MAPPING/Project will create consensus on geographic data

Although local governments have begun building extensive databases of geographic information, those databases are largely proprietary and cannot be shared with other jurisdictions. All data formats cannot be read using the same mapping software; all data is not measured uniformly; and some agencies are reluctant to share data without compensation. To remove some of those barriers to interoperability, the Reston, Va.-based Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and the Wayland, Mass.-based Open GIS Consortium (OGC) are working to establish standards for data collection, data distribution and mapping software.

In February, the FGDC unveiled plans for the Geospatial One-Stop project. The goal of the project is to create a national consensus on a geographic data framework and to provide “one-stop” access to FGDC-compliant data on the Internet. The availability of standard geospatial information could re-duce the amount of time and money federal, state and local agencies spend duplicating data collection, maintenance and distribution. The project will build on FGDC standards for data acquisition and classification and on the emerging standards for commercial geospatial products.

Since 1994, OGC, an international organization of software vendors, has worked to create geospatial software standards. Most recently, the OGC developed the first multi-vendor demonstration to show how geospatial products can work together across the Internet. The demonstration will occur at the annual conference of the Aurora, Colo.-based Geospatial Information & Technology Association in Tampa March 17-20. Using a combination of standard telephone and broadband connections to the Internet, vendors will demonstrate how their products can access and integrate geospatial data from a variety of sources.

In addition to overcoming the obstacle of incompatible software, local governments also must meet the challenge of getting maps in one jurisdiction to line up with maps in another. To assist local governments in doing that, the FGDC has adopted the U.S. National Grid (USNG) as the preferred grid for geospatial information.

The USNG is based on universally defined coordinate and grid systems. Local governments that adopt the grid ensure that their maps can be understood across multiple agencies and that data can be shared without the need for extensive calculations. The standard for the grid can be downloaded from the FGDC Web site, www.fgdc.gov/standards/status/usng.html.

As an incentive for agencies to improve GIS interoperability, the FGDC has created the Cooperative Agreements Program. The program provides funds for GIS projects that aim to improve the ability to discover, share, maintain and use digital geographic data. Funding is available for:

• organizations that need to learn how to create and implement metadata (information that describes geospatial data);

• personnel who will be training organizations to use metadata;

• organizations that want to extend the functionality of their registered clearinghouse nodes by incorporating OGC Web mapping specifications; and

• projects that will demonstrate the use of geospatial data sharing between Canadian and American jurisdictions.

• The FGDC will accept project proposals for funding from federal, state and local governments, academic, tribal, for profit and non-profit organizations until March 15. Application materials are available on the Internet at www.fgdc.gov/funding/cap2002.html.