NSDI

Douglas Nebert,Clearinghouse CoordinatorFederal GeographicData Committee

An OverviewAn Overview

NSDI

What is the NSDI?What is the NSDI?

“. . .the technology, policies, standards, and human resources necessary to acquire,process, store, distribute, and improve theutilization of geospatial data.”

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Organizations and individuals cooperating Using electronic technology to help find and share geographic information Following mutually accepted standards Developing common base themes of data

What is the NSDI?What is the NSDI?

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So that . . So that . . ..

. . .together we create networksof organizations and unified collections of data to ease decision-making forcommon pieces of geography.

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Why do we need to build Why do we need to build the NSDI?the NSDI?

Geospatial DataSome Examples

Field Measurements Maps

Remotely-sensed Images Spatially-referenced Data

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DataData

The most expensive investment for an organization

Created by many different organizations

To solve many different problems Using many different methods and

technologies

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But . . .

Data are hard to find Data are difficult to access Data are hard to integrate Data are not current Data are undocumented Data are incomplete

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The vision of NSDI

Current and accurate geospatial data will bereadily available to contribute locally, nationally, and globally to economic growth, environmental quality and stability, and social progress

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What steps can we takeWhat steps can we take together to build the NSDI?together to build the NSDI?

How is the NSDIHow is the NSDIstructured?structured?

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The NSDI is composed ofThe NSDI is composed of

MetadataMetadata

Geospatial dataGeospatial data

ClearinghouseClearinghouse

StandardsStandards

Partnerships

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These elements are linked in a These elements are linked in a very explicit way to assure the very explicit way to assure the

function of the enterprise.function of the enterprise.

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The data provides a core...The data provides a core...

Geospatial DataGeospatial DataGeospatial DataGeospatial Data

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Categories of Geospatial DataCategories 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.

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GEOdataGEOdataFrameworkFramework

Categories of Geospatial DataCategories of Geospatial Data

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Framework provides. . .Framework provides. . .

a foundation to which spatial information and attributes can be added.

a base on which other themes of data can be compiled.

context to orient and link the results of analyses to the landscape

Digital orthoimagery

Elevation and bathymetry

Boundaries

Railroads

Geodetic

FederalState

LocalPrivate

Utilities

Spatial Analysis Base for Other Data Finished Maps

Roads

Cadastral

Hydrography

Framework DataFramework Data

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Framework supports...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

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Framework implementationFramework 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

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GEOdataGEOdataFrameworkFramework

MetadataMetadata

Describing your data...Describing your data...

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The uses of metadataThe 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)

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Metadata developmentsMetadata developments

Refinement of the FGDC Metadata Standard

Harmonization with international standards Collection tools available Training available from FGDC

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Metadata Content StandardMetadata 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”

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HarmonizationHarmonization

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

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Collection tools for metadataCollection 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

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Training for metadataTraining 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

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GEOdataGEOdataFrameworkFramework

MetadataMetadata

Making data discoverable...

Clearinghouse (catalog)Clearinghouse (catalog)

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Clearinghouse provides...Clearinghouse provides...

Discovery of spatial data Distributed search worldwide Uniform interface for spatial data searches Advertising for your data holdings

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Clearinghouse operates as...Clearinghouse operates as...

Entry point to constellation of servers Collection of distributed Z39.50 servers A virtual “Lycos” for geospatial data

WebWebClientClient

Gateway

ClearinghouseClearinghouse““Nodes” orNodes” or

ServersServers

This is all “Clearinghouse”This is all “Clearinghouse”

NOAANOAA

ArizonaArizonaUSGSUSGSNMDNMD

NRCSNRCS

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Clearinghouse statusClearinghouse status

Over 40 registered sites--state, national and

global collections FGDC supporting work on Z39.50 server

and client solutions using Web and Java Training available from FGDC Tutorial materials available on-line

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GEOdataGEOdataFrameworkFramework

MetadataMetadata

Clearinghouse (catalog)Clearinghouse (catalog)

StandardsStandards

Consistent approaches...

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Who builds standards?Who builds standards?

FGDC Standards working group in partnership with . . .

FGDC Thematic subcommittees Concerned organizations Producers and users of geospatial data

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Types of standardsTypes of standards

Data content—Common classifications—Common collection criteria

Data management– Metadata– Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS)

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Standards updateStandards update

Wetlands and Cadastral adopted Standards in review

– Metadata– Soils– SDTS Point Profile– Accuracy– Orthoimagery– Elevation

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

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Partnerships hold it all togetherPartnerships hold it all together

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Partnerships

GEOdataGEOdataFrameworkFramework

MetadataMetadata

Clearinghouse (catalog)Clearinghouse (catalog)

StandardsStandards

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Partners in FGDCPartners in FGDC

15 Federal Agencies within the U.S. Government

18 State or regional affiliated agencies FGDC is Principal Member of the OpenGIS

Consortium Coordinates with the National Association of

Counties (NACO) and National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)

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Recognized State GIS CouncilsRecognized State GIS Councils

Texas North Carolina Arizona Wyoming Nebraska New Jersey Kansas Kentucky Louisiana

Minnesota Utah Alaska California Florida Vermont Michigan (IMAGIN) New Mexico Wisconsin

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Cooperative programsCooperative programs

Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program

Framework Demonstration Projects Program

NSDI Benefits Program

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Working with stakeholdersWorking with stakeholdersto forge a commonto forge a common

strategy to build a common strategy to build a commoninfrastructureinfrastructure

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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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Find out more . . .

http://www.fgdc.gov