Welcome to the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI), an exciting and long-awaited partnership initiative to connect all of Canada's geospatial databases and make them available on the Internet.
The Guide to the CGDI describes the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure, and explains how you can use it. If you would like to increase the accessibility and visibility of your organization's data and services within the CGDI, or build an application with CGDI-endorsed standards and specifications, the Guide to the CGDI will show you how.
The Guide to the CGDI is divided into four sections and seven appendices, each of which describes a different aspect of the CGDI, and how you can use it to benefit your organization.
This manual is intended for web developers with various levels of geomatics expertise; managers and users will find useful summaries in the introductions to each section and chapter.
Section I, What is the CGDI?, introduces you to the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure, and explains why we need the CGDI, who is implementing it, what is guiding it, and how it is being built.
Section II, Discovering Geospatial Resources, describes how you can use various discovery mechanisms to find geospatial data, services and organizations within the CGDI.
Section III, Searching Databases and Making Your Databases Searchable, explains how you can make your database searchable by connecting it to the CGDI. This allows your users to directly search your geospatial databases or catalogues, which increases your exposure internationally.
Section IV, Using CGDI Web Resources, describes the different ways you can use CGDI resources to make your organization's applications more "geospatially aware". The CGDI offers a number of standardized services and resources that allow you to access and use geospatial information, which can, in turn, enhance your online services for your own clients.
The appendices include CGDI-Endorsed Specifications, The GeoConnections Discovery Portal, Building Your Application with GeoConnections Discovery Portal APIs, Information Sources, a Glossary, List of Abbreviations, and a discussion of The Effect of Policy on the evolution of the CGDI.
This manual is not intended to include all available services and technologies, but rather those that are currently developed. The most current version of this manual is available at http://www.geoconnections.org/en/resourcelibrary/keyStudiesReports in both English and French.
Please send your comments and suggestions about the Guide to the CGDI to info@geoconnections.org.