Welcome to
Geospatial resources use in tertiary education -
‘Shaping the Future’
15th May 2007
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Welcome
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Everyone is different but we share something in common
We recognise the importance of space and
place!
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Aims of the workshop
• To establish the future requirements of those who use geospatial resources within UK tertiary education
• The focus is very much on the 'what','who', 'where' and 'when' – what will we want to be doing in 5 years time– what sorts of data, services and tools will we need– how will people want to access and use the data– who will we be working with– how do we want to exploit the new types of geospatial
technologies, etc.
• To identify the roles & responsibilities of ALL interested parties
• To identify the next steps and actions
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
What are geospatial resources?
• Data• Services• Tools• Teaching material• Other types of content… but geographically
referenced– full text, images, primary research material,
sound and film– “information that has been geographically
organised”
• Support (people, training, manuals)• (Social) Networks
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Why now?
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Geospatial information – it’s increasingly ubiquitous
• 3 billion Number people now with access to high resolution images
• 400millionNumber of Google Earth users
• 42.85 TbVirtual Earth imagery update per month
• (1mEstimate of no. of Google servers (Gartner 2007))
• 140K– No. data files download from
Digimap in Nov 2007
"The next web will be about place and time.“
Marc Davis, Yahoo's Social Media Guru @ Web 2.0 2008
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Use of geospatial data in research & teaching growing
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
New initiatives, policies, behaviours & opportunities
• Research councils increasingly focusing on infrastructures (research, scientific, data)
• INSPIRE Directive– GEOSS, GMES
• GI Strategy for the UK• Community generated content
– 10m maps in Google’s My Maps
• JISC funded activity– Re-engineering of Digimap– New content e.g. MIMA and GB Aerial
Photography
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Technologies are maturing
• Web 2.0– Geoweb, GeoRSS, GYM
• Mobile applications• Standards
– (ISO, OGC, W3C, OASIS)
• Infrastructures– SDIs, GRID, Networks
• Real time data feeds from Sensors
– http://transport.wspgroup.fi/hklkartta/
• Open source tools
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Case Study - Geology
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Your involvement is important
Think widelyThink creatively
The Art of the Possible
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Facilitator’s Intro Slides
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Future Opportunities & Challenges
How wewill work?
The future GI world
The Enablers?
Roles & Responsibilities
Making it happen!
Sponsor Close
Sponsor Address
High Level Agenda of the Day
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Opportunities/Challenges in the Future World
In your group, brainstorm the opportunities/challenges that will face us in the future for ONE of the following areas:
• Research environment – GROUP 1
• Teaching environment – GROUP 2
• Technology environment – GROUP 3
• Social/Political/Economic environment – GROUP 4
10 minBrainstorm high level thoughts using Post-it notes provided.
Give a 5 minute report back of your top 5 key messages to all delegates in the plenary area.5 min
10 min
Sort your ideas into broad categories & capture your key findings on the flipchart paper provided.
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
How will we work in this future world?
Each group will be given a role (or ‘persona’) to work with.
For this persona, & using your own experiences, identify how they would need to work in the future world discussed in the previous session:
• key activities
• resources required to support these activities
15 min
Read through the persona provided & write the activities, resources & any other key information on the flip chart paper provided.
10 min
Add any further information to your ideas based on your own experience in that role/similar role.
5 min/group
Select one group member to remain with your output, the rest of the group will move round looking at the other groups’ output – ask questions/seek clarification/ add any missing key information. Return to your original group to review any amendments.
10 minReview
GRAB A COFFEE DURING THIS ACTIVITY
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Team Splits
Group 1: ResearchNeale BlairIan Gregory Humphrey SouthallAndy TurnerLucy BastinTim Fearnside
Group 2: TeachingDouglas Cawthorne Alastair GeddesTim le BasWilliam MackanessStuart NicolNick Tate
Group 3: ResearchPhil JamesDuncan SmithMike SmithClaire JarvisDave MartinAudrey Martin
Group 4: SupportAmanda RussellAlison Turner (Support)Anna Clough (support)Peter Halls (support)William Kilbride (if present)Kamie Kitmitto
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
What will the future GI world look like?
Using the prediction provided, look at the statements within it and assess to what extent you believe that this ‘landscape’ will support the opportunities/challenges/key activities identified in the previous sessions.
20 min
In your group, identify any additions/amendments/deletions – annotate the statements.
N.B. the focus should be on the essence of the statements, not ‘word-smithing’.
15 min Plenary discussion to agree the key themes.
Prediction• It is 2010 and geographic information (GI) is everywhere.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) interoperability has revolutionised the way we deliver GI solutions.
• GI is embedded in a very wide range of information systems and decision support products.
• They all rely on a common global spatial data infrastructure that provides scale-independent data constantly updated. GI is available whenever and wherever it is needed. GIS have become so thoroughly interoperable that they have all but disappeared as distinct products……
• GI education requires a wide diversity of courses; each targeted upon the needs of differing groups of students and of employers.
• For most students the focus of their learning is upon the use of digital geographic information, not upon the technologies which deliver this information.
• The ubiquity of digital geographic information and the extreme ease of use of geo-processing tools have allowed geographical analysis to spread way beyond its traditional confines within the spatial sciences.
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Lunch
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Energiser
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
How well do you know your standards?
General• ISO 216• ISO 3750• IEEE 802.11• BS 1363• ISO 3103• BS EN 1866
Geography related• ISO 3166• ISO 19115• BS 7666-5:2006
Lastly• BS 0
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
How well do you know your standards? - Clues
General• ISO 216 – ‘Save the trees!’• ISO 3750 – ‘Always read the label…’• IEEE 802.11 – ‘Say no to cables.’• BS 1363 - ‘Power point.’• ISO 3103 – ‘Milk and 2 sugars, please.’• BS EN 1866 – ‘Use in case of emergency.’
Geography related• ISO 3166 – ‘Abbreviated nations.’• ISO 19115 – • BS 7666-5:2006 ‘Of utmost importance to your postman’
Lastly• BS 0 – ‘One standard to rule them all and in the darkness
bind them…’
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Answers
General• ISO 216 - International paper sizes (A4, A5 etc)• ISO 3750 - Laundry Care Symbols• IEEE 802.11 - A set of standards for wireless computer communication• BS 1363 - Mains Power plugs and sockets• ISO 3103 - A standardised method for brewing tea• BS EN 1866 - Mobile fire extinguishers
Geography related• ISO 3166 - Codes for countries and subdivisions e.g. CA Canada• ISO 19115 - How to describe geographic metadata (data and services)• BS 7666-5:2006 - a method of referencing delivery points by means of
unique references and descriptive delivery addresses i.e. Addresses
Lastly• BS 0 - The Standard that governs the way BSI standards are produced.
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Standards – why they are important?
• Lots of reasons e.g.– They inform us about the reliability and fitness for
purpose of the goods and services we buy and use– They enable us to use more things more widely
giving us greater choice
• Standards are extremely important in the computer industry because they allow the synergy or interoperability of tools and data enabling the creation of more customizable, advanced and powerful systems.
• BUT most people shouldn’t need to know the specifics of standards just that they exist.
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
What are the ‘Enablers’?
Each group will be given one of the following categories:
Data/Content; Tools/Technology; Skills/Knowledge/People; Legal/Policy; Social/Institutional/Economic
20 min
5 minPrepare a short report-back of your key findings.
5 min/group
Each group to report back their findings to the rest of the delegates.
10 minOpen discussion
For your category, identify all the elements within that ‘Enabler’ which will need to be in place in order for people to operate as effectively as possible in the future landscape – capture this on the flipchart paper provided.
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Short Coffee and Comfort Break
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Roles and Responsibilities
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Worked ExampleName:
Data CentreRole:
• provision of quality services by which users access geospatial resources which support other services (infrastructure)
• curation of data• provider of technical support & training to institutional support
staff and expertsResponsibilities:
• Meet standards for good practice• Meet Service Level Agreements• Comply with funder/institutional data policies• Comply with funder/ industry/community standards• Promoting the use of data and service• Maintaining & publishing up-to-date information on data
holdings
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Worked Example• Act as a gateway to other data, services and resources
• Stay abreast of technical developments and ensure services meet user needs as they mature
• Represent the interests of it’s uses nationally and internationally
Relationships with:
• With user (researcher, scientist, student) as “client”
• With user communities
• With institution through support and expert staff
• With funder(s) of service(s)
• With other service providers within tertiary education
• With service providers within research councils
• With data/content providers
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Template
Name:
Role:
Responsibilities:
Relationships with:
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
How do we make this happen?
Discussion
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Close
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Where next…
• This event has been funded by JISC –e-Framework programme
• The e-Framework has been established to help the education and research worlds to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the service oriented approach and web services
• Members: JISC (UK) and DEST (Aus), New Zealand's Ministry of Education and SURF (NL)
• A workpackage of the JISC funded SEE-GEO project
• Outcomes of today also of interest to JISC, JISC Collections Company and its’ geospatial working group.
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Deliverables and timetable
• A documented set of key ideas about the Landscape
• A documented set of high level requirements for the Landscape
• A documented set of proposed roles and responsibilities
• A documented set of agreed next steps and actions
Deadline for a first draft is soon … why?...
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Next Steps (1)
Because the document(s) will feed into a second workshop next month
This has the goal of defining a technical roadmap for an UK Academic SDI
• We will circulate a copy of the document produced for comment
• Final copies will be deposited with e-Framework Programme Manager, JISC Collections and JISC GWG
• Copy available on EDINA web site
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Next Steps (2)
• <<key ideas/activities from the ‘How do make this happen’ discussion>>
Shaping the Future Workshop – 15th May 2008, Edinburgh
Thank you
To youTo our sponsors
To the workshop team
Have a safe journey home