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Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR):
Natural Resources & Values Information System (NRVIS)
Version 3
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Revolutionary Geographic Information System centralizes data while improving speed and ease of
use for wider range of users to better collect, maintain and analyze vital land and resources data.
The mission of the Ministry of Natural Resources is to protect and manage Ontario’s natural resources, or its "natural
capital", and make the interest from that capital available for individuals, communities and economies that depend on
it. In doing so, the Ministry contributes to the environmental, social and economic well-being of the people of Ontario,
meeting not only today’s needs, but also ensuring these resources are available for future generations.
MNR’s science, information and technology units develop new knowledge and tools to support the conservation and
sustainable management of Ontario’s forests, fish and wildlife, and water resources. The NRVIS organization itself has
a staff of 23 people who work on system development, testing and end-user support and training.
NRVIS Version 3 is an innovative new system providing leading-edge geographic information system (GIS) tools for
managing MNR’s digital land information.
Challenges
The NRVIS system has been in production since 1997. It was designed to enforce standards and business rules around
land-related data to ensure the availability of high-quality, consistent data for decision makers throughout the MNR.
Until the development of NRVIS 3.0, the system was a network of distributed databases in each of the 26 MNR
districts covering the province. Each district had its own standalone application and database which fed into a central
repository, the Ontario Land Information Warehouse (OLIW), using a manual process. Each standalone system
managed the data for that particular region only.
Over time, the underlying system hardware and software became dated; and superior technology was developed that
could revolutionize the system in a way that would greatly increase efficiency, better serve current users and allow
expansion to a far wider audience, both within and beyond the Ministry. But to take advantage of these opportunities,
a radical redesign of the system would be required, using a completely new technology platform.
Objectives
The overall objective was to improve the system for existing clients, while meeting the needs of an expanded client
base. Within that broad framework however, were the additional objectives of eliminating the need for powerful PCs
and expensive GIS software, increasing system speed and efficiency, doing away with frequent duplication of effort,
and making the system more user friendly. In addition, the new system was to be more reliable, while at the same
time, reducing infrastructure costs. Finally, the system would have the capability to provide updated data to all users
almost instantly.
Solutions
Whereas the old system was a network of distributed databases, NRVIS Version 3 runs on a centralized application and
database. All users, from any location in the province, access the same database over an intranet using standard
desktop computers. Users no longer require high-end workstations or multiple copies of GIS software to use the system.
Centralization also allows for quicker problem identification and resolution, thus reducing downtime. Infrastructure
costs have been reduced by 50 percent compared to the previous system due to centralization.
The design of the system has also allowed for a significant increase in speed. The task of drawing the water features
for a particular area that used to take up to 10 minutes for example, now takes less than one minute to complete.
Users can also view and edit features that cross their jurisdictional areas, thanks to the centralization of data. The
duplication of effort between districts that existed with the old system has now been eliminated.
The more intuitive look and feel of the Windows-based graphical user interface has a number of benefits as well.
The system is no longer solely the preserve of advanced GIS users. More than 50 MNR staff that would never have
attempted to use the old system, now access it regularly. The learning curve for the new system is also much shorter,
leading to reduced training costs and increased productivity. Complete and up-to-the-minute data allows all users to
see changes immediately, and allows them to incorporate those changes into their own data sets.
Innovative Use of Technology
The massive quantity of data used in GIS applications normally precludes centralized approaches due to the enormous
load it puts on network infrastructure. However, groundbreaking use of technologies such as the Citrix Metaframe
Suite allowed the NRVIS team to break through this traditional barrier and successfully centralize NRVIS 3.0
The NRVIS application was built by customizing the ESRI ArcGIS software, using Visual Basic 6.0 and the ESRI
ArcObject library. This permitted the combining of the powerful features of one of the foremost GIS software packages
with the enhancements necessary to meet the goals and functions of MNR business operations. Extensive customization
augments the functionality of ArcGIS and allows for the application of the rigorous editing standards necessary to suit
MNR business practices and ensure high-quality data.
The consolidation of data previously distributed at locations throughout the province makes the NRVIS database one
of the most complex geodatabases in existence, with more than 10 million records related to approximately 200
different data classes and in excess of 700 types of data. More than 120 users at all levels of the organization and in all
areas of the province are using NRVIS for the collection, maintenance and analysis of vital land and resources data.
A 2004 CIPA Winner!
For its exceptional and innovative application of Information Technology to solve real-world business problems and
bring greater benefit to all its stakeholders, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources was awarded a 2004 Canadian
Information Productivity Award of Excellence in the Organizational Transformation category.
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