1 The FGDC Standards Program Presented by Julie Binder Maitra FGDC Standards Coordinator To Interagency Council on Standards Policy June 4, 2003

2 n n Federal guidance on the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) n n Components of the NSDI n n Who uses FGDC standards? n n FGDC Organization n n FGDC Standards Development Process n n FGDC Standards Accomplishments n n Non-Federal standards The FGDC Standards Program

3 Federal guidance on NSDI Executive Order (April 1994) establishes the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) as “the technology, policies, standards, and human resources necessary to acquire, process, store, distribute, and improve utilization of geospatial data.” OMB Circular A-16 (Revised August 2002) incorporates EO and affirms the NSDI. affirms OMB Circulars A-11 and A-119 establishes the FGDC as the interagency coordinating body for NSDI-related activities

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

5 Who uses FGDC standards? Federal agencies: Data producers doing business with Federal Agencies State and local agencies are not required to use FGDC standards, but FGDC standards are freely available, save time and expense of developing their own standards, and promote data sharing

6 FGDC Organization n USDA n Commerce n Defense n NIMA n USACE n Energy n GSA n HUD n HHS n Interior n Justice n Transportation n EPA n FEMA n Library of Congress n NARA n NASA n NSF n Department of State n TVA Federal agency members

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8 FGDC Standards Process The FGDC develops standards for geospatial data only when there are no non-Federally authored standards that fulfill agency missions and program needs The FGDC standards development process is modeled after ISO and ANSI standards processes

9 FGDC Standards Accomplishments 20 FGDC Endorsed Standards –First standard endorsed in 1995: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (version 2.0), FGDC-STD –Latest standard endorsed in August 2002: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: Extensions for Remote Sensing Metadata, FGDC-STD –Other endorsed standards include: Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) & profiles Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards Various thematic data standards 18 other Standards in various stages of the FGDC Standards Process Draft Address Data Content Standard currently out for public review

10 Non-Federal Standards FGDC participation in non- Federal standards organizations Proposed FGDC Policy on endorsement or recommendation of non-Federal standards

11 Standards organizations Is U.S. member body of ISO Technical Committee (TC) 211 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) INCITS Technical CommitteeL1 InterNational Committee on Information Technology Standards (INCITS) Is accredited by Is a Subcommittee of Is a voting member of Is liaison with Is an advisory member of Federal Standards Is strategic member of Accredits U.S. TAG to ISO Is a Technical Committee of NIST Consortia and Academia ANSI Accredited Standards Development Organization Open GIS Consortium OMG W3C OASIS etc. Other Standards Development Organizations ICSP FGDCStates Municipalities Chairs MOU Sets Policy For OMB Reports to Participate in standards development FGDC participation in non-Federal standards organizations

12 n n ISO TC 211 is focused on abstract specifications, design framework, and international political consensus n n OpenGIS Consortium specializes in extending the abstract model into implementation specifications n n FGDC and INCITS Technical Committee L1 support the development of thematic data content standards FGDC participation in non-Federal standards organizations

13 Proposed Policy on Endorsement or Recommendation of External Standards

14 Topics n n Background n n Objective of Policy n n Exception n n Levels of Recognition n n Steps to Endorsement or Recommendation of external standards

15 Background n n OMB Circulars A-16 and A-119 and EO do not expressly define a mechanism for identifying, selecting, and coordinating the adoption of non- Federally developed standards. n n Since common standards promote efficient geographic information collection and exchange, and under A-16 and EO 12906, standards adopted through the FGDC process are mandatory for Federal agency use, it was determined that the FGDC needed such a mechanism.

16 Objective of Proposed Policy To provide a mechanism for FGDC endorsement or recommendation of non- Federal standards that are related to the missions and spatial data responsibilities of Federal agencies, as outlined in OMB Circular A-16

17 Exception Nothing in this policy shall be construed as superseding the authority or obligation of an agency or organization to use a standard due to treaty, agreement, or other policy

18 Levels of Recognition Two levels of FGDC recognition Endorsement – same status as FGDC standard: mandatory for use, in accordance with Federal guidance Recommendation – the non-federal standard is recognized as a useful standard, but is not deemed to be of such broad applicability that its use should be mandatory.

19 Steps to Endorsement or Recommendation of External Standards (1) Any FGDC member agency may propose any non- Federal standard for endorsement or recommendation by the FGDC. If a non-Federal organization is making a proposal, they must get an FGDC member Federal agency to act as the sponsor. Because any non-Federal standard proposed for consideration under this policy must be fully developed and approved/endorsed by an external standards process, FGDC process steps for proposal, standards development, and public review are not necessary

20 Steps to Endorsement or Recommendation of External Standards Supporting Documentation: Category of standard Level of recognition sought, that is, endorsement or recommendation Scope Benefits to the Federal government and FGDC members Restrictions, limitations, and other constraints, e.g., copyright Contact information for sponsor Identification or explanation of the process by which the standard was developed

21 Steps to endorsement or recommendation of external standards n n Intent of policy is not to revisit fully developed and endorsed or approved external standards n n The standard will only go through the final steps of review, approval, and FGDC endorsement

22 Julie Binder Maitra FGDC Standards Coordinator Phone: URL: