Over the past decade government organizations at provincial, regional, national and international levels, as well as non-governmental organizations and large companies, have been working on the implementation of Spatial Data Infrastructure. One of the main purposes of a national government is to provide services to its citizens that cannot or will not be developed by the private sector. The construction of national infrastructure, including roads, bridges, railroads, and public buildings, is one example of the services that national governments frequently undertake on behalf of a nation’s citizens. Over the past two decades, the concept of “infrastructure” has expanded to include different kinds of information infrastructure, which include spatial datasets, databases of government information and the Internet as a means of conveying that information, all organized according to data standards.
The term “Spatial Data Infrastructure" (SDI) is used to describe the collection of technologies, policies and institutional arrangements that provide a basis for spatial data discovery. SDI widely uses Geographic Information System (GIS), GPS, Remote Sensing and other geospatial technologies. GIS can be a part of a SDI but it is not the entire SDI. However, all SDI parts are required for the use and analysis of spatial data by means of GIS technology.
SDI Training
Vancouver Island University has significant expertise in the areas of SDI and GIS, currently delivering a number of courses and a post-graduate diploma (Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications). VIU faculty have also been involved in two significant SDI training initiatives:
SDI training ranging from individually-certified courses to a comprehensive series of courses may be offered on demand for groups of individuals or customized for an entire organization. If you are interested in participating in these courses or integrating these courses within your existing program, please contact either:
Michael Govorov (michael.govorov@viu.ca)
David Cake (dave.cake@viu.ca)