Assessing the availability and attributes of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for freshwater data in the Great Lakes Basin

This study aims to better understand how open water data are transformed into action, and where potential barriers and opportunities exist for online Information Communication Technology (ICT) tools to facilitate water-related decision making. ICT platforms are increasingly being used as tools to improve the accessibility and availability of open data. In the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin, ICT tools help inform data-driven decision-making and facilitate public engagement. We employ a systematic review protocol to assess the availability and attributes of the ICT tools containing freshwater data in the Great Lakes Basin (GLB) to inform decision-making. A total of 145 platforms were identified and analyzed by organization, tool type, and the data topics covered. Key findings include high overlap and potential saturation of tools, and a sizeable number of platforms operating at large, non-local scales and provided by U.S. government agencies. The Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom hierarchy was applied to assess the potential role of open data ICT platforms to support end-user engagement and enhance the sustainability of transboundary Great Lakes water governance. There remains a need for more inter-agency collaboration in the design and provision of open data ICT platforms in the GLB, and more attention paid to the diversity of end-user journeys to ensure their value to decision-making and public engagement.