SDI Evolution in the US: Solid technology, policy changes, hard work, & just plain luck GSDI-7 Bangalore, India 31 January 2004 Alan R. Stevens, PhD US Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) Secretariat US Geological Survey

US Spatial Data Infrastructure: At the Crossroads & moving forward US Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Evolution (nationally)Evolution (nationally) How to keep the pressure on …?How to keep the pressure on …? How to percolate it down to the working level?How to percolate it down to the working level?  State initiatives  Goespatial One-Stop (e-gov)

The Big Question……..?? So exactly what is: The US Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), The US Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), The National Spatial Data Infrastructure USDI, and The National Spatial Data Infrastructure USDI, and How does it all fit together? How does it all fit together?

What is a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) ………? To encourage the collection, processing, archiving, integration, and sharing of geospatial data and information using common standards and interoperable systems and techniques To encourage the collection, processing, archiving, integration, and sharing of geospatial data and information using common standards and interoperable systems and techniques ….. and accessible via the web To encourage the collection, processing, archiving, integration, and sharing of geospatial data and information using common standards and interoperable systems and techniques To encourage the collection, processing, archiving, integration, and sharing of geospatial data and information using common standards and interoperable systems and techniques ….. and accessible via the web

Core Components of the NSDI Partnerships Metadata GEOdata Clearinghouse (catalog) Framework Standards

What is the Federal Geographic Data Committee? Really two answers…. Body of people facilitating the creation of the NSDI within the USBody of people facilitating the creation of the NSDI within the US Committee of many federal, state, academic agencies and the private sector woking to actually build the NSDICommittee of many federal, state, academic agencies and the private sector woking to actually build the NSDI

The Federal Geographic Data Committee …. What is it?? n n Formed about 1990 to promote the development and implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) n n Formed about 1990 to promote the development and implementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)

The Federal Geographic Data Committee n Chartered in the early 1990s n n Federal – 19 cabinet level agencies & offices n n Many states, regional, & local governments participate n n Along with the private sector, NGOs, and Academia n Chartered in the early 1990s n n Federal – 19 cabinet level agencies & offices n n Many states, regional, & local governments participate n n Along with the private sector, NGOs, and Academia

A FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE (FGDC): Early Going n Slow to start n Obtain High level involvement n Administratively assigned to the USGS National Mapping Division n Represents the Secretary of the Interior n Sell, sell, sell n Early goal …. to get buy-in

A FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE (FGDC): Good fortune  OMB Circular A-16 already in place  National Spatial Data Infrastructure formed by Presidential Executive Order ‘…coordinating geographic data acquisition and access…. ’  2000 – Stronger emphasis built into the A-16 circular

A FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE (FGDC): Good fortune …….. n 1992 – Administrations focus on streamlininggovernment –Vice President tasked –Cost/benefits associated with and NSDI –Secretary of Interior directly involved –Raised awareness and participation of all other cabinet offices –Eight years of close attention

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Organisation and Operation

FGDC Steering Committee Cabinet Officers and Agencies: –Interior (Vice Chair) –Agriculture –Defense –Energy –Health and Human Services –Housing and Urban Development –Justice –State –Transportation

FGDC Steering Committee Cabinet Officers and Agencies: –Environmental Protection –Emergency Management –Library of Congress –NASA –Archives and Record Service –Office of Management and Budget (Vice Chair) –Commerce –National Science Foundation –Tennessee Valley Authority –General Services Administration

Federal Geographic Data Steering Committee n It’s not just federal……. –States –Counties –Municipalities –Non-Governmental Organisations –Industry

FGDC Working Groups (8) n Metadata n Clearinghouse n Standards n Historical Data n Biological Data n Facilities n Sustainable Forest Data n Earth Cover

FGDC Thematic Subcommittees(13) n Base Cartographic Data n Cadastral n Cultural and Demographic Data n Federal Geodetic Control n Geologic n Ground Transportation n International Boundaries n Soils n Spatial Climate n Spatial Water Data n Vegetation n Wetlands n Marine Coastal

FGDC Staff Support n Staff Director (Ivan Deloatch) n Deputy Staff Director (1) n Geospatial One-Stop (6+) n Framework & Cooperating Groups (1) n Standards (1) n Metadata (1) n Clearinghouse (1)

FGDC Staff Support n International Program (3.0) n Education & Training n (1) Grant Programs (1) n FGDC Secretariat Support (1) n Administration and Finance (1) n Staff Assistants (2) n Systems and Network (2) n Communications (1)

NSDI In the United States Strong high-level political federal support n FGDC starts 1990 n High level political support –OMB Circular A-16 –NSDI Presidential Executive Order 1994 –Secretarial involvement in the FGDC n Extensive partnerships established n Standards -- nationally, internationally n Clearinghouse network n Open policy for federal spatial data

The Federal Geographic Data Committee …. what’s new? Major focus within the Federal Government Major focus within the Federal Government An effort to reach into states and communities An effort to reach into states and communities Need a sustained effort to drive the concept and application to the states and local governments Need a sustained effort to drive the concept and application to the states and local governments Major focus within the Federal Government Major focus within the Federal Government An effort to reach into states and communities An effort to reach into states and communities Need a sustained effort to drive the concept and application to the states and local governments Need a sustained effort to drive the concept and application to the states and local governments

The Federal Geographic Data Committee …. what’s new? n n Implementation Teams (I-Teams) n Geospatial One-Stop –E-gov –E-com n n Implementation Teams (I-Teams) n Geospatial One-Stop –E-gov –E-com

WHAT IS AN I-TEAM ? In the US, it is a collaborative process for a state to organize the way it produces, archives, and shares its digital geospatial assets ….. a State SDI In the US, it is a collaborative process for a state to organize the way it produces, archives, and shares its digital geospatial assets ….. a State SDI

Why do we want I-Teams ? n Helps all levels of government fulfill their missions n Develops links between: –The US FGDC and the State and its data –The State and the County/City data n Supports and facilitates: –The US NSDI in concept and operation –Geospatial One Stop – –GSDI ……. local to global n Helps all levels of government fulfill their missions n Develops links between: –The US FGDC and the State and its data –The State and the County/City data n Supports and facilitates: –The US NSDI in concept and operation –Geospatial One Stop – –GSDI ……. local to global

What is it not?? n It is not a new agency n It is not more bureaucracy n Probably not looking for more money –Although ………………???? n Not separate from NSDI or FGDC!! n It is not a new agency n It is not more bureaucracy n Probably not looking for more money –Although ………………???? n Not separate from NSDI or FGDC!!

What Do I-Teams Do? n Address institutional barriers n Identify most effective ways to collect, maintain and distribute data n Designate data stewards n As best we can to fit into NSDI recommendations including: – Metadata creation – Clearinghouse development – Framework – etc n Address institutional barriers n Identify most effective ways to collect, maintain and distribute data n Designate data stewards n As best we can to fit into NSDI recommendations including: – Metadata creation – Clearinghouse development – Framework – etc

What Do I-Teams Do? n Develop Enterprise Plans (I-Plans) for data production and publication by the most appropriate partner(s) at accuracy and scale(s) needed by local - state jurisdictions

The Federal Geographic Data Committee …. what’s new? n n Implementation Teams (I-Teams) n Geospatial One-Stop –E-gov –E-com n n Implementation Teams (I-Teams) n Geospatial One-Stop –E-gov –E-com

What is the President’s management agenda? President’s management agenda : …… pathway to a government that delivers results…. Making it … easier, faster, cheaper…. for all levels of government and public to access geospatial data and information

What is the President’s management agenda? E-Government ….. Use of digital technology to transform government operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness It is a means to an end; not an ‘end’ in itself………. It is a means to an end; not an ‘end’ in itself……….

What is Geospatial One-Stop? Goal ….. Provide federal and state agencies with a single point of access to geographic information reducing/eliminating redundant data collection and archives. Milestones ….. Identify federal inventory of framework data Identify federal inventory of framework data Focus on standards Focus on standards Deploy Geospatial 1-stop portal Deploy Geospatial 1-stop portal

So how does does all of this relate to the NSDI??? n One and the same……… n Another way to promote and drive some of the basic cannons of the NSDI n Really a mechanism to: –keep the pressure on ……. –To keep the principles of the program in front of the NSDI advocates and the user community –To percolate the concepts to the lowest levels

n FGDC formed n 1994 NSDI formed by Presidential Executive Order n International awareness n 1999 Implementation Teams started n 2001 OMB Circular A-16 updated n 2002 Geospatial One-Stop Genesis of the US National Spatial Data Infrastructure

Ingredients for success The FGDC has lived and prospered through 3 different political administrations ……. Why? Maintained high level policy awareness Maintained high level policy awareness Always promotes better governance Always promotes better governance Keep the pressure on Keep the pressure on

Additional Information n Federal Geographic Data Committee n Global Spatial Data Infrastructure n Comm. for Geog. Info. for Asia and the Pacific n Perm. Comm. For the Americas n Umbrella Org. for Geog. n Open GIS Consortium