SIMO~
FR.\SER C\iJ"ERSITY - LIBR.\RY
8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC
Canada VSA lS6
MEMORANDUM
ATTENllON
FROM
RE:
Dr. Mario Pinto
Charles Eckman, Dean of Library Services and
University Librarian
Library and GIS
TEL 778.782.3265
FAX
778.782.3023
DATE
December 21, 2010
PAGES lof1
S.10-178
www.lib.sfu.ca
At present there is no centralized or otherwise coordinated GIS support program at SFU.
The Library's current role in supporting GIS is focused on three areas: (1) managing campus-
wide site licenses for
GIS software; (2) providing wayfindinglnavigation assistance regarding
GIS resources at SFU; and (3) acquiring selective geospatial datafiles.
1) GIS Software. The Library's core GIS service consists of the purchase and support of campus
wide software licenses for two
GIS
softw~e
suites - ESRI's ArcView and IDRISI - beginning
in 2000 at an approximate annual cost of $30,000. These GIS software suites are used by many
faculty and students, especially those undertaking research
in geography, criminology, health
sciences, resources and environmental management. Infonnation regarding how to acquire the
http://www.lib.sfu.caJresearch~data-library/gis-sef\·il:c:-;
.
2) GIS Liaison. Walter Piovesan, the Data Librarian, has a general familiarity with GIS software,
but it is not sufficient to provide the more complex teChnical support often required by users.
Some campus departments have internal expertise and GIS facilities that provide support to their
researchers and students,
but this is not.always the case
in
other areas. Walter liases and works
closely with
GIS experts and users in these areas in order to try to match needs to SFU resources.
3) Geospatial Data. The Library also has many data files (including geo-referenced files)
in
its
collection that can be used for GIS application. The Library allocates limited collections funds
available for the purpose
of acquiring geospatial data; it does so on a case by case basis.
.
.
With regard to the future, the usage and diversity of GIS-based data and applications continues to
grow.
In
order to provide support to this growing area, both for users and collections purposes,
the Library is considering options for acquiring
GIS technical expertise when budgets improve
(it is worth noting in this regard that UBC has a
GIS librarian). With more in-house expertise to
assist users, the Library could also make more use
of GIS systems as a way to provide access to
digital maps and services.
There is some potential for collaborative activities in the
GIS area, both internally at SFU and
externally with other
Be
post-secondary sites. For example, the Library could assume a
coordinating role in identifying
key pockets of technical expertise around campus; bringing in
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
THINKING OF THE WORLD
students on coop projects or other course assignments to develop more general "how to's" and
instructional materials for
GIS tools; and developing the necessary metadata and related
descriptive infonnation for
GIS resources. Externally we have already made some significant
progress with the Abacus platfonn for datasets, that same group could be a good basis for similar
~
GIS initiatives.
.
2
