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Current Projects
Manigotagan River Web-Based GIS
Winnipeg and Region Green Map
http://greenmap.mbeconetwork.org
Manigotagan River Web-Based GIS Project Overview
Although the web-based map is not yet online, check out the Manigotagan Canoe Map pages for information to help you plan your trip!
The Manitoba Eco-Network’s GIS/Mapping Centre has developed a new canoe map for the Manigotagan River, which was given provincial park status in December of 2004. The goals of this project are to facilitate and promote environmentally sensitive use of the Manigotagan River and to raise awareness for its history and ecosystems. In collaboration with interested partners, the Manitoba Eco-Network’s GIS Centre will meet the goals of this project through the establishment of two maps. One waterproof paper map for orientation in the field and one digital, interactive map that will provide additional information, educate about the river and Manigotagan and Nopiming Provincial Parks, increase awareness of these natural environments and their history and thereby increase support for the protection of Manitoba’s nature.
The paper map will
§ display canoe launch / parking sites, camp sites, rapids, portages, historic sites, required skill level along the river;
§ include map inserts that will display the location in Manitoba and road access, emergency telephone numbers, very basic tips for (environmentally sound) canoe-camping, historic stories, information on flora and fauna, etc.;
§ provide general advice on canoeing, trip planning, environmentally friendly behavior (with a focus on the protection of the water resources and adjacent land areas), bear safety, protection from insects and sun, poison ivy and poison oak warnings, etc. on the back;
§ be available to the public at an affordable price at recreational outfitters, such as MEC.
The digital map will include the same information as the paper map, but as it is intended as an information tool for trip planning and an educational resource, it will contain a lot more information. It will
§ be embedded in a website providing background information on the area, its history and environment and a very comprehensive orientation on how to use the interactive map;
§ include a background map showing the river, roads, communities, park boundaries etc. as well as three interactive layers: one canoeing, one environmental and one picture gallery layer, that can be individually switched on and off;
§ allow prospective visitors to zoom into the map, pan, and retrieve additional information, such as pictures, short movies and text documents that are linked to the map and display at the click of a mouse button (for example, we intend to document each set of rapids, portage and campsite);
§ have “respectful and environmentally friendly behavior” as a main theme that is treated not only in the “environmental” map layer, but will be a gently recurring message throughout the website and map;
§ be hosted by the Manitoba Conservation, Parks Branch, website, with multiple links to relevant websites;
§ have components that can be downloaded onto a Global Positioning System (GPS) to help orientation in the field;
§ ask paddlers for feedback to keep the site up to date; and
§ be user-friendly - designed so people can focus on contents rather than on the tools.
Winnipeg and Region Green Map Project Description:
Within Winnipeg and its surrounding region, there is a wealth of environmentally-friendly activities, organizations, businesses and Community Economic Development (CED) projects. Finding information about these resources to help inform more sustainable and socially responsible lifestyle choices can be difficult.
The Manitoba Eco-Network and the University of Manitoba, Department of City Planning, are proposing a website with an interactive Green Map to promote the environmental infrastructure and social economy [1] projects in and around Winnipeg. Overall, the project has three goals: (1) Create a user-friendly directory so people can find out about and access existing environmental and related social/economic facilities, organizations, and services; (2) Educate the public about environmentally friendly choices in their daily lives; and (3) Create an opportunity for the environmental community to display and communicate priority areas of concern and success.
To achieve these goals, the website will provide a directory for the environmental infrastructure, social economy and CED projects included on the Green Map. The directory will include a brief description and links to the organization(s) who established or have information on each site, facility or service. Descriptions will also link to the physical location of the site or facility on the map. The interactive map will allow visitors to zoom in and out, pan, switch layers (categories) on and off, and retrieve additional information, such as pictures, short movies and text documents at the click of a mouse. The map will provide the option to search for information by geographical area and the directory will provide the option to search by topic. Links will allow visitors to jump back and forth between the map and the directory.
To improve relevance of this map to the community, the first phase will also include a pilot project for interactive community mapping. Spence Neighborhood Association recently joined this project and the goals for this particular portion of the Green Map will be to compile information on historic and existing resources (the neighborhood’s Historic Plaque Trail, green spaces, CED’s, etc.) for inclusion on the Green Map. Spence Neighborhood Association will use the established map as a discussion tool and run a community mapping project, map potential green spaces and housing development sites, and establish a “Green Spaces Walking Tour” map in co-operation with the Manitoba Eco-Network’s GIS Centre.
The product of this endeavor, an internet-based tool that can be accessed and augmented by Manitobans and visitors at no cost [2] , will inform about our “green side” in a concise way. It will be designed to encourage a respectful attitude to the environment and facilitate behavior that will benefit the environment and the community.
Background:
Green Maps [3] are environmental and cultural maps designed to promote sustainability and community participation in the local natural and built environment and have been established for cities all over the world. Dr David Van Vliet from the University of Manitoba, Department of City Planning, has developed a preliminary Green Map for Winnipeg. It is available on the internet at http://www.arch.umanitoba.ca/vanvliet/greenmap/GM.html. At this date, the maps are static and the place lists incomplete. The links to “Winnipeg Places” and “Region Places” on the top of the website open a pages list which briefly describe the sites already included on the Green Map:
· Culture and Design: Art Spot, Child-Friendly Eco-Site, Cultural Site, Eco-Buildings, Eco-Design/Planning Feature, Eco-Design Resource, Eco-Spiritual Site, Historical Feature, Museaum/Institution, Traditional Way of Life, World Music;
· Conserver Economy: Development and Products (Agriculture, Nurseries, Community Gardens, Fair Trade/social Shop, Farmers Market, Green Business/Service, Outfitters and Equipment, Green Business Practices, Organic Produce/Natural Food, Green Stores, Vegetarian/Natural Café;
· Information and Social Resources: Alternative Health Resources, Aboriginal Resources), Community Centres, Eco-Environmental Info Centres, Environmental School, Green Tours, Pollution Monitor, Protest Point, Scientific/Research Site, Significant Environmental and Research Organization, Social/Political Organization, Food Banks;
· Infrastructure: Energy Generation, Landfill, Recycling, Composting, Water Source, Catchment and Retention, Flood Control, Waste Treatment plant, Treatment Area;
· Mobility: Alternative Vehicle/Fuel Resource, Bicycle Site/Resource, Bicycle Paths and Bridges, Boat Launch Site, Ferry Water Bus, Winnipeg Walks, Light Rail Transit, Local Transit Stations, Major Public Transport Stop, Public Square/Car-Free Zone, Ski Trails;
· Fauna: Amphibian Habitat, Bird and Wildlife Watching, Significant Habitat, Aquatic Habitat, Waterfowl Ponds, Zoo/Wildlife Centre;
· Flora: Bio-Regional Site/Native Plants, Community Garden, Parklands/Recreation Area, Public Forests, Seasonal Foliage Viewing, Shaded Boulevard, Special Garden, Special Tree, Wildlife Corridor/Greenway;
· Land and Water: Viewpoints, Landform/Geological Feature, Open Space, River and Water-Front Park, Stargazing/Aurora Site, Wetlands, Remediation Site;
· Renewables: Energy, Materials, Redevelopment Opportunity Site, Renewable Technology Site, Re-Use Site, Solar Energy Site, Water Recycling/Conservation Site;
· Toxic Spots/Emissions: Air Pollution Source, Remediation Site, Hazardous Site, Officially Listed Contaminated Site, Monitoring/Research Site, Water Pollution Source.
The Department of City Planning and the Manitoba Eco-Network have partnered to expand the outreach and utility of the Green Map as outlined above.
Technical Details:
The following describes the products in more detail.
§ The website and Green Map will
o be embedded in a portal providing a comprehensive introduction and an orientation on how to use the interactive map;
o have “environmentally friendly and socially respectful behavior” as a main theme that will be a gently recurring message throughout the website and map;
o be hosted by the Manitoba Eco-Network’s website server, with multiple links to Winnipeg City resources (e.g., Winnipeg Transit, Naturalist Services), Destination Winnipeg and other relevant websites;
o include a feedback link to keep the site up to date; along with a nomination page to solicite and facilitate additions to the site and
o be easy to use (designed so people can focus on the contents rather than the technology)!
§ More specifically, the Green Map will
o include a base map showing the river, roads, demographic boundaries, park boundaries etc. as well as interactive layers, which contain the Green Map sites sorted into categories that can be individually switched on and off;
o allow prospective visitors to zoom into the map, pan, and retrieve additional information, such as pictures, short movies and text documents that are linked to the map;
o be designed and updated through a Geographic Information System (GIS) using ESRI’s ArcMap software;
o be published using MapServer, an open source software which was originally developed at the University of Minnesota through a NASA sponsored project. The software has been further developed by nearly 20 developers and is listed as one of the projects of the Open Source Geospatial Consortium (OSGeo), a not-for-profit organization with the mission to support and promote the collaborative development of open geospatial technologies and data.
Notes:
[1] E.g., Community Economic Development (CED) projects, social economy enterprises, co-op’s, foundations, credit unions, non-profit organizations, voluntary sector, charities.
[2] Access to the web-site and map will be free and we will encourage environmental organizations and other interested parties to submit information and materials for publication at no cost to them. The site will also include a feedback link, through which organizations and individuals can suggest changes and additions to the site.
[3] To find out more about Green Maps please visit: http://www.greenmap.org/grmaps/grindex.html
| Copyright 2007 Manitoba Eco-Network |