The GIS Centre is focusing on working with researchers and students dealing with “change” – change in our world, environment, climate, society, health, economy and the built environment. Staff in the GIS Centre are currently involved in two climate change projects: one on sea level rise in Halifax Harbour, and another on drought in North America.

The Harbour project will eventually see the GIS Centre helping the working group make a presentation to HRM Council and the public. It is a very interesting project for us, a good public service, excellent research and use of GIS–and somewhat scary to learn more about what is really happening and the speed of change in our oceans.

The drought project involves working with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, as well as the US Department of Agriculture and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in México City. Part of this project is the creation of a public GIS system to help people plan for drought or deal with its effects.