Anticipating demand for groundwater geoscience: groundwater risk information seeking behaviour among stakeholders in southern Ontario

Abstract

This study asks the important question What is happening in the digital world of groundwater geoscience? This is the first systematic, interdisciplinary study investigating how the Internet is enabling the uptake of geoscience information in Southern Ontario groundwater risk management decisionmaking. It follows on three earlier projects: 1) Groundwater Resources and Risks in Canada - presented at the 2016 Annual meeting of the Geological Association of Canada/ Mineralogical Association of Canada. 2) Canadian Hazard Risk Land Use Plans - presented at the 2016 World Conference on Disaster Management Research. 3) Desktop research completed for the Ontario Geological Survey 2016 Ontario Geohazards Program Framework (Reviewed: 22 international principles, guidelines and standards; 35 Reports and Statements on Open Data Interconnectivity; and 21 Canadian Provincial Geoscience Provider's Geohazards Programs and Projects). Our research identifies that the Internet is a resource available to an increasing number of Southern Ontario citizens. However, a lack of groundwater information seeking research in the Southern Ontario context means that the potential of the Internet as a source of geoscience-based aquifer hazard risk information for land use planning may not be fully understood. The purpose of this project is to build civil society's capacity and capability in geoscience based hazard risk identification and management. This project is being completed in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, the National Research Council, Health Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and Defence Research and Development Canada. It seeks to develop a concept map for the digital delivery of groundwater geoscience, detailing how to innovate with information and communication technology (ICT) to engage communities in geoscience-based aquifer hazard risk assessments. In this presentation, we present preliminary research results: A critical review of user access to online Southern Ontario groundwater geoscience studies (2006 to 2016). Completed through linking the information science literature with the post Walkerton Inquiry policy changes to determine if these websites profile the potential of the Internet as a source of geoscience-based aquifer hazard risk information. Our community engagement concept map for the digital delivery of groundwater geoscience, developed for the purpose of building capacity in community focused aquifer hazard risk assessments. New questions raised for further study on stakeholders seeking ICT options for groundwater geoscience research, practice, and uptake. Emphasising that such questions may have implications for future research and practice in groundwater geoscience, especially in the subfields of: 1. New groundwater resource exploration economic cost and benefit analysis 2. Community based groundwater geoscience education and outreach capacity building activities 3. Location specific indicators for community based groundwater hazard risk assessments (i.e. carbonate fissures and conduits, geochemical anomalies and some anthropogenic activities).