4DM is also involved in innovative research and development-type projects which are typically joint ventures with other private companies, R&D agencies and goverment agencies at various levels.  4DM’s key contribution to R&D projects is in utilizing spatial technologies in an effective, innovative, and collaborative manner to achieve the project’s end goals. Examples of R&D initiatives led by 4DM are:
 

 WaterView - Applied Research and Development Create an Online Geospatial Technology Framework for Watershed Management Tool

Contributing Partners: NRC-IRAP

Objective: Spatial.View was an application development project to create a prototype Spatial Knowledge Management System using endorsed OpenGIS/Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure Technology. Spatial.View provides a geospatial technology framework to create customizable applications modules. The first application module was focused on water management using spatial object oriented data model. Additional modules focused on cadastral information and demographic. Key components developed include a Data Transfer Agent (J2EE), Geodatabase (Oracle8i SDO), Internet technology (XML/XSLT/GML/SVG) and map/web application server.

 Foster Creek Floodplain Mapping

Partners: Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Objective: To develop and evaluate methodologies in using airborne LIDAR data to generate surface models appropriate to floodplain mapping and watershed monitoring