Availability and Access to geospatial data by Academic Researchers – Case study: Federal University of Bahia (UFBA)
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Gomes Vieira de Jesus, E.; 2de Oliveira Fernandes, V.; 3Lustosa Brito, P.; 4Alixandrini, M.
1UFBA Email: lanegeografia@hotmail.com
2UFBA Email: vivian.deofernandes@gmail.com
3UFBA Email: britopatricia@hotmail.com
4UFBA Email: alixandrini@ufba.br
Abstract
With increasing development of information technology, geospatial data and information have been produced more easily and quickly. However we notice some difficulty for the availability of these data in Brazil for general public, especially the lack of laws that regulates this availability. This discussion comes up mostly with the proposals as Spatial Data Infrastructures which aims at the integration of different data producing sources allowing standardized provision thereof. Thus, the internet has been playing a vital role in providing such data and geospatial information through platforms known as Spatial Data Infrastructure, geoportals and GIS Web. In order, this limited data availability to the general public one realizes the extent of the problem in the academic context. This limited data available to the general public, one realizes the extent of the problem in the academic context. In this sense, this work aims to evaluate how the target audience of this research is University Professor access to geospatial data for their activities of teaching, researches and extension. The adopted methodology consisted in conducting semi-structured interviews with 20 professors from Federal University of Bahia in order to identify which geospatial data they have used for teaching, research, and extension and how they can access them. The main objective of this step was to see if data access occurs through physical, web and geoportals, which are presented only as a platform for data access or Web GIS that, allow the interaction of the system with the user. Then an exploratory analysis was performed on geoportals and WEB GIS mentioned in the interviews to verify as this access and/or the level of system interaction with the user. From the interviews it was possible to perceive that many teachers are not having quick and easy access to data and information produced by government agencies through the Web, in other words, it is often necessary to request these data thought official letter explaining that they will be used for academic purposes and go to these locations in person to purchase them. This long way to getting the data turns out to enable these teachers to work with outdated information in time, being updated information exists but is not available in ease. However, professors and academic researchers also reported difficulties faced when accessing the data in the sites or geoportals that provide the information generated by government agencies, where it is common to use only for viewing not allowing downloading of this data to be handled according to their needs. And when this information is integrated in a WEB GIS notice initially some difficulty for users to find the desired data, due to inadequate ratings of themes and sub-themes. Another prevailing problem concerns not fulfillment of user interactions with the WEB GIS which ends up causing the same to download when allowed such information, which will be used in a GIS installed on their computers. Before the exposal, it has showed great importance of the implementation of a spatial data Infrastructure and a Geoportal for Brazil and for the State of Bahia to promote the access of users to geospatial data enabling that user generate relevant information that will apply in their academic pursuits. It is also necessary to remember the significant role of WEB GIS in this process that beyond access to geospatial data should allow for different levels of interaction vary according to the objectives of this user.