“Virtual workshop” features GIS technology, applications

A recently held “virtual workshop” at Commission offices in Ann Arbor, Mich., demonstrated new Internet-web conferencing capabilities while enabling more than 75 participants spread among various locations to share information on Geographic Information System (GIS) development for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system.

More than 50 participants logged-in to workshop presentations via new web-conferencing capabilities provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These “remote attendees” were able to listen in and view all presentations simultaneously with onsite attendees in Ann Arbor, and provide questions and comments through Internet, telephone or computer audio connections. Participants included representatives from each Great Lakes/St. Lawrence state and province, and major U.S. and Canadian federal agencies.

The workshop included overviews of new Internet-based GIS mapping projects for each of the Great Lakes, with particular attention to the International Joint Commission’s (IJC) Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Study (LOSLRS). Also covered were the Lake Huron Initiative for fisheries research, the Lake Michigan Online Atlas, the Lake Superior decision support project, and hydrologic and biologic analysis for the Lake Erie basin. See www.glc.org/gis/RDX_conference.html Web mapping tools developed for the LOSLRS, which addresses outflow management, are available at www.great-lakes.net/loslrs Funding for their development was provided by the IJC, the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee and GeoConnections of Canada, with staff support from the Great Lakes Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and private partners.

The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Samuel W. Speck (Ohio), is a nonpartisan, binational compact agency created by state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of state legislators, agency officials, and governors' appointees from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a "Declaration of Partnership." The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.