As CANRI grows, there is an increasing need for better technical coordination to ensure the framework as a whole continues to work efficiently and can be extended by different companies with minimal learning curve and maximum reuse of existing components. Equally the need for an over-arching and extensible data framework is becoming pressing. This project will establish a central repository to maintain the CANRI system architecture and data model using industry-leading software development tools.

CANRI is intended to provide ready access to an information base on natural resources. However, there is as yet no agreed thematic structure for presenting the information in CANRI. The NRIMS core data custodianship agreements provided a first attempt at this structure, but produced a rather chaotic list of 49 datasets or data themes at the top level. This list needs to be refined in a second round of custodianship agreements to produce a clear logical set of data themes which break down hierarchically into datasets to be served through CANRI. Together these themes will form the common information requirements of most natural resources management processes. The classification system adopted will need to align as closely as possible to existing frameworks, especially State and national ones such as the CSDC’s ASDI Fundamental Datasets, SoE Core Environmental Indicators, NSW SDI proposal and NRDD search terms.

NRIMS CEOs will be asked to commit to providing access to view, query and, wherever possible, download their key datasets within the data themes identified, as well as agreeing to adopt the data model in practice through their own agency’s programs, as negotiated with agency officers.

The outputs of this project will be used to:

• facilitate data discovery through the CANRI catalogue;
• develop data models for future online systems extending the cANRI framework (eg SoEdirect); and

facilitate online data access and download through the publication of common data schemas.

The NRM data framework includes adoption of specific data models (entities, relationships, attributes, data formats) for data themes where these are already agreed by all key NSW (or national) stakeholders for that theme.

Excludes creation of any new detailed data models for specific themes, or selection from among competing existing data models for specific themes where there is no clear agreement among stakeholders.

The software system model should include:

Existing CANRI components

Components in 2001-2002 CANRI projects

OpenGIS interfaces supported by CANRI components

This is a strategic, integrative project, with many complex relationships. To succeed, the project must gain support from NSW NRIMS agencies and at least acceptance from others. To do this, it must link in, not compete, with key existing frameworks used by these stakeholders.

The is a cluster project. Other EoIs in this cluster are:

CLIP

System & Data Architecture

FRED SoE from multi-agencies

LANDSCAPE21

Water Quality Internet System

This cluster is also related to the Catalog Plus cluster, which requires an agreed set of keywords to describe natural resources information. Other projects requiring these keywords are: PhotoLibrary and WISE.

Legislation: Local Government Act, Native Vegetation, Threatened Species, National Parks, Protection of the Environment Operations Act, ...

Policies: SEPPs, REPs, LEPs, departmental policies, regional agreements

Regional planning requirements

Local planning, zoning and SoE reporting

Property-level management

NRIMS Core Data list

CANRI Data Requirements list

ICMISS_Workplan.xls (prioritised by various groups)

ANZLIC metadata (including search terms), the new ISO standard

ANZECC core environmental indicators (for SoE reporting at national, state, regional and local scales)

ICSM topographic data model

ANZLIC, Environment Australia (try to obtain recognition and support)

NLWRA Theme #8 - Data/Information Systems

SWMCC common data model

BIWG biodiversity information network data models including the Master Names List schema

DITM’s NSW Spatial Data Infrastructure proposal

DITM’s data model for the integrated property warehouse and related programs (including licensing)

Native vegetation mapping program (DLWC/NPWS/RBG)

Landuse mapping (BRS, NLWRA)

The LDAP directory schema used by ServiceNSW

Planning data schemas

LIP's "minimum essential data sets"

• Other state natural resources information models (ask key contacts and review with ASDI)
• CSDC’s ASDI fundamental datasets
• ICSM data model for topography, cadastre
• ESRI data models for natural resources management disciplines
• US Library of Congress catalog

I-Plan

Landscape Information Program

NSW Government LDAP Directory

Where possible, the managers of these systems will be encouraged to share the CANRI modelling environment for documenting their systems.

Developers of new CANRI software components will be required to use the UML model of CANRI, extend it to describe their work and return the extension as UML for incorporation in the CANRI model.

CANRI project managers will be encouraged to visit DLWC to use the Rational software suite to document use cases and other aspects of their projects.

NRIMS Steering Group understanding of and strong support for the project goals.

Rational software suite & training (purchased from CANRI coordination budget 2000-2001).

Participation of agencies and other stakeholders in workshops to propose and review the data framework.

Commitment of NRIMS agencies to adopt and maintain consistency with the data framework.