Frequently Asked Questions
How does CoastConnect relate to CIOOS?
The Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) builds and maintains Canada's national ocean data infrastructure — collecting, curating, and making ocean data discoverable and accessible through standards-based, open-access systems. On the Pacific coast, CIOOS Pacific aggregates data from research institutions, government agencies, and community monitoring programs into a regional data hub.
CoastConnect complements CIOOS by focusing on the "last mile" of data mobilization. Where CIOOS makes data findable and accessible, CoastConnect packages that data into monitoring methods, tools, training materials, and case studies designed for the practical needs of coastal BC end-users — including First Nations Guardian programs, stewardship organizations, regulatory bodies, and community monitoring initiatives. CoastConnect features CIOOS tools directly on the platform, including the CIOOS Data Explorer and Data Catalogue, and actively drives traffic and uptake to CIOOS resources.
Hakai Institute is an active data contributor to CIOOS Pacific, and OceanConnect — one of the many tools featured on CoastConnect — was developed collaboratively with CIOOS, along with many other tools.
Is it mandatory to partner with Hakai Institute to use the information, resources and tools made available through CoastConnect?
No it is not! All the tools and resources created for, or referenced through, CoastConnect are open-source and publicly available. Users are encouraged to use what materials and resources they need to set up, or support, their projects. If organizations would like additional support in enabling or facilitating monitoring or research efforts, or perhaps help in applying for specific grants, they are encouraged to reach out to us: see Connect with Us.
The resources made available on CoastConnect, can I contribute to those?
The majority of the tools and resources generated for CoastConnect are built on publicly available data which has been properly licensed to enable broad reuse. We encourage organizations to reach out to us here if there is an interest in making their data available through tools offered by CoastConnect.
There are also external tools made available through CoastConnect. To have your data be published through those platforms you will need to reach out to those teams.
How are data sensitivities handled by the CoastConnect team?
CoastConnect does not manage, modify, or store data from external partners. All the data made available through tools on CoastConnect has been obfuscated appropriately where necessary, following discussions and collaborations with relevant partners. Where necessary, data has been omitted to respect the data sovereignty of our close respected partnering organizations and First Nations. If there is an interest in accessing more granular data, we encourage you to directly reach out to those First Nations or organizations.
Are all the tools and resources made available through CoastConnect created by the Hakai Institute?
No they are not. While we have certainly created a vast number of resources and materials made available, we are not limiting ourselves to only providing Hakai-generated materials. Where it is possible and makes sense to bring in external resources that support a workflow or provide additional context, we can do so.