Building a National Spatial Data Infrastructure 2.0

In the United States, a lively discussion is emerging on the next generation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, with a  focus on its governance and coordination. Below are links to articles, reports and editorials on this topic:

National Geospatial Advisory Council Reports

• NGAC Report: The Changing Geospatial Landscape [PDF 4.38 MB]
• NGAC Transition Recommendations [PDF]
• Recommendations Summary [July 2011, PDF]
• Proposal to Measure Progress Toward Realizing the NSDI Vision [PDF]

Federal Geographic Data Committee Reports and Presentations

• NSDI 2.0: Implementing Change, Challenges and Opportunities [Ivan Deloatch, October 2009]
• A History of Spatial Data Coordination [Milo Robinson, May 2008]
• National Spatial Data Infrastructure Webpage

2009 Proposals for a “National GIS”

• A Proposal for National Economic Recovery: An Investment in Geospatial Information Infrastructure Building a National GIS [Jack Dangermond, ESRI]
• A Concept for American Recovery and Reinvestment - NSDI 2.0: Powering our National Economy, Renewing our Infrastructure, Protecting our Environment [Jeff Harrison, John Moeller, Julia Harvell and others]
• A Proposal for Reinvigorating the American Economy Through Investment in the US National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) [Autodesk, Microsoft, Oracle, Google, Intergraph]
• Stimulus Proposal #4 – Funding the National Map [John Palatiello]
• A Strategic Framework for a National Spatial Data Infrastructure [NSGIC]
• Governance of the NSDI [Will Craig, President of NSGIC]

Commentary

• Mapping and Spatial Data: Infrastructures and Imagination (John Moeller, Communia Blog, Sept 6, 2011)
• Obama Should Finish What Nixon Failed to Do (Christopher Tucker, Directions Magazine, Oct 2, 2009)
• Is a National GIS on the map? (GCN, July 13, 2009)
• Update 9: ESRI Invites Support for GIS for the Nation as Part of Stimulus Bill
• Three Geospatial Proposals and U.S. Economic Stimulus: Background and Status (Directions Magazine, Feb 5, 2009)
• Landscape of National GIS (David G. Smith, February 1, 2009)
• A Second Proposal Regarding Geo and the Stimulus: NSDI 2.0 (All Points Blog, Directions Magazine, Jan 24, 2009)
• Grassroots Group Releases NSDI 2.0 Concept Paper (GISCafe, January 23, 2009)
• A Rebuttal to “Building a National GIS” (Sean Gorman, January 13, 2009)

 

NSDI Related Legislation and Hearings

Legislation:

• E-Government Act of 2002 (PL 107-347) See Section 216 – Common Protocols for Geographic Information Systems, as well as Hearing Transcript, House Report No. 107-787 , Part 1 (H.R. 2458), and Senate Reports No. 107-174 (S. 803)

Congressional Oversight Hearings:

• House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Oversight Hearing “Federal Geospatial Data Management and Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2489″ (July 23, 2009)
•  House Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census (June 23, 2004) See GAO Testimony – “Geospatial Information: Better Coordination and Oversight Could Help Reduce Duplicative Investments“
• House Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census  (June 10, 2003) See GAO Testimony – “Geographic Information Systems: Challenges to Effective Data Sharing“

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports to Congress:

• Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): An Overview for Congress (CRS, May 18, 2011)
• Issues and Challenges for Federal Geospatial Information” (CRS, May 18, 201)
• Geospatial Information and Geograpahic Information Systems (GIS): Current Issues and Future Challenges (CRS, June 2009)
• Issues Regarding a National Land Parcel Database (CRS, July 2009)

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Reports to Congress and Testimony:

• Geographic Information Systems : Challenges to Effective Data Sharing (GAO-03-874T, June 2003) [Testimony]
• Geospatial Information: Better Coordination Needed To Identify and Reduce Duplicative Investments (GAO-04-743, June 2004) [Testimony]
• Geospatial Informaiton: Better Coordination Needed to Identify and Reduce Duplicative Investments (GAO-04-703, June 2004) [Report to Congressional Requesters]

Executive Orders, Regulations and Guidelines

Executive Orders:

• Executive Order 12906: Coordinating Geographic Data Acquisition and Access: The National Spatial Data Infrastructure
• Executive Order 13286, published in the March 5, 2003, edition of the Federal Register, Volume 68, Number 43, pp. 10619-10633 amended Executive Order 12906

OMB Circulars and Memos:

• OMB Circular A-16 Revised Coordination of Geographic Information and Related Spatial Data Activities
• OMB Circular A-130: Management of Federal Information Resources
• OMB Circular A-119: Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities 
• OMB Memo M-09-28: Developing Effective Place-Based Policies for the FY2011 Budget
• OMB Memo M-06-07: Designation of a Senior Agency Official for Geospatial Information (President Bush)

FGDC Policies and Guidelines

The Geospatial Platform

NSDI-related Reports and Publications

National Academy of Public Administration Reports:

• Geographic Information for the 21st Century: Building a Strategy for the Nation (NAPA 98-01, January 1998)
• Legal Limits on Access to and Disclosure of Disaster Information (NAPA 99-09S, May 1999)
• Enabling Collaboration: Three Priorities for the New Administration (NAPA Jan 2009)
• Conversations with Leaders: Place-Based Public Management: A National Academy of Public Administration Initiative (NAPA 2011)
• Forum on Place-Based Public Management (May 2011)

National Academy of Sciences Reports (PDFs are now free; for full list of Mapping Science Committee reports click here):

• Land Parcel Data: A Vision for the Future (NAS 2007)
• Weaving a National Map: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey Concept of the National Map (NAS 2003)
• National Spatial Data Infrastructure Partnership Programs: Rethinking the Focus (NAS 2001)
• A Data Foundation for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NAS 1995)
• Promoting the National Spatial Data Infrastructure Through Partnerships (NAS 1994)
• Toward a Coordinated  Spatial Data Infrastructure for the Nation (NAS 1993)
• Spatial Data Needs: The Future of the National Mapping Program (NAS 1990)
• Federal Surveying and Mapping: An Organizational Review (NAS 1981), including a summary of the Federal Mapping Task Force Report (OMB 1973).

Academic Studies:

• A Policy Appraisal of the National Map, A Federal Program to Provide Basic Geospatial Data For the Nation (Maeve A. Boland, PhD Dissertation, 2005) 

Earth Observation Governance, Priorities and Benefit to Society:

• Earth Observations and Global Change: Why? Where are we? What Next? (CSIS 2008)
• Earth Observation, Risk Assessment and Global Change (CSIS 2008)
• A Plan for a U.S. National Land Imaging Program (OSTP 2007)
• Dr. Holdren, Director of OSTP, Remarks to the Plenary Session of GEO-VI
• U.S. Group on Earth Observations (US GEO) Website

If you know of additional related documents or commentaries, please email us the links!

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in the links and resources listed above are not necessarily those of this blog site.

Gov O’Malley Exhibits Maryland’s Recovery GIS and Web Tools before Congressional Committee

 

Governor Martin O’Malley Exhibits Maryland’s Recovery Web Tools before Congressional Committee

Office of Governor Martin O’Malley, July 8, 2009

Governor Martin O’Malley testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today, where he exhibited Maryland’s nationally-recognized, interactive website that tracks funding from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) from it’s inception.  The Governor joined Governors Edward Rendell (PA) and Deval Patrick (MA) in highlighting ways the states are conforming to federal accountability standards and using technology to achieve new levels of government transparency and efficiency.

“For those of us in the states, the Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been a true lifeline,” said Governor O’Malley.  “Were it not for these funds, we would have been forces to lay off 700 state employees, erode health care benefits, and forgo investments in public education which have produced record test scores and earned our state’s schools a number on in the nation ranking for our public schools.  This critical legislation is helping us create and save jobs, and position our State’s economy to bounce back from recession.  In Maryland, we share the President’s commitment to investing these funds with maximum efficiency, openness, and transparency.”

In February, just days after the passage of ARRA, Governor O’Malley announced Maryland’s plan to monitor and track Recovery and Reinvestment funds in the State of Maryland through the launch of Maryland’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act website, www.recovery.maryland.gov to allow Marylanders to track recovery projects in the State of Maryland. Governor O’Malley provided a quick demonstration of the website that utilizes GIS (Geographic-Information System) technology. 

The website, maintained by StateStat, Maryland’s performance-measurement and management program implemented to make state government more accountable and more efficient, tracks every category of ARRA spending providing contract-level details to the public.

Recently, Maryland launched an updated application for the website, allowing users to find information more easily.  The Map has been upgraded with additional information tools, detailed fund descriptions and project details.  The new site also provides users the opportunity to send comments and questions about the data and the map directly to StateStat administrators.

See also:

Gov. O’Malley’s oral testimony before the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, July 8, 2009: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/speeches/090708arra.pdf

Gov. O’Malley’s written testiomony: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/speeches/090708arrawritten.pdf

House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform – Opening Statement, Witness Testimony, and Webcast for Committee Hearing Titled “Tracking the Money:  Preventing Waste, Fraud and Abuse of Recovery Act Funding” http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2528

How Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley uses GIS Technology to Transform his State for the Better, by Chad Vander Veen, Government Technology Magazine  p. 15 - 17 (starts p. 18 in PDF)  http://digitalmag.govtech.com/GT/GT_Mag_Aug09.pdf 

MD StateStat:  http://www.statestat.maryland.gov/

Add Mapping and Geographic Analysis to Recovery.gov

 

A National Dialogue — Recovery Dialogue: Information Technology Solutions, National Academy of Public Administration, Posted April 27, 2009

Mapping and Geographic Analysis capabilities would enable Recovery.gov to provide a “full picture” of stimulus spending as envisioned by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Maps supported by a Geographic Information System (GIS) would enable people to see, understand, evaluate, and give feedback on government decisions. They would show where ARRA spending is actually taking place and enable evaluation of intended outcomes of investments in local communities. This would require data about the location of investment spending as well as analysis capabilities that link stimulus funding to socio-economic and demographic data. …

Read full text of the article:  http://www.thenationaldialogue.org/ideas/add-mapping-and-geographic-analysis-to-recovery.gov

See also ESRI page:  http://www.esri.com/company/stimulus_recovery.html

Some of the capabilities we recommend are already implemented on a number of state Web sites including

·         State of Maryland StateStat

·         State of Oregon Tracking the Dollars

·         State of Washington Stimulus Reporting Map

 

U.S. Economic Stimulus Projects and Geospatial Technology

 

Economic Stimulus Project areas that may create GIS/Geo Tech Opportunities  

Like many of you, we haven’t really had time to go through the entire 1,071 page Detailed List of Spending – you can view and download the entire document at ProRepublica We did take a little time, however, to go through this fine summary provided by ProPublica. The following were some of the spending items of interest that may indeed have a direct or indirect effect on GIS and geospatial technologies…[More]

Source: Glenn Letham (@gletham) Monday, 16 February 2009, GISUser.Com