The contribution of geospatial data and technology to the Canadian GDP through productivity improvement is estimated to be $20.7 billion or 1.1% of the Canadian GDP in 2013. Many sectors have benefited from the application of geotechnology and data including mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction (productivity improvement due to geotechnology and data estimated at 4.54%), transportation and warehousing (1.64%), utilities (1.58%), public administration (1.51%), construction (1.23%), agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (1.22%), and management of companies and enterprises (1.08%).
In an attempt to bring this diverse industry together and enable the geospatial community to act collaboratively, a new umbrella organization GeoAlliance Canada was launched in April 2015. The strategic objectives of GeoAlliance Canada are to understand the characteristics of the geospatial market now and in the near future and especially prepare for the impacts of disruptive technologies, to provide better cohesion in the Geomatics Sector through greater collaboration among all levels of government, private sector companies, and academic institutions, and identify strategic project investments that will catalyze innovation and development, enabling Canadian solution providers to evolve their data services, applications, products, and consulting services in growing SDI and Location Based Services (LBS) environments.
The contribution funding from Natural Resources Canada will provide for essential operational resources for this new organization as it begins to articulate and promote the benefits of using geospatial data and tools for effective decision making to leaders within business, government and education circles.
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