Mike Scarth, Executive Director for the Alberta WaterPortal project, presented these slides as part of the Cybera Summit 2010 session, Environmental Infrastructure: The Tools and Technologies Behind Water and Resource Management.

1. Cybera Summit 2010
September 22, 2010
Mike Scarth

2. Background
In Alberta, there are over 1,000
water-related organizations,
each with different stakeholders
and perspectives on the province’s
water challenges, opportunities
and solutions.
Each is creating local and unique
websites, data sets and tools to
reach their communities of interest
How to connect this collective community of water stakeholders and all of
this water information and knowledge, in a way that adds value and is
complimentary to the goals and work that each of these groups are pursuing.

3. Alberta WaterPortal: Key Goals
• Independent, not for profit organization
• Community-based web portal connecting
divergent interests and content sources,
encouraging dialogue
• Easy to find and use
• Open sharing of water data, knowledge, tools
• No cost, charges or fees for any user
• Web 2.0 technologies supporting user friendly
applications, modules, features and tools
This is a place to easily find and contribute to the information and
knowledge needed to make better water management decisions, as well
as find the tools and resources to become more actively involved in
managing our water resources.

4. AWRI Water Data Module
Identify all publicly available sources of water information on
Alberta, and provide a easy to use “key word” search tool to
access (link back) to all this water data, information, research.
Easily SEARCH for water data by key word or location including body
of water, River Basin, LUF Region, municipality, postal code, long/lat…
Easily CONTRIBUTE AND SHARE water data or information across
the web (share and publish results of research, projects, event, etc)
A new expanded and updated search tool…coming early October!

5. AWRI Water Data Module
Connecting over 1,000 different sources of
water data, information, research
Custom built around an easy to use, and
open source platform and search tool
Free and web accessible on your mobile phone - 24/7
Hosted by technology that is actually Powered by Water!

6. Interactive State of Watershed Modules
A window to water quantity and quality data for the entire watershed basin using a
user-friendly geo-spatial data mapping application

7. Other WaterPortal Projects
SME Water Module
Make it easier for small and medium enterprises to connect with each other, and find and share
water data, information, news, research, knowledge, best practices and opportunities. Ultimately
become more successful in commercializing promising new water related technologies.
University of Lethbridge and Cybera (WE HUB)
Two year project to explore the use of internet cloud services to collect, share and model water
and environmental data. WaterPortal users will be able to access a number of online directories/
catalogues of water related models, data sources, tools and applications directly via the web.
Simple tools to chart/graph surface and groundwater data.
Water Modules (under consideration)
Water and Oil Sands, Agriculture and Irrigation (Virtual Water), Ground Water, Water Law, others...

8. Thank-You
Mike Scarth
Executive Director, Alberta WaterPortal
mike@albertawatersmart.com
403-616-4807 (cell)