NSDI Douglas Nebert, Clearinghouse Coordinator Federal Geographic Data Committee An Overview

NSDI What is the NSDI? “...the technology, policies, standards, and human resources necessary to acquire, process, store, distribute, and improve the utilization of geospatial data. ”

NSDI n Organizations and individuals cooperating n Using electronic technology to help find and share geographic information n Following mutually accepted standards n Developing common base themes of data What is the NSDI?

NSDI So that......together we create networks of organizations and unified collections of data to ease decision-making for common pieces of geography.

NSDI Why do we need to build the NSDI?

Geospatial Data Some Examples Field MeasurementsMaps Remotely-sensed ImagesSpatially-referenced Data

NSDI Data n The most expensive investment for an organization n Created by many different organizations n To solve many different problems n Using many different methods and technologies

NSDI But... n Data are hard to find n Data are difficult to access n Data are hard to integrate n Data are not current n Data are undocumented n Data are incomplete

NSDI The vision of NSDI Current and accurate geospatial data will be readily available to contribute locally, nationally, and globally to economic growth, environmental quality and stability, and social progress

NSDI What steps can we take together to build the NSDI? together to build the NSDI? How is the NSDI structured?

NSDI The NSDI is composed of Metadata Geospatial data Geospatial data Clearinghouse Standards Partnerships

NSDI These elements are linked in a very explicit way to assure the function of the enterprise.

NSDI The data provides a core... Geospatial Data

NSDI Categories of Geospatial Data Community-developed data sets usually derived for a single purpose but made available for potential re-use Data sets developed to a common content specification for high re-use potential. These are known as “Framework” data.

NSDI GEOdata Framework Categories of Geospatial Data

NSDI Framework provides... n a foundation to which spatial information and attributes can be added. n a base on which other themes of data can be compiled. n context to orient and link the results of analyses to the landscape

Digital orthoimagery Elevation and bathymetry Boundaries Railroads Geodetic Federal State Local Private Utilities Spatial AnalysisBase for Other DataFinished Maps Roads Cadastral Hydrography Framework Data

NSDI Framework supports... Community development of sets of spatial primitives, feature representation, and attribution to a lowest common denominator Participants collecting or converting information to common Framework specifications Multiple representations of real-world features at different scales and times by feature identifier and generalization

NSDI Framework implementation Performed within thematic communities, composed of federal, local government, academic, and vendor contributions Drafted and tested first on a local scale and propagated upwards to assure compatibility Ownership does not fall to one organization but to a cooperative group

NSDI GEOdata Framework Metadata Describing your data...

NSDI The uses of metadata Provides documentation of existing internal geospatial data resources within an organization (inventory) Permits structured search and comparison of held spatial data by others (advertising) Provides end-users with adequate information to take the data and use it in an appropriate context (liability)

NSDI Metadata developments n Refinement of the FGDC Metadata Standard n Harmonization with international standards n Collection tools available n Training available from FGDC

NSDI Metadata Content Standard Published in 1994 as the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Describes what fields and structures should be managed Version 2 has minor additions, defines extensibility and profiling, formalizes “core”

NSDI Harmonization CEN TC 287 (Geomatics in EU) draft metadata standard is based on FGDC ANZLIC (Australia/New Zealand) is higher level standard related to FGDC Canada and South Africa have adopted FGDC metadata in their catalog systems Basis for ISO TC211 Metadata Standard

NSDI Collection tools for metadata Recent survey revealed 18 individual metadata software systems available for entry and management of FGDC metadata PC, UNIX, and Web-based solutions are available from non-commercial and commercial sources

NSDI Training for metadata FGDC and Plangraphics, Inc. offer 90- minute to full-day training sessions on metadata with examples A tutorial workbook of the Standard (the “green book”) is available from the FGDC

NSDI GEOdata Framework Metadata Making data discoverable... Clearinghouse (catalog)

NSDI Clearinghouse provides... n Discovery of spatial data n Distributed search worldwide n Uniform interface for spatial data searches n Advertising for your data holdings

NSDI Clearinghouse operates as... n Entry point to constellation of servers n Collection of distributed Z39.50 servers n A virtual “Lycos” for geospatial data

WebClient Gateway Clearinghouse “Nodes” or Servers This is all “Clearinghouse” NOAA Arizona USGSNMD NRCS

NSDI Clearinghouse status n Over 40 registered sites--state, national and global collections n FGDC supporting work on Z39.50 server and client solutions using Web and Java n Training available from FGDC n Tutorial materials available on-line

NSDI GEOdata Framework Metadata Clearinghouse (catalog) Standards Consistent approaches...

NSDI Who builds standards? n FGDC Standards working group in partnership with... n FGDC Thematic subcommittees n Concerned organizations n Producers and users of geospatial data

NSDI Types of standards n Data content —Common classifications —Common collection criteria n Data management –Metadata –Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS)

NSDI Standards update n Wetlands and Cadastral adopted n Standards in review –Metadata –Soils –SDTS Point Profile –Accuracy –Orthoimagery –Elevation

NSDI Standards under development n Base Cartographic n Cultural and Demographic Metadata n Geodetic Control Networks n Transportation Network Profile n RiverReach File Version 3.0 n Earth Cover Classification n Geologic n Facilities

NSDI Partnerships

NSDI Partnerships hold it all together

NSDI Partnerships GEOdata Framework Metadata Clearinghouse (catalog) Standards

NSDI Partners in FGDC n 15 Federal Agencies within the U.S. Government n 18 State or regional affiliated agencies n FGDC is Principal Member of the OpenGIS Consortium n Coordinates with the National Association of Counties (NACO) and National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)

NSDI Recognized State GIS Councils n Texas n North Carolina n Arizona n Wyoming n Nebraska n New Jersey n Kansas n Kentucky n Louisiana n Minnesota n Utah n Alaska n California n Florida n Vermont n Michigan (IMAGIN) n New Mexico n Wisconsin

NSDI Cooperative programs n Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program n Framework Demonstration Projects Program n NSDI Benefits Program

NSDI Working with stakeholders to forge a common strategy to build a common infrastructure

NSDI The NSDI is built through the actions of thousands of participants and is a model for development of a Common Spatial Data Infrastructure

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