December 4, 2001 FGDC Coordination Meeting Summary


Action items.

Action: Chris Clarke will distribute to the Coordination Group the USDA cost benefit study done for GIS architecture after it is finalized.

Action: Julie will forward the Coordination Group the agenda for next week's Standards Working Group meeting (12/12/01 at 9 am at DOT)

Host: Chris Clarke, NRCS

John Moeller, FGDC
Alison Kiernan, FGDC
John Butterfield, USDA-FS
Jerry McFaul, USGS
Myra Bambacus, NASA
Ivan DeLoatch, EPA
Jimmie Givens, NCHS/CDC
Howard Diamond, NOAA
Anne Hale Miglarese, NOAA
William Nellist, NIMA
Carol Brandt, DOT/BTS
Jerry Sempek, DOI/BLM
Kim Burns Braidlow, ESRI
Leslie Wollack, NSGIC
Scott McAfee, FEMA
Rick Yorczyk, NOAA
Ronald Matzner, FGDC
Bruce Ambacher, NARA
Michelle Toreeano, EPA
Jeff de LaBeaujardiere, NASA
Bill Burgess, NSGIC
Tom Usselman, STIA
Doug Nebert, FGDC
Richard Pearsall, USGS
Julie Binder Maitra, FGDC
Bill Wilen, FWS
David Bloome, Hero Net
Jason Freihage, OMB
Jamie Leiphart, KPMG Consulting
Michael Janzen, KPMG Consulting
Alison Hill, USDA-FS
Milo Robinson, FGDC
Peter Ertman, BLM
Tony Frater, OMB

USDA Signs Department-wide License of ESRI GIS - Chris Clarke, NRCS

USDA signed a sweeping purchase agreement for a department-wide license for ESRI software. The 5 year Blanket Purchase Agreement will provide a complete enterprise suit of ESRI GIS software to all USDA Agencies. 2600 field offices will have access to Arc View products. The USDA contract for ESRI products is not open to other Agencies.

Action: Chris Clarke will distribute to the Coordination Group the USDA cost benefit study done for GIS architecture after it is finalized.

December 12 Standards Working Group Meeting - Julie Binder Maitra, FGDC

Action: Julie will forward the Coordination Group the agenda for next week's Standards Working Group meeting (12/12/01 at 9 am at DOT)

Upcoming FGDC Steering Committee Meeting - John Moeller, FGDC Staff Director

The next Steering Committee meeting will be held on January 31, 2002. The Steering Committee will be chaired by Steve Griles, Deputy Secretary of DOI and vice chaired by Mark Forman, Assistant Director of Technology and Electronic Government for OMB. Agenda topics will likely include: Homeland Security, Geospatial One Stop Initiative, Circular A-16, Standard endorsement, and policy guidance.

FY02 CAP Program - John Moeller, FGDC

The FY02 CAP Program is being reviewed by the USGS contracting office and should be listed in the Federal Register in the next few weeks.

FY03 Passback - Jason Freihage, OMB

Language included in the passback for Agencies that deal with spatial data includes

  1. Setting the date for the 7 primary data layers to be published - draft due 6/30/02, to be completed for public review by 12/30/02
  2. By FY02 - OMB would like Agencies to report all geospatial data holdings, software, and hardware
  3. By FY04 - Standards will be developed and OMB will make sure the data compliant with the Standards (non-Framework data should follow FGDC Metadata and Content Standards)

Clearinghouse and OGC Web Services Overview - Doug Nebert, FGDC

Web Map CAP Objectives: Integration of Clearinghouse with OpenGIS Web Map Services for the display of found data; Visualization of data from multiple map services through an OGC spec-based portal; Establish 24x7 reliable web map services.

Approach: Awarded to multi-organization projects that will host web map services and map viewing software in their Clearinghouse; Held workshop at SAIC in September 2001 introducing free and commercial solutions to projects; Deploy modified FGDC data and services metadata in Clearinghouses; Use and deploy web map services and viewer software across projects.

September 2001 Workshop Objectives: Educate operators of Clearinghouse and map services on OpenGIS specifications and experimental interfaces to view distributed data; Assist CAP recipients in the extension of their map services to support OGC interfaces; Introduce linkages between metadata, clearinghouse, and map data display; Establish communication between CAP recipients and support individuals.

Plans for WebMapCAP - in the life of these projects the intent is to: Clarify the relationship between data and services metadata management at the service node; Establish a registry of eligible WMS capabilities among the CAP for use in OGC.net; Experiment with a broker gateway that will match data content and service requests for the client; Stand up to OGC WMS services at all CAP projects; Establish WMS viewer portals at all CAP project community portals.

Clearinghouse Status (as of 12/01):
6 US Gateways; 281 Total Servers; 248 Active Servers

Clearinghouse Activities: Refining search gateways; Hosting/coordinating global (GSDI) search; Improving server registration/management; Participating in OGC to discuss futures.

Clearinghouse Concepts for 2002:
Mine Clearinghouse Gateway connection logs for user numbers and types; Deploy FGDC-hosted harvester/index/Z39.50 server for metadata from small sites without their own Node server software; Continue prototyping integrated search portals linking mapping services with data discovery; Work with vendors to incorporate Clearinghouse (Catalog) search and service in GIS products; Participate in OGC standardization activities.

PowerPoint Presentation (1.44 MB)

 

E-Gov Initiative - John Moeller, FGDC

Geospatial One-Stop - Assigned to DOI for FGDC lead to provide a geographic component to e-government. Purpose: Standardize and provide geographic backbone; Create interactive index to spatial data holdings; Agencies provide information about planned spatial data collections.

PowerPoint Presentation (367 KB)

Geospatial One-Stop Schedule:

  • 10/25/01 Initiatives announced
  • 10/30/01 FGDC and DOI convened small writing team
  • 11/6/01 Briefing for FGDC Coordination Group
  • 11/13/01 Draft to OMB
  • Mid Nov Draft distributed to Coordination Group and Stakeholders
  • 12/10/01 Revised Draft to DOI and OMB
  • 12/20 & 1/8 E-Gov Program Mangers Meetings with OMB
  • Early 2002 Anticipated Start date
  • Fall 2003 Anticipated Completion of Geospatial Information One Stop Tasks

Geospatial One Stop Assumptions:

  • NSDI principles and practices will be followed
  • A-16 and EO12906 provide policy guidance
  • Will build on ongoing NSDI activities, existing standards development work and Agency programs
  • Initiative will help build awareness and management focus
  • Initiative will help link E-Gov, Homeland Security and Agency program implementations
  • Initiative will encompass activities that can be completed in 18-24 months

Funding:

  • Additional funding may be available but is not a given
  • Passback guidance has been given to agencies to use relevant FGDC standards

Project Outline:

  1. Develop and implement Framework Data standards
  2. Inventory, document, and publish Framework data holding in NSDI Clearinghouse
  3. Publish metadata for planned data acquisition and update for Federal Framework data
  4. Prototype and deploy enhanced data access and web mapping services for Federal Framework data
  5. Establish comprehensive Federal Portal as a logical extension to the NSDI Clearinghouse Network

End Results:

  • Standards for Framework layers are completed and deployed
  • Agencies publish planned spatial data activities and work with State and local entities to reduce over lapping efforts
  • Web portal accesses standardized distributed data
  • Redundant non-standard data collection is eliminated

Agencies are asked to support the Geospatial One-Stop initiative, provide in kind support for standards development, and funding support.

NSGIC Issues - Bill Burgess, NSGIC

NSGIC Vision Statement: To foster effective implementation of the NSDI, NSGIC provides a national forum for states to identify and debate issues; seek common solutions; and advocate development, integration, access, and wise use of geographic information.

NSGIC members want input to the Federal process; clear and concise guidance or direction on Federal initiatives; better conduit for communications between Federal agencies in Washington, Federal field offices, State and local governments; bi-directional communications.

NSGIC view on Geospatial One Stop:

  • Great initiative!
  • Accelerates many of our activities from the past 10 years and provides a well-defined completion date.
  • States want to participate but decreased budgets and lack of staff may make this difficult.
  • Temporary funding assistance needed for coordination.
  • Appropriate funding will make the Geospatial One Stop a reality.
  • NSGIC appreciates access to the A300 document - the open atmosphere shows we are all making progress.

NSGIC Mid-Year Meeting:
March 22-24 in Dallas. First scheduled activity with a significant opportunity for Federal/State interaction on these issues.

NSGIC Contact Information:
National States Geographic Information Council
167 West Main Street, Suite 600
Lexington, KY 40507
859.514.9208 (voice)
859.231.1928 (fax)
nsgic@amrinc.net (email)
http://www.nsgic.org

Next Coordination Group Meeting

Date: January 10, 2002 (please note - meeting is on a THURSDAY)
Time: 9 a.m. - noon
Site: South Interior Building, Room 220
Possible Agenda Topics:

  • Geospatial One Stop Initiative Update
  • OGC Update
  • Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standard, Part 4
  • FEMA Presentation - Multi Hazard Mapping
  • Upcoming Steering Committee Meeting

Agenda will be forwarded the first week of January.

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