1. Groups indicated that the Workgroup question really had two fundamental parts...
1-A) How would Arctic science benefit from an improved GIS?
1-B) What are the most significant Arctic research questions and programs that could be addressed with improved GIS capability?

2. 1-B was intended to identify the core research "business" that can be supported with GIS:

3. OVERARCHIENG JUSTIFICATION OF IMPROVED GIS CAPABILITIES FOR ARCTIC RESEARCH
ARE THERE ANY ASPECTS OF ARCTIC RESEARCH THAT WOULD NOT BE IMPROVED BY ENHANCED GIS?
ONE COULD ARGUE THAT ANY INFORMATION THAT IS SPATIAL, TIED TO LOCATION, IS SUITABLE AND FURTHER THAT ALL OR NEARLY ALL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS INHERENTLY GEOGRAPHIC

4. BIG-PICTURE SCIENCE ISSUES:
Natural environmental variability
Human impacts on the environment
E.g. pollution and contaminants
The impact of global warming on the environment
The arctic as sensitive indicator of environmental change
Internal feedbacks that exacerbate global change
The impact of environmental change on resources and society
e.g. Coastal erosion, changes in permafrost, etc.

5. CONTRIBUTIONS WITHIN DISCIPLINES:
Such disciplinary themes as:
the biosphere
terrestrial environments
hydrosphere
cryosphere
atmosphere
the oceans
social sciences

6. E.g. circumarctic vegetation mapping program, International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean, permafrost and others.
Adding value to existing research approaches
logistical support for field data collection
infrastructure for data compilation
“vertical integration” of datasets
minimize redundant efforts
expanded tools for data analysis
effective communication for outreach, education and policy making
Realizing entirely new avenues for research
analysis of huge, empirically based datasets that would be difficult if not impossible to assemble or interpret without GIS

7. CONTRIBUTIONS AMONG DISCIPLINES
Facilitate interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaboration
“lateral integration” of datasets
Data-model comparisons
Stimulate new avenues of research as well as making existing avenues more effective

8. Lots of good input regarding
Question 1-A………..

9. Improved Coordination and Communications
Minimize duplication
More effective logistics and coordination
Notification of research (local communities and among scientific community)
Relate regional to pan-Arctic issues

10. Improved Coordination and Communications
Who is doing what, where, why, how etc.
Use resources to improve coordination
Establish more productive link between data producers and users
Integrate new data sets
Better data acquisition

11. Improved Coordination and Communications
Better presentation of issues to decision makers and the public
Dissemination and sharing of research findings and data
More efficient access to data
More efficient access to information about data

12. Improved Coordination and Communications
Incorporation of traditional environmental knowledge (TEK)
Education and research
Draw in more researchers
Promote better integration across disciplines
Promote more effective linkages between social and physical sciences

13. Improved Coordination and Communications
More review and feedback equals better data
Identify and fill data gaps
Easier sharing of information
Serendipity - new insights based on data exploration and correlation in forms not previously available

14. Improved Coordination and Communications
Place-based exploration and interaction
Some problems are not restricted to the Arctic, and require communication and coordination with the rest of the world

15. Basic Infrastructure Requirements
Data
Integration of data sets
Common data delivery system
Base set of data layers
Physical setting - interoperability among the full range of topics to support systems modeling, etc.

16. Basic Infrastructure Requirements
Data (cont.)
Improved detail and quality of data
Quality of data and analysis critical for maintaining confidence in the infrastructure
Historical data - lots of information around but little documentation, organization or accessibility.

17. Basic Infrastructure Requirements
Data (cont.)
Data security and privacy. There is a need to restrict access to some types of data
Different scales of data needed
Difficult to get people to record metadata

18. Basic Infrastructure Requirements
Organization
Data clearinghouse. Infrastructure to support scientists, local communities, and education
Distributed vs centralized functions. Centralized function good for metadata, but distributed situation preferred for data stewardship

19. Basic Infrastructure Requirements
Organization
Sociology of the stakeholder community - how can this community behave in a coordinated manner?
Political and legal issues and realities have to be acknowledged
Arctic policy development influences research topics and research findings inform policy

20. Basic Infrastructure Requirements
Human Resources
Need a tiered system of technical abilities and support
People need to understand and have access to the information and tools at levels that are appropriate to their real need

21. Basic Infrastructure Requirements
Services
Data and services must be useable and accessible
Transparent data transfer
Cost of entry into the technology has been a barrier to many researchers

22. Special Data Modeling and Systems Modeling Requirements
Data
3D and 4D
Vertical integration of data sets
Integrated physical setting model
Temporal dimension, and incorporation of real-time and near real-time information

23. Special Data Modeling and Systems Modeling Requirements
Systems Modeling
Lots of good systems models around, some implemented with GIS and others standalone or beyond capability of most current GIS systems
Analysis of cumulative impacts

24. Special Data Modeling and Systems Modeling Requirements
Systems Modeling
Risk analysis
Assessment of the impacts of man on environment, and reciprocal impacts on man
Need integrated modeling that can assess interactions among physical, biological and man-made systems

25. Funding / Motivations for Cooperation / Requirements
Don't spend $ on GIS at the expense of research funding
Carrot and the stick (need to have both to "encourage" coordination)

26. Funding agencies need to be specific about requirements, and diligent in their followup and enforcement
Data quality control must be part of requirements