National 

Spatial Data 

Infrastructure

Beyond Boundaries

Working together for our common good.

A Geospatial Strategy 

for the Nation

Our Common Ground

Geographic or geospatial data is the language of 

the landscape. It provides 

knowledge about our land and 

our communities, and helps put 

events and issues into context. 

In reality, every event occurs 

at some physical location, and 

this position-based knowledge 

can help us maximize our 

natural resources, minimize the 

destruction of fire and floods, 

improve public safety, and 

reduce crime. 

Our communities — whether 

towns, cities or counties — 

are built in layers of social and 

physical infrastructure that 

have related layers of data. At 

the bottom are bedrock, soils, 

sewers, subways and transmission lines. In the middle we 

might find people, streets and 

highways, buildings, rivers, 

farmlands, forests and deserts. 

Above we find air, atmosphere 

and aircraft. 

In today’s increasingly complex 

society, geospatial data and 

services must be easy to access 

across city, county and state 

boundaries. If we collaborate on 

data collection and use, we can 

maximize our knowledge and 

leverage our resources to build 

a common base of geospatial 

data that can be used by many 

people for many applications. 

Having a common ground of 

geospatial data gives us the 

ability to make more informed 

decisions that improve our 

quality of life.

Geography knows no 

boundaries. It conforms to 

no jurisdictions other than its 

own natural laws. Simply put, 

geography is our common 

base. It shapes our civilizations 

and our cultures. It describes 

the land that is the foundation 

upon which we all depend for 

our very survival.
Our Common Vision

Over the past several decades, 

computer technology has 

transformed paper maps into 

digital images — making 

geographic or geospatial 

information about the natural 

world more useful. 

Whether managing resources for the longterm or responding to timecritical events, government 

agencies and other organizations must be able to access 

and integrate information at the 

community, regional, national 

and global levels. Today, geographic information systems 

(GIS) let us integrate, analyze 

and manage information about 

locations in ways never before 

possible.

Recognizing the need to improve 

the collection, management, 

accessibility and use of geospatial data, the idea for a 

National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) came into 

being to promote a consistent 

way of sharing data throughout 

all levels of government, the 

private and non-profit sectors, 

and educational institutions. 

The NSDI upholds standards and provides a 

base of relationships 

among data producers 

and users that facilitates 

data sharing.

The Federal Geographic 

Data Committee (FGDC) 

is the federally-mandated group created to 

foster the development 

and implementation of 

the NSDI among Federal 

agencies and the 

non-Federal sector.
The vision of the NSDI is that 

current and accurate geospatial 

data will be readily available 

on a local, national and global 

basis to contribute to economic 

growth, environmental quality 

and stability, and social progress. 
Geospatial data is clearly a 

national asset — an essential 

requirement for nearly every 

program at every level of 

business, including both the 

public and the private sector. 

Building the infrastructure of NSDI is a mission for 

all of us. Data produced and 

served according to NSDI policies, practices and standards 

becomes part of the common 

infrastructure and increases 

the value of America’s data 

resources.

So how do we contribute to 

and maximize the value of 

this asset? While the FGDC 

has been tasked by the Office 

of Management and Budget 

(OMB) with fostering the 

development of the NSDI on a 

national level, it is the contributions from all sectors of society 

that will make the NSDI a truly 

dynamic and rich resource for 

the nation. “Think Nationally, 

Act Locally” is a good way to 

envision your participation in 

building the NSDI.

The FGDC champions the 

following activities to guide 

participation in and contributions to building the NSDI:

• Following endorsed 

geospatial data standards for 

the collection, integration and 

exchange of data

• Using the Metadata Standard 

to document and maintain an 

organization’s data holdings

• Establishing an NSDI 

clearinghouse network, 

accessed through the 

Geospatial One-Stop Portal 

(www.geodata.gov), to facilitate the sharing of data

• Working collaboratively to 

build a common base or 

framework of data that can 

be used by many people for 

many applications

• Encouraging the formation 

of partnerships to share in 

the cost, responsibility, and 

Our Common Benefit
rewards for collaborative 

data collection

Consistent implementation of the common practices 

and standards developed 

for the NSDI benefits us all. 

While the FGDC leads the 

federal coordination, successful 

implementation of the NSDI 

will only be achieved through 

the collective actions of many 

individuals and organizations 

from all levels of society. That’s 

where you come in.
Our Common Future

Our nation’s economic, social and environmental future 

depends on the sound use 

of land, water, subterranean, 

atmospheric and human 

resources. 

If we can achieve a common 

vision of accurate, accessible 

geospatial information for the 

nation, we can help transform 

the way that all organizations 

address these complex issues 

in the 21st century.

Public and private institutions 

are committing resources and 

making important long-term 

decisions concerning the collection, management and use of 

spatial data. These actions are 

influenced by current pressures, 

priorities, and opportunities, 

but their ultimate success 

depends on how these spatial 

data activities will be relevant 

to future needs and demands. 

We have an opportunity to 

shape the future of geospatial 

data. Working together today, 

we can build the geospatial 

foundation for tomorrow. 

Sharing the responsibility for 

addressing common interests 

for the common good is what 

the NSDI is all about. 

Help shape the future. Be a 

part of the team that’s building the National Spatial Data 

Infrastructure. 

For more information on 

the National Spatial Data 

Infrastructure and the work of 

the Federal Geographic Data 

Committee, visit the FGDC 

Web site at www.fgdc.gov