Fraser Basin/Georgia Basin Sustainability Tools and Resources
(STAR)
Project Objective This pilot project,
entitled "Fraser Basin/Georgia Basin Sustainability Tools and Resources"
(STAR) has as its primary objective to develop a tool for accessing,
retrieving and working with knowledge in a manner that aims to substantively
enhance the flow and exchange of information on sustainability-related
activities in the Fraser and Georgia Basin. Project Description The Fraser Basin/Georgia
Basin Sustainability Tools and Resources (STAR) project will develop
an Internet-based distributed database that will serve as a guide to
sustainability-related organizations and resources as well as a tool
for planning, managing and contributing to sustainability projects in
the Fraser Basin (FB) and Georgia Basin (GB) region. STAR was conceived by the project partners to meet a lack of integrated information which both identifies the groups and organizations active in sustainability-related projects in the FB & GB, as well as resources that can support these activities. Currently, information exists in a compartmentalized fashion, in independent databases and websites that do not allow for integrated searches across the existing sites. STAR does not intend to become a clearinghouse for sustainability-related
information, but rather, with the assistance of UBC's Public Knowledge
Project, tasked with designing STAR, the project will develop systems
for incorporating participants' existing databases and other resources
(including, for example, indicator information, case studies, interactive
tools, calendar of events, glossary, etc.) within a common indexing system,
allowing information to be searched and accessed across different databases/websites.
The distributed database and indexing system will allow for the integration
of different types of resources around shared issues, as well as allow
for a review by type of resource. Furthermore, by complying
with international metadata standards, the distributed database system
behind this portal will be able to operate in conjunction with similarly
themed portals and databases in other regions, as well as be able to
draw on external sources of research, policy documents, and other related
information, such as legislation and regulations, narrative/stories,
curriculum, and media sources. Meanwhile, project planning and management
tools will support the development of sustainability activities as well
as build an inventory of indexed cases and related resources. The project is in
itself also a research initiative into how the knowledge and resources
available on the Internet are used and the value it provides. As part
of this, the project is committed to learning from and with its participant
communities as STAR develops to determine what should be delivered and
in what manner. Therefore, consultation will be undertaken with representatives from multiple target audiences and participant communities in early stages to clarify community support for the initiative and to seek feedback and advice regarding its content, design, and application. In addition, two workshops will be held with target audiences at specific development stages to elicit further input and feedback. Partners The following organizations
are committed to the project as partners in its conceptual design, development
and implementation: Sustainable Development
Research Institute (SDRI) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) SDRI seeks to support
the community engagement mandate of its Georgia Basin Futures Project
by beginning the development of a comprehensive and interactive decision-making
support site to further sustainability objectives in the Georgia Basin.
Furthermore, as part of its research objectives, the project offers
the opportunity to record the level of activity around sustainability
activities in the region and to evaluate the impact of Internet-based
resources on the activities of sustainability related organizations.
SDRI will provide project coordination
as well as the resources associated with hosting the distributed database
on its server. Fraser Basin Council (FBC) [http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/]
The
Fraser Basin Council, established in 1997 to ensure the sustainability
of the Fraser Basin. its Five Year Action Plan, a tool for profiling
and tracking the progress of a diverse range of stakeholders working
towards the goals of its Charter for Sustainability, to an on-line environment.
The website will serve FBC’s priorities of facilitating networking among
sustainability-related organizations, and supporting these groups with
easily accessible, relevant resources. FBC will be a key facilitator
to relevant groups and organizations in the Fraser Basin. Georgia Basin
Ecosystem Initiative (GBEI), Environment Canada (EC) [http://www.pyr.ec.gc.ca/GeorgiaBasin/gbi_eIndex.htm] GBEI/EC
is interested in an inventory of active organizations, groups and individuals
involved in sustainability activities at the scale of the Georgia Basin.
GBEI/EC puts priority on an inventory that provides contact information,
the organization's mandate and its major projects. GBEI/EC is also interested
in indicator activities. GBEI/EC will be another key facilitator to
relevant groups and organizations, with a focus on the Georgia Basin. Public Knowledge
Project (PKP) [http://www.pkp.ubc.ca] The
Public Knowledge Project at UBC is investigating the social, economic,
and technical issues entailed in the use of online infrastructure and
knowledge management strategies to improve both the scholarly quality
and public accessibility and coherence of this body of knowledge in
a sustainable and globally accessible form. The project also seeks to
integrate emerging standards for digital library access and document
preservation. The PKP will develop the distributed database, indexing
system and website for the project. The Land Centre [http://www.landcentre.ca/] The Land Centre's mandate is to be an Internet clearinghouse for information
about land use including resources on planning, stewardship, environment
and real estate. The Land Centre has a web library of almost 4000 items
and is currently developing, with the assistance of the Public Knowledge
Project, a true "digital library" to broaden its reach. It
specializes in disseminating information resources over the internet,
including matters of data/digital standards and subject indexing, and
would provide expertise and support in these areas. In addition, it
is currently compiling an inventory of resources on land use, which
would also serve as a resource to this project. Other organizations
that have expressed an interest in collaborating on this project include: Greater Vancouver
Regional District (GVRD)
[http://www.gvrd.bc.ca/] The GVRD’s interest
is to develop an interactive site specific to sustainability and, more
specifically, urban planning issues that will foster and facilitate
the GVRD’s 21 municipalities working together at a regional planning
level. The site would offer a means for the municipalities to learn
about each other’s initiatives and practices and advance the area of
urban planning as a whole. The GVRD’s focus is thus on marshaling and
coordinating the participation and resources of its municipalities. The Stewardship
Centre [http://www.stewardshipcentre.org/] The Stewardship Centre’s
goal is to provide improved access to information and advice on conservation
and stewardship, and to that end it has developed a website specialized
around case studies and resources for stewardship issues. Given the
overlapping interests in resources and the Centre’s interest in growing
further, the Stewardship Centre offers collaboration in developing and
sharing resources. Development Plan FB/GB STAR will be
developed over a period of 18 months, from October 1, 2001 to March
31, 2002 as per the deliverables specified below. Phase One: October 1, 2001 – March
31, 2002
Information gathering
will be a key component of this phase: 1. to solicit interest and feedback
from target groups and organizations, 2. to determine information requirements
for technical specification and design purposes, 3. to generate content
for the inventory component, and 4. to determine existing resources
amongst target organizations for subsequent phases, with a focus on
priority resources for phase two. In the first phase,
the primary deliverable will be a prototype website/database that will
house a priority goal of the partners: an inventory of sustainability-related
organizations, groups and individuals active in the Fraser and Georgia
Basins. Specifically, this inventory will include a listing (with preliminary
indexing) of organizations and projects, key contact information, and
brief descriptions of the organizations and their projects. For the
first phase, the project will target members of the FBC and key groups
identified by FBC, GBEI/Environment Canada and SDRI. Phase Two: April 1 – September 30,
2002
In the second phase,
the inventory of organizations/projects will continue to be developed
by pursuing further networks and finalizing indexing. In addition, information
gathering will continue with the targeted organizations as well as more
extended networks to further establish resources as well as resource
priorities. This information gathering will determine the first set
of additional website/database components featuring tools and resources
to support sustainability activities. These components might include
a Sustainability Commons (calendar of events/news), indicator information,
case studies, research/publications. Upon development of this initial
set of resource components, a workshop will be held to test the value
and functionality of the system. Phase Three: October 1, 2002 – March
31, 2003
In the third phase,
the inventory and resource components developed in phases one and two
will continue to be expanded upon, and additional resource components
will be introduced as per the consultation with target audiences.
It is foreseen that this second set of resources will include
interactive project planning and management tools, and components that
draw upon external sources, such as legislation, media sources, curriculum.
Upon development of this second set of resource components, a second
workshop will be held to test the value and functionality of the system.
In addition, the
Project Coordinator will provide 3 project updates to partners at the
conclusion of each phase of the project, i.e. 6, 12 and 18 months into
the project. Mid-way into the
project, in June 2002, the partners will meet to evaluate the project,
assess learning and progress to date, and make adjustments as necessary. |