A new open-access website for sharing water quality data from the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Basin has been released.
Great Lakes DataStream advances collaborative freshwater protection by bringing people and data together. The site already contains seven million data points and includes dozens of parameters—ranging from temperature to metals and nutrients. Data on Great Lakes DataStream has been shared by a wide range of water monitors from across Ontario and Quebec, including community groups and Conservation Authorities, as well as federal and provincial governments.
DataStream gives researchers and scientists, as well as community groups and the public, the opportunity to explore and download full water quality datasets. Interactive data visualizations are easy to create and share, and all users can be confident in the integrity of the data they’re accessing thanks to the use of blockchain technology.
DataStream’s structured datasets help address barriers to the use of AI and advanced modelling in freshwater research and management, as all data on the platform is provided in a machine-readable, standardized format. DataStream’s open data schema is in line with the US EPA’s WQX data schema, helping enable cross-border comparison of datasets. All data on DataStream is published under clear open licenses that permit data reuse.
As well as data, Great Lakes DataStream also contains stories of water champions who use the platform, including Water Institute member Nandita Basu.
Great Lakes DataStream is the fourth hub of Canada’s largest open-access platform for sharing water data, joining Mackenzie DataStream, Atlantic DataStream, and Lake Winnipeg DataStream.
Great Lakes DataStream map