New Website Puts Data on the Map

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--New Website Puts Data on the Map

A new Internet site launched today, June 16, will make it easier for people to find high quality Nova Scotia geographic data.

The GeoNOVA web portal was launched during a one-day workshop in Halifax, that explored the future of the geomatics industry in Atlantic Canada.

Geomatics, the gathering, storage, analysis and use of geographically referenced information, is an important industry in this region. This information has a variety of uses, including mapping, municipal planning, transportation infrastructure management, business planning, natural resource stewardship and agriculture.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations deputy minister Greg Keefe unveiled the new web portal (www.geonova.ca) to about 100 workshop attendees.

"The offerings are a mix of free information and web-based subscription services like Property Online," said Mr. Keefe.

"The general public will find the site a good resource, as well," he added. "For example, one can order all sorts of maps online; topographical maps for hikers, navigation and coastal charts for sailors and aeronautical charts for pilots."

A cornerstone of the province's GeoNOVA program, the portal links collections of information held by federal, provincial and municipal offices across the province and groups them into easy to search categories.

The GeoNOVA portal is a 50-50 cost-sharing partnership between the government of Nova Scotia and Natural Resources Canada Geo Connections program. The Halifax and Cape Breton regional municipalities are also important GeoNOVA stakeholders and supporters.

"GeoNOVA is another example of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations commitment to online services," said Mr. Keefe. "From renewing vehicle registration to accessing high end geographic information, we're delivering the services people want, online, when and where they want them."