Editing Committees Resolve Comments

The FGDC conducted a public review of the framework data standard between July 30, 2004 and November 15, 2004.   These standards cover seven data themes – cadastral, digital orthoimagery, elevation, geodetic control, governmental unit boundaries, hydrography, and transportation – that are needed by many critical geographic applications.   The framework data standard was initially developed through the Geospatial One-Stop e-government initiative, but responsibility for further development was transferred to the FGDC.

The FGDC estimates that notice of public review reached 40,000 to 100,000 professionals across all segments of the geographic information community through both online and print publications, Email lists, and the like.   Nearly 5000 comments were returned on framework data standards through public review.   Currently, editing committees are adjudicating comments and revising individual parts on the basis of editing committee actions.  The revised draft standard will be submitted for further processing for approval by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

INCITS L1 Extends Ballot Period to April 7, 2006

INCITS L1 Ballot on Framework Data Standard Closes

FGDC transfers standard to INCITS L1 for 30-day review and letter ballot

Public review of Framework Data Standard closes

FGDC extends closing date of public review of Framework Data Standard to November 15, 2004

FGDC opens public review of Framework Data Standard

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) invites comments from all interested parties on draft framework data standards. The public review period begins July 30, 2004 and ends October 30, 2004. To participate in the FGDC public review, register at the Framework Standard Registered Review site, http://www.fgdc.gov/RReview (inactive).

The draft framework data standards were initially developed through the Geospatial One-Stop e-Government initiative; however, the FGDC has assumed leadership for continued standards activities. The standards are intended to establish common requirements to facilitate data exchange for seven themes of geospatial data that are of critical importance to the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), as they are fundamental to many different Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications. The seven geospatial data themes are: geodetic control, elevation, orthoimagery, hydrography, transportation, cadastral, and governmental unit boundaries. These themes are known as NSDI framework themes.

Framework data standards specify a minimal level of data content that data producers, consumers, and vendors are expected to use for the interchange of framework data, including through Web services. Each of the framework data standards includes an integrated application schema expressed in Unified Modeling Language (UML) developed through the Object Management Group (OMG). The application schema specifies, as appropriate, the feature types, attribute types, attribute domain, feature relationships, spatial representation, data organization, and metadata that define the information content of a data set.

While the framework data standards do not specify a single structure for the interchange of data, each standard includes an informative annex that describes implementation using the Geography Markup Language (GML) Version 3.0 developed through the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC).

Framework data standards will have a positive impact on the overall GIS community by promoting data exchange through common means of describing data content. The standards are expected to decrease the costs of acquiring and exchanging Framework data among creators and users in Federal, State, local, and other governmental agencies, the private sector, and the academic community. The private sector (software developers and vendors) will benefit through development and marketing of software tools that exploit data based on these data content standards.

The FGDC invites comments on the draft framework standards from all segments of the GIS community. Prospective reviewers shall register to participate in public review to provide demographic statistics needed to assure broad participation in public review and ensure that reviewers are aware of copyright requirements. After a user completes the online registration form and registration is approved, he or she will be issued a password that will enable access to the site where reviewers may download a copy of the standard or any of its parts, guidelines for submitting comments, and a form that reviewers shall use for documenting comments. A portion of the password serves as the reviewer ID, which will be used to identify the source of each comment. Each comment and the response to each by a comments review panel will become part of the public record. Only the assigned reviewer ID will be made public to maintain the privacy of reviewers’ personal information.

Comments that address specific issues/changes/additions may result in revisions to the framework data standards to ensure that the standards meet the broadest set of needs across the GIS community. After the FGDC public review period closes, the comments will be evaluated and the results of comment adjudication will be made available to reviewers and users. Revised draft framework data standards will be submitted for further processing for approval by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). After ANSI approval and formal endorsement by the FGDC, which are expected in the second half of calendar year 2005, the published framework data standards will be made available to the public.

Responsibility for further development of Framework Data Standard transferred from Geospatial One-Stop to FGDC 

INCITS Press Release: INCITS’ L1 Takes Lead on GIS Framework Standards

Notice of Standards Development and Call for Participation

All members of the geospatial information community are invited to participate in the development of data content standards and models for National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Framework data. The standards are being developed as part of the President's Geospatial One-Stop, a White House initiative to spatially enable the delivery of government services and to improve access and use of geospatial information.

Scott Cameron, Managing Partner for the Geospatial One Stop Project has sent out a Notice of Standards Development and Call for Participation inviting members of the geospatial information community to participate in the development of NSDI Framework standards. We are beginning the development of these Framework data content standards and models as part of the Geospatial One Stop E-Government Initiative. This project is part of the President's Management Agenda. Geospatial One Stop gives us the opportunity of accelerating the completion of Framework standards and doing so as part of an American National Standards Institute accredited process. By doing this, the approved standards will become national in scope and applicability. Our goal is to engage stakeholders from all sectors and use the widest range of technical expertise possible.

This call is directed at all organizations, which collect or use geospatial data in any of the Framework themes. It provides an opportunity to participate in the standards process and to help ensure that the standards and models that are developed meet the communities needs.

If you are interested please review the material and respond to this request for your participation. Theme leads for each of the defined Framework themes will be convening teams in the coming weeks, therefore initial responses should be submitted by July 29, 2002.

Thank you for your interest.

John Moeller
FGDC Staff Director