The Scholars GeoPortal Redevelopment Project (2024-2026)

Last modified by Gabby Crowley on 2025-11-03, 16:30

About the GeoPortal

Launched in 2012, the Scholars GeoPortal is an academic geospatial data repository that provides researchers with an online tool to search for datasets, explore map-based features, and download GIS data. The GeoPortal includes large collections of historical digitized and georeferenced maps provided by Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) members and beyond. In 2012, the GeoPortal was awarded the Ontario Library and Information Technology Association (OLITA) Award for Technical Innovation.

What’s available in the GeoPortal?

With over 5,000 geospatial datasets and over 3 million aerial images covering Ontario and Canada, the Scholars GeoPortal data collections include land-based vector data (natural features, roads, building outlines, soil, water, points of interest, etc.), provincial and municipal government data, census geography, and large collections of Ontario orthoimagery. The GeoPortal also includes enhanced open data and large collections of National Topographic System (NTS) series maps that have been digitized and georeferenced by academic libraries.

Redevelopment Project (2024-2026)

Given the age of the underlying technical infrastructure the Scholars GeoPortal is currently being redeveloped. The platform will be replaced with a modernized infrastructure, built to reflect the evolving technology landscape for geospatial data and repositories. The refreshed GeoPortal will better support users in meeting new mandates for open data and open science at research institutions, as well as emerging research use cases for spatial data. This work is being done by OCUL Scholars Portal staff with guidance and support from the OCUL GeoPortal Redevelopment Project Working Group (please note that a SPOTDocs login is required to view this page).

The GeoPortal Redevelopment Project Working Group was created to advise and support Scholars Portal throughout the GeoPortal Redevelopment Project. For the names and affiliations of the Working Group members, please see below. Further information about the Working Group, including Terms of Reference, is available in the OCUL Geo Community SPOTDocs space (SPOTDocs login required).

With an anticipated release date of fall 2026, the newly redeveloped GeoPortal will include:

A more user-friendly and accessible search interface for data discovery, access and download, built in-house and carrying forward many existing features with refreshed look and feel
Integrated tools to enhance data access and discovery, such as APIs, enhanced downloading, and integrations with other repositories and tools
Better search, navigation, and display for large series and collections (e.g. historical maps, Ontario orthoimagery, etc.)
Expanded coverage of Historical Topographic Map collections, including Canada-wide coverage from the National Topographic System (NTS) series
Improved internal data and collection management tools, data loading workflows, and metadata curation.
More robust usage tracking and statistics gathering for metrics

Project Updates

Beginning in 2025, project updates will be posted to the Scholars GeoPortal Blog on SPOTDocs. These updates and links to blog posts will also be shared with the community through mailing lists.

Occasionally, updates may also be provided at Scholars Portal events and webinars, conferences, and in the Scholars Portal Newsletter.

If you have any questions regarding the Scholars GeoPortal Redevelopment Project, please reach out to us at datagis@scholarsportal.info.

For help with using the current Scholars GeoPortal please contact your local institution’s representative.

Working Group Membership and Staff Project Team

Co-Chairs

Leanne Trimble, University of Toronto
René Duplain, University of Ottawa

OCUL Members

Quin Shirk-Luckett, University of Guelph
Leanne Trimble, University of Toronto
Kate Hodge, Trent University
Rene Duplain, University of Ottawa
Sharon Janzen, Brock University
Christine Homuth, McMaster University
Francine Berish, Queen’s university
Dan Jakubek, Toronto Metropolitan University

Scholars Portal Staff

Alicia Urquidi Díaz - Metadata & Data Services Librarian (Project Lead)
Amber Leahey - Service Director, Data & GIS Librarian
Anugra Shah - GIS Developer
Bartek Kawula - Web & Discovery Librarian
Harpinder Singh - Senior Systems Admin
Jo Ashley - GIS Analyst
Mohana Sarmiento - Systems/dev-ops
Nana Boateng - Web Applications Programmer
Sarah Reeser - GIS Analyst, Portal Admin
Victoria Lubitch - Senior Software Developer