Historical Reflections Future Directions

NSDI NSDI Components Partnerships GEOdata Framework Metadata Clearinghouse (catalog) Standards

In 1993, ‘94, and ’95, the National Research Council, Mapping Science Committee (MSC) issued reports on the concept, need for, and contents of the NSDI: – The concept of a NSDI was first advanced by the MSC. – 1994 – Explored Federal/State partnership scenarios to advance building the NSDI. – 1995 – Called for the development of a common reference system (critical data foundation) for the generation, exchange, and integration of spatial data.. Historical Reflection

Historical Reflection (cont.) March 1994, First Strategic Plan for the NSDI, crafted by the FGDC – “Building the Foundation of an Information Based Society.” Articulated the vision for the NSDI and defined specific immediate and near- term activities to be accomplished. April 1994, Presidential E.O , called for the nation’s development of the NSDI and further chartered the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) to lead and coordinate this effort, engaging the non-Federal sector in this challenge.

Historical Reflection (cont.) Additional ‘Calls for Action:’ – 1997,“A Strategy for the NSDI,” crafted by the geospatial community. – 1998, National Academy of Public Administration Study – “Geographic Information for the 21 st Century: Building a Strategy for the Nation.” – 1999, National GeoData Forum. – 2000, FGDC study “Improving Federal Agency Geospatial Data Coordination.”

Actions from Studies Strengthening representation/participation/stakeholder involvement in the FGDC Raising awareness and understanding of the NSDI Ensuring commitment to building the NSDI Building and distributing integrated national geospatial data assets Developing standards to achieve national consistency and multiple applications of the data Developing common solutions for discovery and access to data Raising international awareness of the NSDI Supporting alternative/complementary approaches for involvement in the NSDI Pricing Policies and Intellectual Property Rights

Strengthening Representation/Participation/ Stakeholder Involvement in the FGDC *Increase state, local and tribal government participation in the FGDC, and develop a process that allows these stakeholder groups to define logical and complementary roles in support of the NSDI. *Seek ways to broaden private sector participation. *Engage OMB at the highest level to become a full FGDC member.

Strengthening Representation/Participation/ Stakeholder Involvement in the FGDC (cont.) *NIMA and NASA need to become more actively engaged. *Elevate the FGDC Secretariat to report to the Director of USGS. Focus FGDC staff role toward interagency non-partisan brokering with Federal agencies. Foster Federal agency collaboration by focusing on specific applications requiring interagency sharing of spatial data and budget initiatives.

Raising Awareness and Understanding of the NSDI *Articulate a clear vision of the NSDI that is understood by the policy makers. *Develop strategic briefing packages for administration officials. *Increase congressional, state legislature, county commission, city council, professional association, commercial, and public awareness. *Encourage state, local, and private stakeholders to voice their support for the NSDI vision with legislators and other elected officials.

Raising Awareness and Understanding of the NSDI (cont.) *Encourage development of a strategy for all states to have greater commonality of GI capacity and infrastructure. Federal agencies need to incorporate GIS and the NSDI concept into their overall IT strategies and plans. Promote other Federal agency support and testimony at FGDC-member agency budget hearings. Promote NSDI principles and practices through formal and *informal education and training.

Ensuring Commitment to Building the NSDI Establish through legislation a national goal to create and maintain a robust NSDI; engage state and local governments in the process. *Work with OMB to revise Circular A-16 to better define Federal agency roles and responsibilities for the NSDI. *Develop an implementation plan of adopted recommendations; add performance measures and review progress with OMB.

Building and Distributing Integrated National Geospatial Data Assets *Re-evaluate and redefine Framework, the Federal role in its development, and in the context of State and local needs. *Develop a model of multi-agency data development and user participation that includes local, state and national players. *Clarify individual agency responsibilities for national data stewardship. *Identify meaningful ways for FGDC-member agencies lacking direct mapping mandates to contribute to national geodata initiatives. *Develop a coordinated crosscut budget initiative to achieve the vision of integrated national geospatial data assets. Effect multi-agency collaboration by focusing on specific applications requiring sharing and coordination of spatial data and budget initiatives.

Developing Standards to Achieve National Consistency and Multiple Applications of the Data *Promote common classification systems, content standards, data models, and other common models to facilitate data development, sharing, and use. *Clarify standards needs and increase the effectiveness of the FGDC standards process.

Developing Standards to Achieve National Consistency and Multiple Applications of the Data (cont.) *Concentrate FGDC standard setting activities on data content standards for the Framework layers. *Develop performance measures for agency development and compliance with FGDC standards. *Provide for stronger FGDC-NIMA coordination on international standards.

Developing Common Solutions for Discovery and Access to Data *Rapidly grow the NSDI Clearinghouse to identify as much data as possible, including state, local and private sector data. *Re-evaluate clearinghouse technology to provide a more user friendly on-line access to data and to stimulate development of metadata records for important national data themes. *Demonstrate interoperability and integration in test beds. *Develop open geoprocessing interfaces. *Establish a “data requirements registry.”

Raising International Awareness of the NSDI *Participate with the international geospatial data information community in the development of a global geospatial data infrastructure.

Supporting Alternative/ Complementary Approaches for Involvement in the NSDI *Pursue development of ‘chaordic’ organization, or create a private nonprofit National Spatial Data Council, modeled on the current FGDC & NSDI charters, with appropriate representation by all levels of government and the private sector.

Pricing Policies and Intellectual Property Rights *Continue to promote ‘open access’ for all data used in public policy decision-making. Articulate a clear policy or draft legislation that allows the government to work cooperatively with the private sector to protect intellectual property rights for GI, particularly private and value-added GI data sets.

Accomplishments Geospatial data and the NSDI have become recognized as foundations for electronic government. High-level Federal agency officials are involved in the FGDC. OMB Circular A-16 has been revised to strengthen Federal agency roles and responsibilities for the NSDI. Policy-level officials at other levels of government are becoming aware of the NSDI. The NSDI is on the radar screen of the Administration.

Accomplishments (cont.) The NSDI is viewed internationally as a model for emulation. The FGDC has played a major role in the emergence and evolution of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure. The establishment and maintenance of a grant program has encouraged organizations to get engaged in NSDI activities. Performed many public outreach activities and capacity building endeavors such as national forums, workshops, and publications. Many non-federal organizations are actively engaged in building the NSDI in partnership the FGDC.

Accomplishments (cont.) The formulation and adoption of the FGDC Metadata Standard, and it’s impact on international metadata standards development. The establishment and continued expansion (nationally and internationally) of the NSDI Clearinghouse network. The conception and promotion of collaboratively building a ‘Framework’ of geospatial data nationwide. Establishing national standards that provide the basis for interoperability and efficient data sharing. Adoption and promotion of policies that support principles of full and open access to federal geographic data.

Future Directions NDSI is on the radar screen of this Administration. It’s time to take a fresh look at strategic directions for the NSDI and chart our future flight plan.

Drivers for Planning Cultural change is slow, spatial data and technology are still secondary in agency planning. NSDI is still an under appreciated asset. E-Gov is the future. Federal enterprise architecture effort will be pursued. Technology is surging ahead of our ability to culturally adapt. Homeland Security will remain a paramount application driver for the data.

Drivers for Planning (cont.) Intergovernmental (Federal, state, local) collaboration is needed to build and maintain integrated national data assets. Institutionalizing stewardship responsibilities is key. The altruistic movement does not appear to work to get agencies to work together. Mission-driven efforts tend to keep agencies apart. Money drives cooperative spirit. There is inconsistent implementation of the common practices and standards developed for the NSDI. Open access/community right to know vs. privacy/security concerns. Pricing policies and intellectual property rights will remain important. Data overload ahead: quality, accuracy, and liability issues. Others……

Next Steps Form a Planning Team to craft an updated NSDI Strategy. Broad stakeholder involvement is essential. Thinking outside the box is needed. July 4 timeframe for completion.