Impact Conference The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania August 21, 2002 Alan Stevens International Program Manager US Federal Geographic Data Committee Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) www.@gsdi.org +703-648-5119

Geography: To Advance Business & Government Using ……. The Power of “Place” to Support Decision Making

How do we make decisions on these critical issues? Reducing crime Enhancing public safety Containing costs Managing growth Improving accountability Protecting the environment Examples of current “policy drivers” – (add others you believe appropriate). Federal agency briefings may want to consider replacing “managing growth” with “insuring national defense” or some other ‘federal’ issue. What do high level managers/policy makers need in order to make wise decisions in conducting the business of government?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Giving decision-makers the power to make more informed decisions. Policy-level officials are empowered to make decisions, and GIS improves the ability of the policymaker to make a more informed decision. GIS is about helping you make good decisions. It’s about putting tools and easy to understand analyses in front of decision makers. GIS is as much a way of thinking or rethinking the way we go about our business, as it is a technology. The prevalent use of GIS is evolving into a core technology that is included in most information technology programs today.

N.C. Department of Public Instruction wanted to manage school buses more efficiently.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Without GIS: Hit-or-miss route mapping in 107 school districts Huge inefficiencies Inability to contain costs efficiently -        For decades, school bus routes were generated using paper maps, pushpins, plastic transparencies, and colored pens – a virtual busload of information. Addresses for every student had to be located on a paper map and marked by hand. -        All of our routers had to look at a map and try to figure out the best routes; using their best judgment, routers grouped the closest students, marked pickup points, and created the bus routes.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction With GIS: Developed pilot program more than 15 years ago Mandated use of GIS by all districts statewide in 1992 State funding incentives reward efficiency: fewer buses, better routes -         Today the process is automated and streamlined and allows us to look at the problems in a new way. -         Can quickly create routes that are more accurately based on distance and provide the best driver routes. -         GIS also aids in planning routes for the future; by looking at student grade and census demographic information. -         And, GIS has facilitated accident-tracking enabling the router to more easily assess if there is a dangerous stretch of road along a school bus route. -         In addition, the same GIS is used for fleet inventory management, where the number of busses, equipment, engines, and other equipment data can be maintained and analyzed.  

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Results: In the 1994-95 school year: - more than 500 fewer buses were needed statewide than originally estimated - 15,000,000 fewer miles were driven than originally estimated Between 1990 & 1996: - the state saved over 2,000,000 gallons of fuel

So how does the FGDC, the NSDI and the GSDI fit into the picture??? Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) ·        Expand…. – Brings information together in new ways – the ability to integrate various layers of data from multiple sources & visualize the data into one or more comprehensive views. ·        Enhance…. – Look at multiple possible solutions – improves ones ability to understand various options, visualize/analyze key relationships among the data, and explore implications of decisions/tradeoffs. It enables analysis that would otherwise not be done. ·        Streamline…. – Helps affected managers and stakeholders readily understand key issues – having a better understanding of the options enables one to take more informed steps in the process and as a result facilitates (in many cases shortens) the process of building consensus. ·        Dramatically…. - comprehensive views of data + better analysis of options + reaching consensus more effectively = a more informed decision.

Realities Among Data Relevant data is often hard to find and in incompatible forms. Information describing data is often non-existent. Framework data does not exist for broad geographic areas. Data sharing across organizations is inconsistent. -         With today’s emphasis on digital spatial data, new products are created with greater frequency. There continues to be, however, some institutional resistance to putting data into a form such that it can be widely used. With this increased production comes the potential for substantial duplication of effort, as virtually identical digital products appear from different agencies to satisfy their often very specific needs. -         The costs of creating and maintaining digital spatial data are high, so it is particularly important that data created at considerable cost and effort be collected to standards and shareable to ensure that the collected data be fully utilized to realize all of its potential benefits.  

Create a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) ……… To encourage the collection, processing, archiving, integrating, and sharing of geospatial data and information using common standards and interoperable systems and techniques ….. and accessible via the web ·        Expand…. – Brings information together in new ways – the ability to integrate various layers of data from multiple sources & visualize the data into one or more comprehensive views. ·        Enhance…. – Look at multiple possible solutions – improves ones ability to understand various options, visualize/analyze key relationships among the data, and explore implications of decisions/tradeoffs. It enables analysis that would otherwise not be done. ·        Streamline…. – Helps affected managers and stakeholders readily understand key issues – having a better understanding of the options enables one to take more informed steps in the process and as a result facilitates (in many cases shortens) the process of building consensus. ·        Dramatically…. - comprehensive views of data + better analysis of options + reaching consensus more effectively = a more informed decision.

Relationships Among Data Build Once, Use Many Times Framework Data Other Thematic Data Aerial Imagery Elevation Geodetic Control Boundaries Surface Waters Transportation Land Ownership Soils Sewer Lines Water Lines Landcover Demographics Flood Zones Click once to draw the NSDI 7 Framework spatial data categories (layers or themes). Applications of geospatial data vary greatly, but users have a recurring need for a few common themes of data. These 7 themes of data form a foundation for many applications of geographic data and provide a framework of reference for most other applications. These are ‘Framework’ data that all GIS users require, and the Framework needs to be developed for the Nation. Click again to draw the “thematic data layers”. These represent any other spatial, or non-spatial data that can be referenced, or overlaid, on the Framework data. Once these data sets are created to standards and documented, they can be shared across user organizations and used many times to support different decisions. This results in cost savings, organizational efficiencies, and better decision-making.

Core Components of the NSDI Clearinghouse (catalog) Metadata Standards Framework GEOdata The FGDC identified some basic components of the US NSDI, they are Standards; geographic data; Metadata; Clearinghouses, and partnerships. I’ll cover our progress with each of these components now. Partnerships

The Federal Geographic Data Committee …. what’s new? Geospatial One-Stop E-gov E-com Implementation Teams (I-Teams) Homeland security ·        Expand…. – Brings information together in new ways – the ability to integrate various layers of data from multiple sources & visualize the data into one or more comprehensive views. ·        Enhance…. – Look at multiple possible solutions – improves ones ability to understand various options, visualize/analyze key relationships among the data, and explore implications of decisions/tradeoffs. It enables analysis that would otherwise not be done. ·        Streamline…. – Helps affected managers and stakeholders readily understand key issues – having a better understanding of the options enables one to take more informed steps in the process and as a result facilitates (in many cases shortens) the process of building consensus. ·        Dramatically…. - comprehensive views of data + better analysis of options + reaching consensus more effectively = a more informed decision.

The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) The mid 1990s The same benefits that are realized internally translate across international boundaries 5th International GSDI meeting over 40 countries and 300 attendees representing over 40 countries GSDI-6 in Budapest, September 16-19, 2002 <www. gsdi.org> & click on ‘GSDI 6’ ·        Expand…. – Brings information together in new ways – the ability to integrate various layers of data from multiple sources & visualize the data into one or more comprehensive views. ·        Enhance…. – Look at multiple possible solutions – improves ones ability to understand various options, visualize/analyze key relationships among the data, and explore implications of decisions/tradeoffs. It enables analysis that would otherwise not be done. ·        Streamline…. – Helps affected managers and stakeholders readily understand key issues – having a better understanding of the options enables one to take more informed steps in the process and as a result facilitates (in many cases shortens) the process of building consensus. ·        Dramatically…. - comprehensive views of data + better analysis of options + reaching consensus more effectively = a more informed decision.

The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) Why should I want to be involved? Business case examples Netherlands Land transfer ·        Expand…. – Brings information together in new ways – the ability to integrate various layers of data from multiple sources & visualize the data into one or more comprehensive views. ·        Enhance…. – Look at multiple possible solutions – improves ones ability to understand various options, visualize/analyze key relationships among the data, and explore implications of decisions/tradeoffs. It enables analysis that would otherwise not be done. ·        Streamline…. – Helps affected managers and stakeholders readily understand key issues – having a better understanding of the options enables one to take more informed steps in the process and as a result facilitates (in many cases shortens) the process of building consensus. ·        Dramatically…. - comprehensive views of data + better analysis of options + reaching consensus more effectively = a more informed decision.

The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure …. what’s next? Global capacity building Country/Region training ESRI $5M Grant Partner with donor organizations Closer collaboration with other global organizations Cookbook – a living document Formalize the GSDI as an organization Complete incorporation process ·        Expand…. – Brings information together in new ways – the ability to integrate various layers of data from multiple sources & visualize the data into one or more comprehensive views. ·        Enhance…. – Look at multiple possible solutions – improves ones ability to understand various options, visualize/analyze key relationships among the data, and explore implications of decisions/tradeoffs. It enables analysis that would otherwise not be done. ·        Streamline…. – Helps affected managers and stakeholders readily understand key issues – having a better understanding of the options enables one to take more informed steps in the process and as a result facilitates (in many cases shortens) the process of building consensus. ·        Dramatically…. - comprehensive views of data + better analysis of options + reaching consensus more effectively = a more informed decision.

Additional Information www.gsdi.org Global Spatial Data Infrastructure www.fgdc.gov Federal Geographic Data Committee www.opengis.org Open GIS Consortium www.erogi.org European Umbrella Org. for Geog. Info. www.cpidea.org.co Permanent Comm. For the Americas www.permcom.apgis.gov.au/ PCGIAP