Development and Maintenance of a CKAN System for Spatial Datasets Management

Background

DFO’s Ecosystem and Science Division (ESD), Science Branch, Pacific Region, is developing spatial data products including representations of bottom type, habitat suitability, productivity, resource distribution, and vulnerability to support a variety of federal programs including the Ocean Protection Plan, the Marine Conservation Target, and Stock Assessment. The analyses underlying these products will draw on a variety of input data, in a variety of formats, and apply a variety of conceptual and statistical methods. A core objective of these efforts is to advance the department’s understanding of valued species distributions which, given the absence (and unfeasibility) of comprehensive surveys, will rely on the development and validation of Habitat Suitability Models (HSM).

The Marine Spatial Ecology and Analysis (MSEA) section has been established to address pressing marine spatial planning, conservation, and protection objectives. MSEA has an immediate need to organize spatial datasets in a central location, where they are well documented, searchable, and easily accessible. No such central location currently exists, which impedes the discovery of such datasets and has resulted in duplication.

The project will address this issue by providing a system that will help to ensure scientists have access to the latest information, and that the information is well documented. It will also provide a layer of security to ensure that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized personnel.

A prototype has been developed using the open-source CKAN system. CKAN is a tool for making data management portals (https://ckan.org/). It provides functions for managing and publishing collections of data. It is used by national and local governments, research institutions, and other organizations who collect a large number of datasets. This system is used by the OpenData website for the Federal Government. Further development is needed to enhance this tool, as well as some maintenance activities.

Objectives

The purpose of this request is to acquire the services of a Contractor to provide professional services related to the design, implementation, review, and maintenance of tools to manage spatial data for Pacific Canada. The successful Contractor is required to have a comprehensive knowledge of the physical and biological data sets available for Pacific Canadian waters, and demonstrated experience managing, developing, evaluating, and documenting spatial data using a variety of methods depending on data availability and quality. The successful Contractor will have demonstrated expertise in geographic data, spatial data management, and metadata standards and production. The Contractor will also have demonstrated expertise working collaboratively within the federal framework.