Govt. of Canada invests in Newfoundland and Labrador Co. to build next-generation Internet portals

January 4, 2008

The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources (NRCan), announced $2 million in funding for a contract with Compusult Limited of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Under the terms of the competitively awarded contract, the information technology company will build two next-generation portals for GeoConnections, a national program led by NRCan. GeoConnections works with partners to expand the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI), an online resource that provides Canadians with access to geospatial — or location-based — information and technologies.

“The CGDI currently provides decision makers with access to online Web mapping and other information and technologies, enabling them to better monitor, understand and tackle some of Canada's most pressing challenges,” said Minister Hearn. “This contract will bring further enhancements to data access for Canadians and will enable this Newfoundland and Labrador company to expand its geomatics expertise and centre of operations.”

Geospatial information and technologies are used for a wide range of purposes, including managing Canada’s resources and environment, improving public safety and public health, and addressing matters of importance to Aboriginal peoples. Geospatial information may take the form of maps and satellite images or data associated with a particular location. The technologies involved range from GIS and GPS navigation systems to online mapping applications.

Compusult will develop two key components of the CGDI: the GeoConnections Discovery Portal, which serves as the “Yellow Pages” for the CGDI, and GeoGratis, the largest repository of freely available location-based data available in Canada. Together, these two components provide an online gateway to millions of data products and services.

Under the new contract, Compusult will connect these next-generation portals to data, tools, applications and systems throughout the CGDI. In their upgraded versions, the two portals will be compatible with other geospatial data infrastructures worldwide.

This initiative supports the Government of Canada’s new Science and Technology strategy — Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage — designed to create a business environment that encourages the private sector to innovate and also guides intelligent, strategic investments of public funds.

Source: Natural Resources Canada