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CanWIN Public Docs

Welcome to the Canadian Watershed Information Network (CanWIN) public documentation.
Here you will find information about our platforms, data resources, and best practices to help you manage, share, and access data hosted by CanWIN.

Who We Are

CanWIN is a collaborative, distributed platform focused on providing access to environmental data related to watersheds in Canada. We address critical water issues such as water quality, water scarcity, and ecosystem health, by fostering interdisciplinary research and promoting innovation through access to trans-disciplinary data. CanWIN connects government agencies, researchers, environmental organizations, and local communities to collaboratively monitor and manage Canada's water resources. Our platform provides data visualization, analysis, and decision-making tools that support improved water management practices and policies.

Key functions of CanWIN include:

  • Data Access: Offering access to climate, water, and watershed health data across Canada.

  • Collaboration: Facilitating partnerships and collaboration between various sectors and organizations involved in watershed management.

  • Decision Support: Providing decision-makers with the necessary information and knowledge products to develop policies and strategies for sustainable water management.

  • Education and Outreach: Increasing public awareness about watershed management and water conservation.

Data Curation at CanWIN

“Data curation is the art of maintaining the value of data.” – TechRepublic

Curation at CanWIN transforms raw datasets into forms that are understandable, interoperable, and reusable.
It takes place at all stages of the data life cycle:

Data Life Cycle

  • Collecting data
  • Organizing data
  • Cleaning data
  • Enhancing/enriching data
  • Standardizing data
  • Storing/preserving data for future use