Late Glacial Origin of the Sandbanks, Webb Bay, Labrador

The Sandbanks of Webb Bay, Labrador owe their origin to ice marginal conditions during the last stages of deglaciation of this section of the Labrador coast. Several phases in their evolution are recognized. Phase 1 was characterized by disintegration of the remnants of Webb Bay and Ado's Brook valley ice masses into separate local bodies with ice marginal runoff in an eastern direction. During Phase 2 the first and highest ice-dammed lake formed. Eastward ice marginal flow continued into Phase 3, when a large system of kame terraces (altitude 360 feet) formed beside the receding Webb Bay Ice. They led to new and lower ice marginal lakes in the eastern part of the Sandbanks. Phase 4 was dominated by the construction of a more extensive system of kame terraces almost 100 feet lower than those formed in Phase 3. Locally, minor moraines helped to direct runoff and control development of these newer kame terraces. In Phase 5, meltwater from the ice and runoff from the deglaciated highlands filled a large marginal lake (altitude 230 feet), which may have contributed to subglacial drainage down Port Manvers Run. Phase 6, the last of the glacial conditions associated with formation of the Sandbanks, was introduced by withdrawal of ice far enough so that the eustatically rising sea level was able to reach part of the Sandbanks. A terrace at 135 feet above sea level is believed to be the local upper marine limit. Stagnant ice still covered the floor of Hummock Valley at the western end of the Sandbanks at this time. Subsequently isostatic adjustment has lifted the last glacio-fluvial and some of the glacio-marine features above sea level.     

Citizen and government co-production of data: Analyzing the challenges to government adoption of VGI

With the recent rise of open government and open data initiatives, governments are increasingly adopting new approaches of citizen participation to support a more democratic, transparent, and inclusive government system. Among other forms of citizen participation, Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) is one approach to connecting citizens and government. Accepting VGI as a way to update government data or collect near-real-time information from citizens can create a partner-like relationship where citizens voluntarily contribute time and effort to support government actions. However, as a relatively new approach to citizen participation and data collection, VGI requires evaluation from the perspective of governments. This research investigates the challenges and opportunities that governments have found through the implementation of VGI projects. Results are drawn from interviews conducted with 19 government organizations, revealing organizational and technical challenges that limit the adoption of VGI. Organizational challenges are associated with government mindset, implementation, and project management, while technical challenges involve development of the system and quality of data. Given these challenges, we derive recommendations within the phases of project initiation, implementation, and expansion that can foster VGI adoption in government.