HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-07-020 - Authority for Execution of Data Exchange Agreement with Google EarthREPORT
Report To: Committee of the Whole
Date of Meeting: February 5, 2007
Submitted By: Jeff Ham,
Manager, Database Administration and GIS
Prepared By: Jeff Ham,
Manager, Database Administration and GIS
Ward(s~ Involved: N/A
Date of Report: January 26, 2007
Report No.: CRPS-07-020
Subject: AUTHORITY FOR EXECUTION OF DATA EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT WITH GOOGLE EARTH
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement with Google Earth,
satisfactory to the City Solicitor for the use of city data, namely aerial photography for public,
non-commercial purposes, said release of any this data to be in compliance with any legislative
obligations.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The City has received a request from "Google Earth" for the City's recent colour aerial
photography to be displayed and made available on Google Earth's web site through a GIS
application.
REPORT:
Virtually all major urban areas around the world have high resolution aerial photography
viewable on Google Earth's site. South-western Ontario; however, has very poor quality
imagery posted and Google now wishes to host our imagery through their service free of
charge. As a participant in the original Ortho agreement, along with the Region, City of
Waterloo, City of Cambridge and City of Guelph, Kitchener staff support the provision of this
information free of charge to Google as it is seen as having tremendous value to the
community's profile world-wide. Besides the obvious benefits of our City being visually
represented as clearly as most other major City's around the globe, Google has also offered to
provide the City with licences of Google Earth Professional. This product offers enhanced
functionality that will enable staff to create map products with the full dramatic effect Google
Earth offers when visualizing areas both in and outside of Kitchener.
Staff review these requests to determine what information they can release and whether specific
restrictions need to be placed on the use of information. The City had developed a data
exchange template that it uses as the foundation for agreements where possible, however, from
time to time the City may be asked to execute agreements prepared by the party holding the
information. This is the case with the Google Earth agreement.
The Google Earth agreement has been reviewed by Legal to ensure the City's interests are
protected.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
COMMUNICATIONS:
N/A
CONCLUSION:
Staff recognizes the advantage of making this information broadly available over the Internet
and wish to continue facilitating this type of use of City data through this agreement with Google
Earth.
Jeff Ham,
Manager, Database Administration and GIS