Improving Information Interoperability for Safety and Security Organizations Using Information Mesh

Effective management of information stands as a cornerstone for maintaining public safety and security and upholding the principles of justice in Canada and beyond. Our work in this area has long been dedicated to exploring innovative approaches to information management, drawing from both theoretical approaches and from practical perspectives. In this chapter, we focus on specific enabling tools as part of a concept aimed at advancing capability maturity in this space. We will primarily focus our attention on information handling requirements and solutions particular to the Canadian public safety and security environment. We examine the concept of the “information mesh” as a solution that could satisfy expectations for how Canadian safety and security organizations handle their information assets. We begin by defining four critical information management requirements and identify key gaps for each of these information handling requirements in an operational context. We consider a range of solutions that assist Canadian safety and security organization to manage their information as a strategic asset. Finally, we describe practical applications of specific technical solutions through a series of realistic operational vignettes.