From dc94741c1102bc1183b6b633537a1cb5d30844be Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Diego Ripley Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2026 08:10:54 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] Add smartnodes lab work to Data Dissemination Strategy page --- content/docs/dissemination/_index.md | 12 ++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+) diff --git a/content/docs/dissemination/_index.md b/content/docs/dissemination/_index.md index 0d4dae8..efe4a5a 100644 --- a/content/docs/dissemination/_index.md +++ b/content/docs/dissemination/_index.md @@ -61,3 +61,15 @@ flowchart TD click Metadata "https://stac-utils.github.io/stac-geoparquet/latest/spec/stac-geoparquet-spec/" _blank click Zenodo "https://zenodo.org/communities/dataforcanada/" _blank ``` + +## Work in the Lab: Smartnodes + +To further democratize access and ensure the persistence of Canada’s open data, we are experimenting with the features defined in previous **smartnode** work done by [Academic Torrents](https://academictorrents.com/docs/mirroring.html#smartnodes). + +A smartnode functions as a "set-it-and-forget-it" volunteer server, an automated library branch for our data infrastructure. + +* **Automated Mirroring:** Unlike a standard download, a smartnode automatically synchronizes with our central catalog. It intelligently fetches new or "at-risk" datasets to ensure they remain available even if the central portal experiences downtime. +* **Volunteer-Powered Resilience:** This model allows partner institutions (universities, research labs) and public volunteers to donate bandwidth and storage. By running a smartnode, contributors actively protect vital Canadian datasets from being lost or gated behind paywalls. +* **Dynamic Storage Management:** The node software monitors network health, automatically prioritizing rare data to maintain high availability across the entire Data for Canada ecosystem. + +We are currently adapting the `smart-node-transmission` protocols to work seamlessly with our STAC GeoParquet catalog, enabling a fully decentralized data mesh for Canadian geospatial information.