm will hit.
Jack's vision: a technology to connect the world and a company to make it happen
Significant changes are happening in the world, and Esri has crafted a simple metaphor to describe it: we’re moving to a reality where the digital, environmental, economic, and human landscapes are all interconnected like the responsive nature of the nervous system we all have. With existential challenges such as climate change, overpopulation, and biodiversity loss facing us, this intelligent nervous system will be one of the most important movements of our time.
SDI Data
Federal support for two Saskatchewan flood mapping projects
Flooding is Canada’s costliest and most frequent natural disaster. In Saskatchewan, 2011 to 2015 was the wettest period on record. Various governments have agreed to provide flood mapping for 21 communities in Saskatchewan at high-risk of suffering recurrent flood damages. These flood maps will provide the data needed to help mitigate potential damages caused by flood events and help plan for flood risk reductions.
The implementation of the UN global fundamental geospatial data themes
The UN Global Fundamental Geospatial Data Themes are 14 themes, from Geographic Names, Addresses to Land Cover and Imagery. Implementing the themes will necessitate the integration of information to produce standardized, fundamental data across the globe. This story map will take you through the themes and demonstrate what they are, how they can be used and why they are fundamental.
Government of Canada launches a new project to improve data for Canadian cities
The federal government has announced the Data for Canadian Cities Pilot Project to build data capacity for Canadian municipalities to better plan and implement their investments in public infrastructure. The government will provide funding to work with 15 municipalities across Canada to help them become certified under ISO 37120, the international standard for city data, which measures the quality of life and delivery of municipal services.
Create and manage metadata in ArcGIS Pro
Metadata provides a way to document information about datasets so that potential users of that data will be able to see if it is suitable for their needs. Metadata allows for the effective sharing of data and knowledge across an organization or a larger community of GIS users. For this reason, metadata is essential to the effective use of a GIS. In this blog post, readers will be introduced to the suite of metadata tools available in ArcGIS Pro.
SDI Products
Cook up your own caches and tile packages: an open tile package specification
Esri’s latest contribution to the open-source GIS community is an open specification for raster tile packages. Users can create tile caches using various tools and workflows available in ArcGIS products or using Esri’s open specification for compact caches, and then create tile packages using the open tile package specification available in Esri’s GitHub repository.
Unified Search brings all your ArcGIS Hub content together
In early 2019, the ArcGIS Hub team released a redesigned search experience to help the public discover open data more easily and draw connections to the places around them. Now, Esri has expanded this experience with Unified Search, making it easier for your teams and people across your ArcGIS Online organization to access internal content.
Authoring 3D layers and creating web scenes in ArcGIS Online
Esri has made it easier to get your 3D content onto ArcGIS Online with ArcGIS Pro 2.4. Find out how to create scene layers, elevation layers, style scene layers and feature layers in Scene Viewer and finally create a web app from the authored web scene.