Background

Integrated Mapping Assessment Project (IMAP)

D. MacIver, H. Auld, A. Fenech and N. Urquizo

Background

IMAP, launched in January 1999 at the EMAN National Science Meeting, involves collecting maps (MacIver and Urquizo, 1999; 2000), functionally integrating different thematic surfaces and then analyzing and interpreting the spatial correlations. The maps are collected together at various scales from local to global, with the initial focus of the study on the pilot region of Ontario, where a plethora of detailed maps are already available. Using regional maps is also an important part of the project’s goal of bringing national issues -- such as climate change -- to a level that municipal decision-makers can understand and take action (S&E Bulletin, 1999).

In January 2000, Environment Canada at the EMAN National Science Meeting (EMAN, 2000), hosted an IMAP Workshop titled “Integrated Mapping Assessments of Changing Vulnerability and Variability in Climate, Biodiversity, Land-Use and Built Environments” (MacIver and Auld, 2000). In March, 2000, Environment Canada and the Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto established an IMAP lab at the University to continue research efforts on integration projects(MacIver et al., 2000). These include projects that link changing road conditions, climate and road salt; changing road networks and atmospheric hazards, such as fog; and linking atmospheric change, biodiversity, built environments and so on.

Goals and Objectives

This assessment project was initiated by Environment Canada with numerous partners to accomplish three significant goals:

Collect together, within an assessment framework of scale by issue, published maps from a diversity of sources within the science community.

Assess and integrate together functionally-related thematic surfaces to develop science – policy directions and public information.

Share this evolving and common science resource with partners and publish, electronically and hard-copy, the referenced map collection and integrated assessments.

Selected Products, to date

The collection of referenced maps, to date, have been assembled on this website with source reference and web/e-mail addresses (MacIver, Auld and Urquizo, 2000). The first section of the map collection brings together maps on all air quality issues; the second on climate, climate change, weather forecasts, weather extremes and related maps (soils, forest cover, wetlands, woodlots and so on). A further section contains numerous integrated case studies on issues, such as atmospheric change and biodiversity.

The poster titled “Changes in Major Roads in Southern Ontario, 1935-1995” by B. Taylor, A. Fenech, R. Hansell and G. Whitelaw, 2000, was distributed to 4200 schools in Ontario and presented at other venues, such as the “Transit Summit” (Pollution Probe, 2000).

The proceedings of the IMAP Workshop (cited above) are under review and will be forthcoming in the “Decoding Canada’s Environmental Past” Series.

Numerous presentations federally, provincially, and regionally have highlighted the Integrated Mapping Assessment Project.

Acknowledgments

The Integrated Mapping Assessment Project is a co-sponsored and shared resource with grateful appreciation for support from numerous groups from Environment Canada. These are from the Meteorological Service of Canada - the Science Assessment and Integration Branch (SAIB) and the Adaptation and Impacts Research Group (Toronto-Niagara Region Study); the Meteorological Service of Canada - Ontario Region; the Environmental Conservation Service - Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN); the Great Lakes 2000 Program and The Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Toronto.

E-Contacts don.maciver@ec.gc.ca heather.auld@ec.gc.ca adam.fenech@ec.gc.ca urquizo@sympatico.ca hague.vaughan@cciw.ca

References

MacIver, Don and Natty Urquizo. 1999. Co-Networks and Networking. Paper presented at the 5th EMAN National Science Meeting, Victoria, B.C. Jan 23-27, 1999.

MacIver, D. and N. Urquizo, 1999. Atmospheric Change in Canada: An Integrated Overview. Environment Canada, 52 pp.

MacIver, Don and Natty Urquizo, 2000. Atmospheric Change and Biodiversity: Co-Networks and Networking. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Vol. 61: 93-100.

MacIver, D. and H. Auld, 2000. Decoding Canada's Environmental Past: Integrated Mapping Assessments, Environment Canada (In Press).

MacIver, D.; H. Auld; A. Fenech and R. Hansell, 2000. An Integrated Mapping Assessment Project (IMAP) Lab established by the Institute of Environmental Studies and Enviroment Canada at U. of T., Environews, Univ. of Toronto.

S&E Science and the Environment Bulletin. Maps Link Atmosphere and Biodiversity. Issue No. 14, September/October 1999, pp. 8.