IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE

• Main Author: Liman Mao
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Canada; Yukon; First Nations
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.71.3769; http://www.geomatics.ucalgary.ca/Papers/Thesis/MR/05.20223.LimanMao.pdf

Aboriginal rights are a key issue affecting resource development in Canada on Aboriginal lands. However, searching for land related information can be very time consuming and incomplete, particularly in remote Aboriginal areas. There is a need for an on-line system providing integrated information about land and its resources, such as natural resources, topography, existing infrastructures, statutory requirements and the regulations that might apply to various developments on the land. The goal of this research is to explore the role of new and emerging technologies, specifically GIS and Internet technologies, for resource management, and thereby develop a web GIS prototype to assist the resource development and management process involving Aboriginal communities. The research started by reviewing the use of web GIS by Aboriginal communities, governmental agencies and the private sector for aboriginal resource management. It then reviewed the current trends of web GIS technologies. This included a comparison of two commercial software ESRI ArcIMS and Intergraph Geomedia Webmap. ESRI ArcIMS was chosen to develop the prototype because of its easy maintenance and customization. In this research, the Yukon Territory, comprising 14 First Nations, was selected as the study area. Data for the Yukon First Nations was collected, edited, processed. A database was then designed and populated, and a web GIS prototype was developed. In the prototype implementation, an interactive users ’ interface was designed and developed. ArcIMS was customized to set up and enhance the website functions. Hyperlinks on the spatial layer were created, a mechanism for restricting access to the website was examined, and various advanced queries using ArcXML were developed and tested. Furthermore, a methodology, using combined vector and raster analysis, was developed to deal efficiently with multi-layer overlay analysis. iii