OCUL’s geospatial data platform Scholars GeoPortal was awarded this year’s Ontario Library and Information Technology Association (OLITA) Award for Technical Innovation.
The portal, currently running in beta mode, offers Ontario’s university students and researchers the ability to enrich their research as they search, preview, manipulate and download geospatial datasets on topics including land use, transportation networks, census boundaries, points of interest (such as schools, airports, and golf courses), and orthophotography.
The service will launch officially on March 1, 2012.
L-R: Daniel Boivin (OCLC) Kathy Scardellato (OCUL),
Leanne Hindmarch (Scholars Portal), Jenny Marvin (Guelph)
In accepting the award, which recognizes excellence in technological innovation, Jenny Marvin, GIS Librarian at the University of Guelph and Chair of Scholars GeoPortal Project Management Group, acknowledged the work of OCUL members from across the province, the Scholars Portal team, and partners from the Ontario government, noting that it was their collaborative efforts that led to the creation of this new platform for students to engage with OCUL’s growing collection of geospatial data.
OCUL also wishes to recognize the work of our dedicated members and partners, and to express our gratitude to OLITA for the honour and to OCLC Canada for their sponsorship of this award and support for technical innovation in libraries.
Scholars GeoPortal is made possible with support from the Government of Ontario through the OntarioBuys initiative and from the Ontario Council of University Libraries.
Congratulations to our GeoPortal team members!
Not Pictured: Alan Darnell, Mike Sawada, Terrance Wade