Pollution Probe and CGLR released the report, ‘Water Management and Big Data Analytics: Examination of Opportunities and Approaches to Leverage Data Science, Analytics and Advanced Computing to support Watershed Planning and the health of our Great Lakes Ecosystem’ July 2, 2019.
This report was made possible thanks to generous funding from the RBC Foundation, and the many ideas shared by experts at a workshop convened by Pollution Probe and the Council that explored watershed management and protection efforts on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with RBC on this innovative project”, says Christopher Hilkene, CEO of Pollution Probe. “This report showcases opportunities for an improved approach to watershed management and adaptive decision-making to help ensure that water in the Great Lakes basin is protected”.
The report examines the role of ‘Big Data’ and advanced computing to improve predictive decision-making for the Great Lakes watersheds, in relation to climate change, land use change and other socio-economic trends affecting the lakes.
Millions of points of data are being collected every minute about our environment, our economy, and how people interact with their city and surrounding environment, from transportation to water use. By connecting this data and analyzing it at incredibly fast speeds using smart computing technology, we can generate profound insights about what is happening in our watersheds, now and in the future, that will help governments, businesses, and civil society make better decisions regarding economic development, land use, and protecting the environment.
The report will be of great value to policy-makers and organizations involved in management of the Great Lakes including government, industry, academia and NGOs. New and unique data visualization and decision-making tools, insights and knowledge can be derived using data science and high performance computing. These tools and insights can help policy-makers and other stakeholders better understand the complex factors that cause dynamic changes in the watersheds supporting the health of the Great Lakes, and inform adaptation and mitigation strategies in the basin. By helping improve watershed management in the Great Lakes region, the project will foster greater resiliency and sustainability across the Region.
About Pollution Probe
Pollution Probe is a national, not-for-profit, charitable organization which is improving the health and well-being of Canadians by advancing policy that achieves positive, tangible environmental change. It is a leader in building successful partnerships with industry and government to develop practical solutions for shared environmental challenges.
About The Council of the Great Lakes Region
The Council of the Great Lakes Region is a binational nonprofit organization that is dedicated to deepening the United States-Canada relationship in the Great Lakes Region. Its focus is on creating a stronger and more dynamic culture of collaboration in harnessing the region’s economic strengths and assets, improving the well-being and prosperity of the Region’s citizens, and protecting the Great Lakes for future generations. It achieves this mandate by conducting evidenced based policy research, connecting diverse perspectives at events like the Great Lakes Economic Forum, and acting as a strong voice for the Region’s varied economic, social and environmental interests.
For more information contact:
Mark Fisher
President and CEO
Council of the Great Lakes Region
613-668-2044 / mark@councilgreatlakesregion.org
