September 12, 1995

GEODETIC DATA

I. PURPOSE OF THE EXHIBIT

This exhibit addresses lead agency responsibilities for the coordination of geodetic control and other surveying activities to support the geodetic control networks, as well as lower-order control surveying for cadastral, topographic, hydrographic, bathymetric, and related resource and facility mapping activities (herein referred to as geodetic data) of all Federal agencies, and for establishing a mechanism for the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of these data financed in whole or part by Federal funds.

* Geodesy is the science concerned with determining the size and shape of the Earth. In practice, it is equivalent to determining, in some convenient coordinate system, the coordinates of points on the Earth's surface. Geodetic data include: latitude, longitude, azimuths, and elevations; astronomic, satellite positioning, and gravimetric data.

II. AUTHORITY

Under the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16, revised 1990, responsibility to coordinate geodetic data-related activities is assigned to the Department of Commerce. This departmental governmentwide leadership for geodetic data coordination is carried out under the policy guidance and oversight of the Federal Geographic Data Committee Steering Committee (hereafter called FGDC).

Pertinent enabling authority also resides in the language of:

a. U.S. Code, Title 33, Sections 883a-e.

b. DoD Directive 5105.40, "Defense Mapping Agency," revised December 6, 1990.

c. U.S. Code, Title 10, Sections 2791-2794.

d. The Organic Administration Act of June 4, 1897.

e. U.S. Code, Title 5, Section 301.

f. Treaties of 1908 and 1925 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom concerning the boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada.

g. U.S. Code, Title 10, Sections 2807 and 4540.

h. U.S. Code, Title 33, Sections 2282(a) and 2287(a).

i. U.S. Code, Title 33, Sections 569b and 2292.

j. Appropriations Acts of 1879 and 1896.

k. U.S. Code, Title 43, Section 42.

l. U.S. Code, Title 43, SS 1331-1356.

m. Interior Department Order 3071 dated January 19, 1982, and amendment 1 dated May 10, 1982.

n. Department of the Interior Manual 757 DM 2.7B(2).

o. American-Mexican Boundary Treaty Act of 1972.

p. U.S. Code, Title 14, Section 81.

q. Executive Order 12906, April 13, 1994.

III. LEAD AGENCY

The lead agency responsible for the coordination, management, and dissemination of geodetic data is the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Geodetic Survey. This organization will develop and implement a plan to coordinate geodetic data-related activities among Federal and non-Federal agencies and will report its activities to FGDC. In carrying out its government-wide leadership in geodetic data coordination, the National Geodetic Survey is directly responsible to FGDC and ensures compliance to the objectives and guidance provided by FGDC.

IV. SUBCOMMITTEE

A Subcommittee on geodetic data, the Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee (FGCS), (hereafter called the Subcommittee), has been established to promote standards of accuracy and currentness in geodetic data financed in whole or part by Federal funds; to exchange information on technological improvements for acquiring geodetic data; to encourage the Federal and non-Federal community to identify and adopt standards and specifications for geodetic data; and to collect and process the requirements of Federal and non-Federal organizations for geodetic data.

V. MEMBERSHIP

The Subcommittee consists of representatives designated by the Federal agencies that acquire, or finance the acquisition of, geodetic data as part of their mission or have direct application of these data through legislated mandate. Each member agency of the Subcommittee shall designate its representative, and alternate, if necessary, and changes thereto, by memorandum from that agency to the FGDC Executive Secretary (hereafter called the Executive Secretary). Other Federal organizations may be added with the concurrence of the Subcommittee Chairperson by formally requesting membership through the Executive Secretary. The Subcommittee shall be chaired by the Director, National Geodetic Survey.

VI. RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibilities of the Subcommittee include the following:

• a. Facilitate the coordination of agencies' activities and the exchange of geodetic data, by formal and informal means.
• b. Collect and compile information on Federal agencies' geodetic data activities and determine which categories of geodetic data are to be included in the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and recommend additional categories of geodetic data not currently being collected.
• c. Participate in the development and evaluation of geodetic data definitions and standards to be used by the Nation and by international organizations.
• d. Develop, adopt, publish, and promote common standards of content, format, and accuracy for geodetic data for use by all Federal agencies and to encourage use by non-Federal organizations, to increase its interchangeability and enhance its potential for multiple use.
• e. Assist in the establishment of surveying specifications to support geodetic data standards and assist in establishing priorities for testing and publishing same.
• f. Promote governmentwide use of defined and published spatial data transfer standards for geodetic data.
• g. Establish metadata standards to enhance data exchanges and maintain mechanisms and reports to interface with data bases of other agencies participating in the National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse.
• h. Facilitate the economic and efficient application of geodetic data through the sharing of experiences involving applications in support of member agencies' mandates or crosscutting partner activities established or recognized by FGDC.
• i. Ensure that the disposition of geodetic data is carried out in coordination with the National Archives and Records Administration in order to provide for the permanent preservation of historically valuable data and timely disposal of data lacking historical value.
• j. Ensure that the Global Positioning System (GPS) will continue to meet the positioning and timing needs of the Federal civilian community and work to strengthen the ties between the GPS positioning and timing communities and their relationships with the navigation communities. This responsibility will be implemented by FGCS through its role as the GPS Interagency Advisory Council (GIAC) to the Department of Transportation Pos/Nav Executive Committee and subsequent reports to the FGDC Steering Committee.
• k. Coordinate with other FGDC Subcommittees and Work Groups the Federal agencies' control surveying requirements to support the geodetic control network, as well as lower-order control surveying for cadastral, topographic, hydrographic, bathymetric, and related resource and facility mapping activities.

VII. PROCEDURES

Subcommittee meetings shall be held at the call of the Subcommittee Chairperson, and shall be held at least semiannually. Normally, notification of meetings and an agenda will be distributed to members of the Subcommittee and to the Executive Secretary at least 14 days in advance of the meeting.

All decisions shall be on the basis of consensus agreement. Where agreement is not reached, the issue will be promptly referred to the FGDC Coordination Group for resolution.

The Subcommittee Chairperson shall consult with the Chairperson of the Coordination Group to determine the need for further coordination prior to implementing Subcommittee decisions that impact FGDC or its other subcommittees or working groups.

The Subcommittee may establish additional rules and procedures for conducting business.

VIII.SUBGROUPS

The Subcommittee may create work groups or task groups, or further subdivisions, at the discretion of the Subcommittee Chairperson, as appropriate to carry out its activities and meet its responsibilities. The establishment of subgroups of more than 12 months duration that are in addition to any specified in this exhibit and the abolishment of any such subgroup requires the approval of the FGDC Coordination Group. Participation in these groups may be drawn from its member organizations and from other Federal agencies, as appropriate.

FGCS will have the following subdivision(s) (operational charters are attached):

GPS Interagency Advisory Council (attachment A),
Fixed Reference Stations Work Group (attachment B),
Geodetic Control and Surveying Requirements Work Group (attachment C),
Instrument Work Group (attachment D),
Methodology Work Group (attachment E), and
Vertical Reference Systems Work Group (attachment F).

IX. COORDINATING MECHANISMS

The Subcommittee will engage in those activities that are best suited to meeting its responsibilities, such as Subcommittee meetings, national user forums, annual reporting requirements, multimedia announcements and solicitations, user surveys and analyses, spatial data user workshops, research initiatives, and cooperative agreements or partnerships.

The Subcommittee Chairperson will coordinate the Subcommittee's activities with other FGDC subcommittees, working groups, and subdivision components by participating in the FGDC's Coordination Group and Steering Committee activities.

X. REPORTS

The Subcommittee shall report to FGDC annually, by December 31, describing the requirements for, production of, and availability of geodetic data. This annual status report shall be submitted to the Executive Secretary, and shall contain the following:

• accomplishments of the past calendar year,
• an operating plan for activities planned for the upcoming year,
• photographs, diagrams, and other materials that may be of value for inclusion in the annual FGDC report to the Office of Management and Budget, and
• a brief discussion of problems encountered and other matters of interest.

The Subcommittee shall submit the operating plan for the upcoming year for FGDC review and concurrence.

Special reports and technical papers may also be requested by FGDC during the reporting period describing special projects, coordination with other subcommittees, and the development of status graphics or catalogs and informational or educational brochures on the use and availability of geodetic data.

The Subcommittee Chairperson shall provide a draft report of Subcommittee meetings, including Subcommittee recommendations and action items, to all Subcommittee members for review prior to approval.

The Subcommittee Chairperson shall provide the final report of Subcommittee meetings to all Subcommittee members, the Department of Commerce's steering committee representative, the FGDC Executive Secretary, and the chairpersons of the FGDC Coordination Group, subcommittees, and working groups.

XI. TERMINATION

The Subcommittee shall remain in existence unless it is terminated by FGDC. At that time, a new exhibit shall be developed by the Department of Commerce describing how the coordination for geodetic data will be undertaken.

Attachments