In considering the current state of geospatial data in the nation, it runs the gamut. A substantial amount of data is collected and developed at the local level. Some is collected and developed at the state and federal level, some by tribes, some by academia, some by non-profits, and some by private sector. Some of this data is generated on a regular basis, as part of an established program; some is purely on an ad-hoc basis. Some is mandated, such as some of the data collected on environmental data through the National Environmental Information Exchange Network, some is collected, purely incidental to other activities.
Some datasets exist on a national basis, some do not. And all throughout, there are myriad overlapping use cases, which may additionally place differing requirements on datasets. For example, in some cases, a roadway GIS dataset may be geared to roadway maintenance needs; in others, toward network and traffic analysis. In some cases, the requirements, dataset characteristics and attributes can converge and be accommodated in a single dataset. In others, they may not be able to converge, but the needed datasets can be developed by means of value-added attributes or joins. In some cases, derivative data is required. In many cases, there is tremendous need for consistency and authoritative datasets.
The landscape that quickly begins to emerge is one which is a patchwork, full of seams, overlaps, disjoints, gaps and disconnects- but- also one which holds much potential for leveraging disparate investments, and providing economies of scale, along with increasing richness of data, increased update frequency, increased accuracy and completeness.
How can these gaps and disjoints be bridged? Through a framework, forum and national dialogue, bringing together stakeholders at all levels – federal, state, local, tribal, academia, non-profit, and industry; through partnerships; through collaboration - organizations like NSGIC, like Federal and other agency GIS workgroups, like CUAHSI and many others. This is what holds a National Spatial Data Infrastructure together and brings success.
Showing posts with label National Map. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Map. Show all posts
Landscape of National GIS...
On
2/01/2009 12:43:00 AM
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The first step is in considering the concept.
Act Locally, Think Globally.
Stimulus and Infrastructure Planning
On
1/31/2009 10:32:00 AM
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With considerable debate and controversy, HR 1, the Stimulus bill has passed in the House of Representatives and has moved on to the Senate for additional debate and deliberation.
Current Bill Status
The full HR 1 text and various summaries are posted below:
Additional Supporting Documentation:
Within the Stimulus bill, there are a number of investments proposed, e.g. transportation funding, mass transit, broadband infrastructure and much more.
Question is, how do we intend to properly assess, triage and plan how and where best, geographically, to make these investments to provide maximal benefit without spatial data on a national level? How can these investments be expended without an adequately informed decisionmaking process?
This need points toward NSDI, the National Map and the related pieces that serve it, and a core need for geospatial data and analysis, which should be an integral part of any of these planning and investment processes, as well as embedding geo-enabled technologies within the investments themselves.
- The House Bill, HR 1
- Summary of Spending
- Summary of Tax Cuts
- Congressional Budget Office report, 1/26/09
- Summaries of the bill posted on the speaker’s Web site.
- Proposed Amendments
(note: these may change as HR 1 works its way through the Senate)
- ASCE Report Card on US Infrastructure
- State-by-state Transporation Infrastructure breakdown
- New America Foundation Summary of Educational Needs
- Schools Spending Plan
- State-by-state breakdown of low-income programs by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
There are also a few additional sites discussing the Stimulus, such as the GOP-driven http://readthestimulus.org/ which nonetheless provide useful resources.
Question is, how do we intend to properly assess, triage and plan how and where best, geographically, to make these investments to provide maximal benefit without spatial data on a national level? How can these investments be expended without an adequately informed decisionmaking process?
This need points toward NSDI, the National Map and the related pieces that serve it, and a core need for geospatial data and analysis, which should be an integral part of any of these planning and investment processes, as well as embedding geo-enabled technologies within the investments themselves.
Investment in infrastructure without also investing in the underlying planning process and supporting data and decisionmaking tools represents tremendous opportunity lost, in terms of making adequately informed decisions, leveraging efforts, and properly targeting infrastructure improvements to where they provide the greatest good to the American people as a whole.
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