About Us

Project Phases

The National Land and Water Information Service is scheduled to be introduced through a phased approach over four years, with each phase bringing increased levels of service and benefits to users. There will be several significant releases of data and applications as new tools and features come on-line in anticipation of full service delivery in 2009.

The first of four phases of project implementation was completed on March 31, 2006. During Phase 1 (Single Window), applications, data and tools situated in various Web pages on the AAFC Online Web site were brought together into a new Internet portal that will make access much easier. Over 20 existing and several new AAFC applications and relevant data were brought into this portal. Many of the applications were developed with other organizations which contributed their expertise and data. Preparatory work on other phases is occurring concurrently.

Phase 2 (Geospatial Environment) of project implementation was initiated in September 2005. During Phase 2, the Service will build the infrastructure, procedures and processes for the new AAFC GIS enterprise system and establish the mechanisms required for proper management of geospatial information in accordance with national standards and policies. This phase will provide increased GIS capacity for AAFC.

Phase 3 (National Source for Agri-environmental Geospatial Information) will provide national direct access to geospatial data, spatial functions and additional functionality through improved technology. Users will have access to widely dispersed data and will have the ability to manage and manipulate information for local, regional and national land-use decision making. Phase 3 will provide increased access to a larger number of tools and data sets through collaborative agreements.

Phase 4 (Integration of Information from Collaborating Organizations) will enable the provision of value-added information, products and expertise for land-use decision support by including integrated resource information and expertise. New decision support and sophisticated software tools will be developed with collaborators. Updated and standardized databases will enable the provision of value-added information, products and expertise for land-use decision support. The National Land and Water Information Service will be fully operational at the end of Phase 4 in 2009.