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Sources and methodology for mapping work camps in B.C.

Discourse is committed to being transparent and accountable to our community, so we've listed the sources and methodology for our map of camps across British Columbia.

Work camps reach every corner of British Columbia

Discourse created the most comprehensive picture of the footprint of camps across the province and found almost 2,000 spots where camps could exist.

 
 


Our goal was to try to create the most up-to-date, comprehensive profile of camps across British Columbia. However, this process was challenging as there is no central registry for camps and there is no one “catch-all” document or agency that would keep track of camps as they come and go.

Below, you will find links to our original sources as well as a spatial file that combines the data. We’d love to hear from you if have any thoughts, questions or concerns. Whether you are a data wiz, mapping connoisseur or industrial camp expert. Maybe you live near one of these communities? Work at a camp? Run a camp?  

Send me an email:

Methodology:

The map includes camps at various stages: Some are open, some are closed and others are pending. They represent a variety of industries including oil and gas, forestry and aquaculture. The map was created by combining three open datasets available on DataBC and data provided to us by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. We selected these datasets and used the methodology as outlined in this 2012 report published by Northern Health as a guide.

Our sources:

  • Red dots: BC Oil and Gas Commission database, accessible here, points found by filtering site type by camp. These points represent camps predominantly associated with oil and gas projects.
  • Green dots: Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, accessible here, points found by filtering by SP_USE_DSC by “logging camp, shop, offices.” These points represent camps predominantly associated with oil and gas projects.   
  • Blue dots: Cross-referencing license numbers of camps provided to us by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development with their online database here for the location. These points represent camps that had to obtain water licenses and could be associated with any industry including aquaculture. As a result, there may be duplication in the above sources.
  • We did not distinguish between open, closed or pending camps in this data visualization as there is no way to determine whether or not camps in the BC Oil and Gas Commission database are active or not.
  • We combined the above datasets and have made it available here as a GeoJSON spatial file.