We can see the GeoNet Server but we can't synchronise the data!

Jeremy and I travelled out to Avalon to catch up with the GeoNet team within GNS to test out their newly configured WFS server.

GeoNet are in a fantastic building that used to be a film studio but seems more like the secret base of a James Bond baddie with some serious computers and data displays on the wall next to racks of climbing gear, electric drills, rock anchors, armoured cabling and satellite dishes - my kind of science! All of that kit is necessary to maintain the network of scientific sensors they have across NZ in some of the harshest alpine terrain under attack from the elements, earthquakes, volcanoes and the ever present Kea (alpine parrot).

The WFS server will in theory serve up a range of data allowing other agencies to point their GIS application at the server and add the data layers into their own system.

Unfortunately whilst we could see the server, and see the data layers available we couldn't get them to synchronise to Emergeo. This photo shows a lot of very clever people trying to work the problem out with little success.

Having emailed the Emergeo Technical Support team in Canada I have a patch to apply to our system as soon as I get a chance and we should be in business.

Other agencies that could benefit from real-time GeoNet data within their GIS system should contact the GeoNet outreach coordinator Sara Tresch.

Integration of GeoNet data feeds into Emergeo

Last week Jeremy, Martin and I met with Dr Geoff Clitheroe and Dr Paul Grimwood from GNS to discuss integrating GeoNet feeds directly into the Emergeo GIS Browser.

We initially identified two types of content that would be useful; the isoseismal predictions for an event (these use a model to provide indicative Modified Mercalli Intensity levels emanating outwards from an event) and the near real-time shaking intensity from seismographs.

Whilst this mapping is already available on the GeoNet website having it available as a data layer within the Emergency Management Information System means that local Health users on the Emergeo browser can quickly identify health facilities that are within an affected area, whilst those with the Smart Client Emergeo can perform basic geo-spatial analysis, for example identifying the number of people within an affected area.

The screen shot shows an isoseismal layer that has been imported to Emergeo. Over the next month or so Jeremy and I will be working with GNS to establish a WFS server feed so that these data layers can be viewed in real time (rather than imported as a file). There are a number of practical aspects to work through, such as trigger levels and rules around how events such as aftershocks are incorporated into data layers for an incident but we hope to be able to demonstrate a working feed in time for the FOSS4G conference in September.