September 6, 2001 FGDC Coordination Meeting Summary


Action items requiring quick response.

Action: Please send the name of your Agency participant in the Imagery and Remote Sensing Task Force to Alison Kiernan (akiernan@fgdc.gov) by COB September 11.

Action: Coordination Group Members please complete the Annual Spatial Data Reports and submit to Alison Kiernan (akiernan@fgdc.gov) ASAP.

Action: FGDC Subcommittee and Working Group Chairs, please submit your updated membership list to Alison Kiernan (akiernan@fgdc.gov or fax 703.648.5755) by September 21.

Action: Please contact David Painter at 703-648-5513 or dpainter@fgdc.gov with suggestions or comments regarding the 2002 CAP Program and the Framework Standards Development Proposal by September 21.

Host: Timi Vann, NASA

John Moeller, FGDC
Alison Kiernan, FGDC
Dan Miller, NIMA/PCO
Rick Yorczyk, FGCS/NOAA
David Painter, FGDC
Bradley Doorn, USDA/FAS
Gita Urban Mathieux, USGS/NMD
Carol Brandt, USDOT/BTS
Fred Broome, Census Bureau
Chuck Hutchinson, NASA/HQ
Alexander J. Tuyahov, HASA/HQ
George Percivall, NASA/GST
Michael Egbert, State/INR
Christine Clarke, NRCS/USDA
Ed Liu, EPA/AIEO
Greg Snyder, USGS
Selona Nauman, NOAA/NESDIS
Milo Robinson, FGDC
Timothy Stryker, NOAA
Bruce Ambacher, NARA
Myra Bambacus, NASA
Bob Andrew, ICF Consulting
Donald Buhler, BLM
Michelle Torreano, EPA
Wendy Blake Coleman, EPA
Ron Santos, USACE
Bonnie Gallahan, FGDC
Jeff Besougluff, EPA
K. Thirumalai, DOT
Alison Hill, USFS
Lawrence Friedl, EPA
Gregory Gwaltney, EPA
Tonya Fish, EPA
Julie Kocher, EPA
Cliff Kottman, OGC
John Blumenthal, BLS
Erika Wilson, NGS/NOAA
Richard Barazotto, NOAA/NESDIS
Dave Stein, NOAA/CSC
Scott McAfee, FEMA
Susan Hargrove, DOE
Mark Reichardt, OGC

Introductions and Announcements - John Moeller, FGDC Staff Director

Circular A-16 Update - The revised Circular A-16 was approved at the June FGDC Steering Committee meeting. The document has since cleared the Department of Interior Solicitor's Office, and is currently in the Secretary of Interior's office awaiting transmittal to OMB for review. It will likely be four to six months until OMB reaches a decision on the revised Circular.

Annual Report Submittals - The completed Annual Spatial Data Reports were due to the FGDC on August 31. The reports will be consolidated into a summary report to be forwarded to OMB. The individual reports and the summary report should be posted on the FGDC website in early October.

Annual Spatial Data Reports Not Yet Received: USFS, NIMA, HUD, BLM, MMS, FWS, Metadata Ad Hoc Working Group, Standards Working Group, Wetlands Subcommittee, Department of Justice, Department of State, Library of Congress, and TVA. Please contact Alison Kiernan (akiernan@fgdc.gov) with questions regarding the annual reports.

Action: If you have not yet done so, please send agency annual reports to Alison Kiernan (akiernan@fgdc.gov).

Subcommittee and Working Group Housekeeping - Current member contact information, as well as information regarding upcoming meetings/events, should be updated regularly on the Subcommittee and Working Group websites. Please keep your webpages current! In addition, please display upcoming meeting information on the FGDC calendar at http://www.fgdc.gov/cgi-bin/people/FGDC/WebEvent/WebEvent.

Using a print-out from the current FGDC data base handed out at the September Coordination Group meeting, the Chairs of the FGDC Subcommittees and Working Groups are requested to compile a current membership list including each member's: Name, Agency, Complete Mailing Address, Email Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number.

The Subcommittee and Working Group member contact information will be searchable on the FGDC once an appropriate search mechanism is determined.

Action: FGDC Subcommittee and Working Group Chairs, please submit your updated membership list to Alison Kiernan (akiernan@fgdc.gov or fax 703.648.5755) by COB on September 21, 2001.

Tribal GIS - Ed Liu, Julie Kocher, Tonya Fish, EPA.
Jeff Besougloff, Director of the American Indian Environmental Office, stated that prior to the creation of a Tribal Information Management System (TIMS) there was no way to measure the effectiveness of EPA programs in Indian Country. There was great need for an assessment of environmental concerns.

TIMS is a web-based application using environmental information from multiple sources. TIMS arose from the need for an information infrastructure to track the progress of grants in Indian Country. The application provides data for the formulation of GPRA goals and is also a useful tool for Tribal environmental professionals. Information provided by TIMS will benefit Tribes regarding air quality, water quality, and other environmental issues.

TIMS is currently available solely through the EPA intranet. In the future, it will be available externally with varying degrees of access. The EPA will work with Indian Health Services, as well as State, local, and non-profit agencies, and hopes to have TIMS completed by 2005.

PowerPoint Presentation (3.2 MB)

Action: Agencies wishing to contribute data to TIMS should please contact Ed Liu (Liu.Ed@epamail.epa.gov).

Action: Bonnie Gallahan and Alison Kiernan will work with Ed Liu to create a charter for a proposed Tribal Data Working Group, chaired by EPA.

ASPRS Web-Based Remote Sensing Survey - Tim Stryker, NOAA.
NASA, ASPRS, NSGIC, and MAPPS are working together to produce a 10-Year U.S. Remote Sensing Industry Forecast and Analysis. Phase I (December 2000) characterized and provided a baseline forecast of the industry. Phase II (January 2002) will characterize the users and determine their needs. Phase III (December 2003) will produce technology assessment to validate the previous phases. Phase IV (December 2004) will produce a market forecast.

PowerPoint Presentation (325 KB)

Phase I Conclusions:

  • The remote sensing industry will grow about 13% annually, reaching about $6 billion in sales by 2010.
  • Commercial Remote Sensing Industry companies are multi-dimensional, encompassing many market segments, business segments and geo-spatial activities.
  • The most active markets (across all sectors): mapping/geography, environment, Civil Government, National/Global security, and transportation.
  • Government data distribution policies contribute to a perception that they may adversely affect commercial interests.
  • Photogrammetry is currently the largest area of geo-spatial activity.

    Action: Please contact Tim Stryker (Timothy.Stryker@noaa.gov) to receive the latest report or join the 10-Year U.S. Remote Sensing Industry Forecast and Analysis.

Commercial Imagery Strategy Update - John Moeller, FGDC.
OMB and OSTP have asked the Federal Civil Agencies to collectively address the value of imagery and other remote sensing sources in achieving their missions. A Civil Agency Imagery and Remote Sensing Task Force will be created to speak in a single voice when addressing the value of such imagery. The Task Force will produce a Civilian Imagery Strategy to dovetail with the NIMA Commercial Imagery Strategy (which addresses DoD and Intelligence community needs for unclassified imagery). Although it does not appear that there will be a budget increase for Civilian Agencies in FY 2003-2004, a Civilian Imagery Strategy could provide a more focused approach and may help advance the needs and interests of the Civilian Agencies in the future.

There was discussion among the Coordination Group members regarding commercial imagery restrictions hampering the Civil Agencies from sharing data. It was mentioned that many Civil Agencies require not just the raw data, but a finished product processed by commercial industry. Some concerns included: licensing, cost, timeliness, the evolving market and the long-term viability of satellite imagery companies.

Action: Please send the name of your Agency participant in the Imagery and Remote Sensing Task Force to Alison Kiernan (akiernan@fgdc.gov) by COB September 11.

2002 CAP Proposal - David Painter, FGDC.
The NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP) has been in operation for 8 years and has awarded 350 grants - stimulating interest in the NSDI Framework, Clearinghouse, and metadata.

Proposed Categories for the NSDI 2002 CAP:

  • Category 1: "Don't Duck Metadata" - Metadata Implementation Assistance, $6000 per award
  • Category 2: "Don't Duck Metadata" - Metadata Trainer Assistance, $30,000 per award
  • Category 3: Clearinghouse Integration with Web Mapping, $20,000 per award
  • Category 4: US/Canadian Spatial Data Infrastructure Project, $75,000 award, 100% match, partnership required
  • New Category - Category 5: Assistance for Collaborative Groups (State or Regional), $10,000 per award, 50% match, partnership required

    Action: Please contact David Painter at 703-648-5513 or dpainter@fgdc.gov with suggestions or comments regarding the 2002 CAP Program by September 21.

Framework Standards Development Proposal (FSD):
The goal of the FSD is to provide support to develop framework data content standards that can be used as a specification guide and underwriting criteria that will promote wide use. Desired results of the FSD are the public review of the draft content standards for each selected theme within one year, as well as a proposal for a reference model for standard implementation. The FSD will follow FGDC Standards Procedure; develop nationally consistent content standards for Framework data; insure participation of all relevant parties and sectors; possess expertise in related framework theme and management areas; and determine effective size of the working group. Questions remain regarding the thematic subcommittee and lead agency roles; the number of standards that should be developed each year; which standards should first be addressed; how those already FGDC endorsed or developing standards would be enhanced by the FSD program; and the need for cross-theme integration.

Framework Standards Development Proposal

Proposed FSD Steps:

  1. Notify GIS community of upcoming effort to develop Framework standards through White Paper, press releases, and CAP Category 5 collaboration groups.
  2. Request comments on feasibility of proposed process through The Federal Register and Business Commerce Daily.
  3. Request proposal for Data Modeler.
  4. Request proposal for Facilitator.
  5. Request proposal for FSD Management (per theme developed) to establish management, coordinate community data model solutions, insure participation of all relevant parties, and determine the effective size of the working group.

    Action: Please contact David Painter at 703-648-5513 or dpainter@fgdc.gov with suggestions or comments regarding the Framework Standards Development Program by September 21.

E-Gov- John Moeller, FGDC
E-Gov is one of five Presidential Management Initiatives, and calls for the integration of geographic data. GIS is increasingly viewed as an important component of the initiative. E-Gov may help move the FGDC forward in the use of spatial data, providing a framework for better delivery of services.

Next Coordination Group Meeting

Date: October 2, 2001
Site:
The Universities Space Research Association
300 D Street SW, Suite 801
Washington, DC 20024

Possible Agenda Topics:
- Geocoding
- NASA Framework & Strategic Plan
- Clearinghouse/ Web Mapping Status

Please submit agenda suggestions to Alison Kiernan (akiernan@fgdc.gov).

An agenda will be forwarded in mid September.