|  |   | FGDC Newsletter Summer 1999SPECIAL GEODATA FORUM EDITION1999 National GeoData ForumMAKING LIVABLE COMMUNITIES A REALITYThe 1999 National GeoData Forum, "Making Livable Communities a Reality," wasa great success.  More than 460 participants made the forum a dynamic andforward-looking opportunity to explore critical issues in achieving moreeffective use of geographic information in our nation's communities.  Theforum, conducted in Washington, DC, June 7-9, began with keynote presentationsby Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt; Morley Winograd, Director of theNational Partnership for Reinventing Government; Congressman Paul Kanjorski;and Dee Hock, founder and CEO Emeritus of Visa International.  The afternoonsession included presentations ranging from a video envisioning a digitalearth to community leaders describing place and livability issues from theirlocal perspectives.  On the second day, seven concurrent breakout sessions, or"threads," provided venues for discussing specific issues.  The results ofthese thread discussions were woven into an executive summary report that wasprovided to all forum participants on the third morning. The forum concludedwith a policy roundtable, chaired by Congressman Kanjorski, where government,industry, tribal, and academic leaders expressed their perspectives and visionsregarding the value and use of geographic information in communities.
*The hearing was one of the first congressional hearings to focus on GIS   and spatial data.*
During the forum, several other events supported the themes of livablecommunities and working together to ensure ready access to relevant geographicinformation.  Demonstrations of GIS applications addressing community issueswere conducted at the House Rayburn Building;  the University Consortium forGeographic Information Science (UCGIS) showcased university GIScience research,education, and policy programs at the National Geographic Society; and theHouse Subcommittee on Government Management, Information, and Technology helda hearing on "Geographical Information Systems Policies and Programs." Thishearing was one of the first congressional hearings to focus on GIS andspatial data, and it provided an excellent finish to the forum's whirlwindthree days.
All forum participants contributed to making the meeting a stimulating,thought provoking, and future-focused event.   Participants' responses to themeeting were uniformly positive, and there was great enthusiasm for carryingforward the ideas and actions identified there.  The forum summary graphic,presented and discussed on the final day of the meeting, captures the forum'sflow and content.  You are encouraged to use this graphic to help spreadawareness and understanding of the forum and of the value of geographicinformation in addressing community issues.  Although there are many morethoughts to consider, some of the major elements that emerged from the forumand the congressional hearing are listed here.
Bold Steps Identified in the Forum Summary- Demonstrate interoperability and integration in testbeds.    Develop open geoprocessing interfaces.   Increase data discovery and sharing through metadata and data standards.   
- Catalogue case studies.    Increase investment in decision support systems.   Add educational experiences about geodata at all school/grade levels.   
- Increase commitment for GIScience training.    Publish funding mechanisms and options.   Review economic dynamics of federal and private sector interaction:   
- Update and revise the NSDI strategic direction.    Establish a data requirements registry.   Pursue "Chaordic
TM
" organization discussed by Dee Hock.
* ChaordicTM is a trademark of The Chaordic Alliance.
 
*Dee Hock Reinvents Organizational Models*In his keynote presentation, Dee Hock, founder and CEO Emeritus of VisaInternational, challenged forum participants to think differently aboutorganizations.   Today's organizations are increasingly unable to accomplishwhat they were created to do or to manage their affairs, yet they continue toexpand and consume more resources, he said.  If this situation continues, hewarned, we can expect global institutional collapse.  As a solution, heoutlined his innovative ideas about "chaordic" organizations-self-organizing,adaptive, nonlinear organizations whose behavior harmoniously combines chaosand order.
Here are some of his many provocative thoughts about organizations andsociety:
- There has been a compression of time and events, yet no new concepts of institutions have been developed to operate effectively in this new environment.    The problem is not an information problem; it is an organizational problem.  Like illnesses, such problems are easy to treat and hard to diagnose in the early stages, but easy to diagnose and hard to treat in the later stages.   On the pyramid that progresses from data through information, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, it is easy to move up when there is little change in the environment.  When change is occurring quickly, it is very difficult to move beyond the first level, data.   
- We have organized our activities to bring out our worst tendencies.      It is far too late and things are far too bad for pessimism.   New concepts of government and organizations are needed.   
- The bottom line is trust.    Start not with "what we want to do" but rather with "who does the work."  It is crucial to identify and involve the right people.   To develop a new, effective organizational model, start by defining the purpose.  Then determine the principles required to achieve that purpose, identify all the people who must be involved, develop the concept of relationship structure for the organization, and write a constitution.

GeoData Forum Summmary Graphic (441 kb)
Ideas That Emerged From the Congressional Hearing- Establish the NSDI as a national objective through legislation.    Consider the need for a broader coalition of organizations that can guide the implementation of the NSDI.    Establish a means for sharing best practices in geographic information and technology as a component of the NSDI.   
- Promote locally-independent, regionally-coordinated geographic information processes as means of achieving national consistency.    Support local and state initiatives and provide incentives through activities such as the Community/Federal Information Partnership.
Further StepsDetailed information on the forum will be provided through the FGDC(www.fgdc.gov) and other mechanisms.  Thechallenge in front of us now is to continue to move forward in addressing andimplementing the many ideas and steps identified in the forum.  To furthercommunities' access to geoprocessing tools and geographic information, we willbegin the following efforts:
- Work with Congress on possible legislation to establish the NSDI as a national objective.  Legislation would include:      - national goals and NSDI definition,  *federal roles and compliance requirements,*non-federal and non-governmental roles and expectations for NSDI participation, and
- methods for partnerships and new types of organizational relationships that will facilitate NSDI implementation. Continue to build on the extensive involvement of the geoprocessing  and technology sector and work with additional private sector organizations to broaden participation in the NSDI.  This effort will include exploring opportunities to establish mechanisms to encourage businesses to engage in public/private partnerships to promote technology interoperability and make it easier to use geographic information for decision-making within communities.     
- Request that the forum steering committee and policy roundtable membership guide a consensus-based implementation strategy for the steps identified in the forum summary graphic.    Create a national coalition representing current and potential future stakeholders that will explore the potential for an adaptive, self-governing organizational and governance process to guide NSDI implementation.
We must move forward with "BOLD ACTIONS" to implement the "BOLD STEPS" andcapture the "BIG IDEAS" from the forum.  The FGDC, along with  the forumsteering committee and roundtable members, will engage all interestedstakeholders in taking the next actions.  This effort will require leadership,commitment, and resources from all sectors.  If we truly are to create anNSDI that is a geographic information resource for the 21st century, then allof us must contribute to its implementation so that all communities canbenefit from its results.
*Interior Secretary Babbitt urged the forum participants to dream big dreams.This figure is the graphic summary of his presentation.*
Secretary Babbit's Summary Graphic (184 kb)
*Forum Threads*Tuesday was devoted to the forum threads.  The full summaries of the threadactivities and outcomes are being posted at the FGDC website athttp://www.fgdc.gov/99Forum/.
Thread 1.  Geospatial Decision Support Systems*What do decision makers need?**What is the state of the art?*Geospatial decision support systems (GDSS) can help decision makers solvecomplex spatial problems by adding analytical and interpretive capabilitiesto geospatial data.  But do they adequately address the needs of decisionmakers?  Participants in this thread explored this question by discussing thebarriers to more effective use of GDSS, how communities can help develop GDSScapabilities, and important messages that should be sent to Congress or othersconcerning GDSS.
A wide variety of ideas emerged, focusing on technological, organizational,and design components:
- Technology.  Technology advances, significantly reduced prices, the       Internet, and widely available GIS software are increasing the       viability of GIS and GDSS for many communities.  Data, however, can       remain costly or unavailable.  More important, acquiring and       maintaining the necessary expertise may be prohibitively expensive.       In addition, technology, particularly decision support systems, is       changing rapidly.  These factors mean that many communities face       substantial barriers in creating GDSS.  Meeting the goal of developing       a common, distributed, and widely available set of tools will require       an environment incorporating modular approaches to software design,       interoperable modules, and extensible systems.  Such an environment       would enable a community to build a GDSS gradually, assured that       increased capability could be built over time and initial investments       would not become obsolete with subsequent advances. Organization.  More collaboration and coordination are needed. At the       local level, increased citizen participation and better support for       collaborative decision-making processes are primary needs.  The       implications for GDSS include requirements for facilitators that can       use technology, science and technology translators that can inform       decision making, and software to help participants visualize current       condition and future scenarios.   A conference on GDSS facilitators and       translators could further the development of solutions.  At the       federal level, the major concerns are coordination among agencies and       the development of modules or systems to support decision making.
Design.  The design philosophy of most current GISs and GDSSs does not       support the types of problems that users face:  Current systems are       designed to handle data and problems that are clearly defined and       isolated, whereas most real problems are fuzzy and integrated. Current       systems are designed for experts, whereas collaborative groups of       stakeholders with mixed levels of expertise represent the growing user       base.  And current systems do not provide the required support for the       creative design aspect of community development that is central to the       concept of livable communities.
Thread 2.  Finance and Commercial Aspects of the NSDI*How can we finance and implement the NSDI?*Commercially viable data-sharing standards, procedures, and interoperablespecifications make geospatial data developed for one application increasinglyvaluable to others.  This thread explored new ways to finance andcommercialize geospatial data creation and maintenance.  Participantsconsidered a number of questions, including:  How can investments in thesedata be pooled?  What is the role of data licensing?  What legal constraintsmust be considered?  How can public access to information be achieved atmoderate cost?  How can the NSDI use capital planning and finance techniquesas well as venture capital?  Do public-private partnerships work, and how?
Participants made the following recommendations:
- Research and test structures that make available five cross-cutting       capacities for regional and local data consortia:  1) Internet portals       of functional spatial information systems, incorporating public access       to basic spatial data and systems, revenue options that are broader       than data unit pricing, and quality branding;  2) financing options and       optimization, including a Spatial Information Development Bank to       serve regional data consortia; 3) bulk procurement strategies and       purchasing expertise, including best practices guidelines; 4) system       quality strategies that move beyond standards to address design       elements for enhancing privacy, limits for liability, best practices       guidelines, and techniques to address copyright and security issues;       and 5) legal strategies to research and promulgate spatial data       licensing, craft model privacy and security policies and guidelines for       geospatial Internet portals, and review copyright and database       protection issues. Emphasize private sector innovation and entrepreneurship in organizing       and driving the five capacities.  Key activities include clarifying       copyright protection for spatial data developed or shared by the       private sector, reviewing government and private data pricing and       licensing patterns across the country for similar data, and broadening       and adapting Cooperative Research and Development Agreement and other       procedures for increasing the private sector's role.
Organize appropriate public sector support.  Issues include clarifying       the Internal Revenue Code regarding the "public purpose" and tax-exempt       status of obligations issued by regional data consortia, reexamining       minimal spatial data standards and interoperability specifications       required as "underwriting criteria" sufficient to align public and       private investments, reestablishing a Geographer for Congress (as       existed in the 1830s) to help Congress effectively use spatial data and       systems to assess the impact of legislation, issuing bonds for regional       or local data consortia, hosting federal revolving loan funds for       spatial data and systems development, and facilitating institutional       and private sector participation in regional data consortia through       subscriptions and one-call laws.
Thread 3.  "No Limits" Information Technology for Livable Communities*How do we want to use geodata?**What technical and policy issues are implied?*Imagine that there were no limitations imposed by technology.  How would weuse geodata in our communities?  What would we want the technology to do forus if anything were possible?  How would these capabilities affect practiceand policy?  This thread called on the expertise of representatives of theOpenGIS Consortium to help answer these questions and discuss the variousconverging technologies and markets that will support "no limits" technologyfor livable communities.  Topics included network resources, open interfaces,Internet-based computing, database software, commercial geodata sources, andimage processing.  Thread participants discussed the issues that theseemerging technologies raise.
Several major ideas arose:
- We need to think in terms of services, not data.  Traditionally, GIS       practitioners have put much of their effort into building databases.       The new paradigm is that there will be myriad data and systems, all       accessible through queries from users' software.  This approach is a       service, not just data; it is answering questions, not just providing       information. Interoperability is key.  It will free users from constant data       conversion.  Key steps to help achieve widespread interoperability       include demonstrating interoperability and integration in testbeds and       developing open geoprocessing interfaces.
Metadata and standards help make data a commodity.  Metadata make data       discoverable; standards make them usable.  Both components are key to       making data a viable commodity.
Technology is not the limiting factor.  Technological capabilities will       continue to increase.   To make effective use of technology, however,       we must figure out what we want to do and design for it.  Doing so will       require cooperation and consensus.  We need to overcome the legacy of       noncooperation and work through the institutional and legal issues.
Thread 4.  Geodata Challenges for Research and Education in the 21stCentury*How can researchers and educators work with communities?*Within the next 5 years, citizens, students, business executives, electedofficials, educators, and others will have access to terabytes of geodata.How can the research community meet the challenge of removing the technicaland institutional barriers to widespread use of such data?  Participants inthis thread examined the technical problems and discussed how resolving issuesof access, equity, and information technology's influence on society willpromote the dissemination of geodata for educational purposes.  They alsoconsidered how researchers can best collaborate with academic, federal, andprivate partners to address these challenges.
Major points arising from the discussion included the following:
- Universities are communities.  Like federal, state, local, and       private sector communities, they have both intra- and intercommunity       relationships.  Universities can foster NSDI development through       research, teaching, and outreach.  However, universities' outreach       approaches to local communities and the private sector must be improved.       The Community-Federal Information Partnerships program provides an       ideal opportunity for developing new partnerships between universities       and colleges and local community and private partners. The United States leads the world in both GIS research and development       and higher education.  University research in geospatial information       has led to vital GIS innovation and progress.  If we want to maintain       our global lead, continued and increased funding for basic research is       required.  Universities can do a better job of informing federal       agencies about why their work is important, and federal agencies can do       a better job of communicating with universities about research they       need conducted.  The University Consortium for Geographic Information       Science can provide a channel for this interaction.
There is a desperate shortage of skilled GIScience workers.  Existing       educational programs are not providing the necessary graduates, and       there is no organized effort to change this situation.  Graduates lack       major technical skills in GIScience and in critical supporting areas       such as computer science.  These deficiencies hinder the full use of       existing GIScience technology, the development of further technology,       and the identification of crucial spatial aspects of government and       business problems.  Potential remedies include developing a unified       GIScience curriculum, developing in-career training and education       approaches, tackling problems surrounding GIS certification, and       ensuring that the Office of Personnel Management creates an appropriate       GIS Specialist or Analyst position description.
Examples of best practices in research and education must be developed.       Universities can contribute to understanding of NSDI and GIScience       through well-illustrated, interactive, Web-accessible projects relating       to their research and education projects.
Thread 5.  Accessing Data*How can we make data sharing easier?*Barriers to data sharing slow our progress in many endeavors, and, ultimately,in building livable communities.  This thread brought together people withimmediate concerns about impediments to data sharing and people interested inconceptualizing the data-sharing environment of the future.  They consideredpolicy concerns, including finding data in archives, in legacy systems, andon the Internet; assessing suitability of data for use; accessing andretrieving data; opening data for analysis, visualization, and decision-makingapplications; and contributing and describing data for use by others.
Three major ideas emerged from this discussion:
- A community needs to be well-informed about itself, through ready       access to accurate, up-to-date data.  In addition to data, it needs       shared methods, principles, and models-things that are part of working       with geospatial data but are difficult to describe and catalog using       today's technology.  Sharing also relies on the availability of       metadata that is tightly integrated with data and recognized by       intelligent software. Access to data must be equitable. The Internet is creating a world of       haves and have-nots, but livable communities must make information       available to every member in affordable, usable form.
We usually think of communities as geographically defined-neighborhoods,       cities, and counties.  But increasingly, people interact within       communities that are very widely scattered, using the Internet and       other methods of communication over long distances.  For example, the       community of people concerned about loss of tropical rain forest is       widely dispersed but has important needs for information.
Thread 6.  Geodata Organizational Issues*How are geodata communities best coordinated to help create livablecommunities?*Geodata form the information base underlying livable communities.  Butorganizational issues such as determining data content and characteristics,establishing data creation and maintenance responsibilities, and coordinatingpeople complicate the development of this geodata foundation.  This threadprovided an opportunity to explore effective ways to address these issuesthrough the organizational perspectives Dee Hock raised in his plenarypresentation.  The session was structured as an exercise in experientiallearning.  Led by a facilitator and working in small groups, participants wereurged to think about and articulate their visions of the future, in whichspatial data are being effectively used.  Next, they were asked to determinewhat principles would be required to create an organization they could trustto realize this vision.  Finally, they shared their thoughts and feelingsabout the ideas that had been raised.
Several interesting ideas emerged from this discussion:
- Vision.  In the future, geodata will be ubiquitous, transparent, and       "frictionless."   The days of data that "just lay there" will be gone.       Data will be part of transactional systems; users will receive       up-to-the-minute data, along with related information such as       uncertainty.  Applets will come together to provide answers, not data.       It will be possible to look at the local and global perspectives at the       same time.  This environment will move us from geodata to geowisdom. Principles.  Although the group found it harder to come up with       principles than they expected, several useful components of principles       emerged.  They included trust, equality, respect, voluntary       participation, democratic operation, diversity, open communication,       commitment, decentralized decision making, ethics, and values.
Getting there.  Most participants favored exploring the development of       a "chaordic" organization to support NSDI development.  This enthusiasm       was tempered by discussion of the resources-money and people's       time-required to embark on such an effort.  Recognizing these       requirements and constraints, however, the group still had a strong       sense that the community should take some of these steps and explore       some of these ideas.
Thread 7.  Pillars of the Community:  Framework Data and ProductDevelopment*How can the current investment in framework data be leveraged to maximizebenefits and minimize costs?*The framework is a crucial component of the NSDI.  It is a collaborativeeffort to create a widely available source of basic geospatial data.  Theframework consists of data, technology, and procedures, as well asinstitutional relationships and business practices.  This thread examined howwell the purpose and goals of the framework are being met.  Participantsreviewed the recent Framework Data Survey and three case studies incorporatingframework data and participated in a lively discussion focusing on increasingprivate sector participation, involving the user community in frameworkdevelopment, promoting the value of the framework, and ensuring frameworkreliability and availability.  They recognized that a great deal has beenaccomplished but that a less federally focused approach must be pursued if theframework effort is to realize its potential and value to communities.
Participants answered several questions:
- Are the framework data meeting community needs?  Response:  4.5 on a       scale of 0 to 10.  Much work remains, but the framework is a critical       national resource to support community livability. What are the barriers to achieving the vision to develop, maintain, and       integrate framework data within a geographic area?  Response:       inadequate private sector involvement; lack of knowledge about NSDI and       its benefits; need for definition of the NSDI program in user-related       terms; need for an indicator of what data are "under construction"       -- perhaps a national data collection registry; slow production of       federal data themes; inaccessibility of data; lack of an effective       framework marketing approach that includes channels of distribution;       need to connect  framework data to community needs.
How can the private sector contribute to and benefit from the NSDI       effort?  Response:  The FGDC could create a mechanism for private       sector participation in the national policy process.  The National       Spatial Data Council concept presented in the National Academy of       Public Administration (NAPA) study was suggested as an approach.
Is the goal of a widely used and useful framework being realized?       Response:  4.5 on a scale of 0 to 10.
What, if anything, must be done to achieve the framework data vision?       Response:  Create an NSDI portal for national coverage of framework       data; redefine what the framework is-there are too many different ideas;       implement NAPA recommendations; include input from local agencies,       citizens, and private industry; make sure the framework supports       community and regional needs; develop a business plan; provide       incentives and mechanisms for developing larger-scale data; market the       NSDI initiative to users; create a data requirements registry.
*Don't  Duck Metadata*1999 NSDI CAP Awards AnnouncedThe 1999 National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Cooperative AgreementsProgram (CAP) awards were announced at the National GeoData Forum in June.This year's program, "Don't Duck Metadata,"  is devoted to projects that willfurther framework data documentation and clearinghouse development.  It buildson the expertise that has been developed in the community.  It represents anew level of participation-participants and communities helping themselves andothers.  Participants in this program will develop metadata for existingframework data, collect framework metadata, serve metadata through new orexisting clearinghouse nodes, or provide or coordinate training or technicalassistance.  The 1999  program will fund 95 projects for a total ofapproximately $1,800,000. These projects will involve over 240 federal, state,and local governments, and private and academic organizations nationwide.  Thelist of awardees is arranged by the state in which their offices are located.Contact information can be found at the FGDC website at www.fgdc.gov.

**Alaska**Alaska Department of Natural ResourcesMunicipality of Anchorage-Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility
**Alabama**Geological Survey of Alabama
**Arkansas**University of Arkansas-Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies
**Arizona**Hualapai Tribe-Department of Natural Resources
**California** Western Riverside Council of Governments City of Calabasas California Resources Agency Program (CERES) Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments County of Ventura California State University, San Bernardino-Department of Geography GIS Center
**Colorado**The San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority Bureau of Indian Affairs-Geographic Data Service CenterBureau of Land Management-National IRM CenterSouthwestern Colorado Data Center, Inc.U.S. National Park Service-Denver
**Connecticut**University of Connecticut-Center for Geographic Information & Analysis
**Delaware**University of Delaware-Department of Geography
**Florida**GeoComm International CorporationFlorida Geographic Information Board-Department of Management Services
**Georgia**Georgia Office of Information Technology Policy Council
**Hawaii**U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Honolulu Engineer District
**Iowa**Iowa Geographic Information Council
**Idaho**University of Idaho LibraryCoeur d'Alene Tribe-Tribal GIS
**Illinois**Chicago Horticultural Society-Chicago Botanic GardenNortheastern Illinois Planning Commission
**Indiana**Watershed Research
**Kansas**Kansas GIS Policy Board-Kansas Water Office
**Louisiana**U.S. Geological Survey-National Wetlands Research CenterUniversity of Southwestern Louisiana-Center for Advanced Computer Studies
**Massachusetts**City of Northampton
**Maryland**Salisbury State University-Mapping Science GroupTowson University-Center for Geographic Information ServicesUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County
**Maine**Maine Office of GISEastern Maine Development Corporation
**Michigan**Land Information Access AssociationGreat Lakes CommissionImproving Michigan's Access to Geographic Networks (IMAGIN)
**Minnesota**Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
**Mississippi**U.S. Geological Survey-Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
**Montana**Ravalli County Planning OfficeNatural Resource Information System-Montana State Library
**North Carolina**North Carolina Center for Geographic Information & Analysis (NCGIA)
**New Jersey**New Jersey Department of Environmental ProtectionMonmouth County-Information Services/ GIS Division
**New Mexico**University of New Mexico-Earth Data Analysis CenterNew Mexico Environment Department-Information Technologies
**Nevada**Regional Transportation CommissionUniversity of Nevada, Reno-De LaMare LibraryUniversity of Nevada, Reno-Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology
**New York**Monroe County-Department of Planning & DevelopmentTompkins County-Information Technologies ServicesGenesee County-Real Property Tax Services OfficeWestchester County GIS-County Executive's Office
**Oklahoma**Oklahoma Conservation CommissionCherokee Nation-Office of Environmental Services
**Oregon**MetroConservation Biology InstituteIntertribal GIS Council
**Pennsylvania**Mifflin County Mapping DepartmentPennsylvania State University-Environmental Resources Research InstituteUnion County GIS DepartmentWilkes University GIS Consortium
**South Carolina**Richland County Government-Department of Information TechnologyNational Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-Coastal Service Center
**South Dakota**State of South Dakota-Game, Fish & ParksU.S. Geological Survey-EROS Data Center
**Tennessee**Ducks Unlimited, Inc.Tennessee Valley AuthorityScience Applications International Corporation
**Texas**Alamo Area Council of Governments-Regional Data CenterPetrotechnical Open Software CorporationU.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Cartography & Geospatial CenterTexas Department of Information Resources
**Utah**Southern Utah University-Physical Science Department, GIS/GPS Lab
**Virginia**Northern Neck Planning District CommissionVirginia Department of TransportationVirginia Polytechnic Institute & State UniversityThe Nature ConservancyU.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Water Resources Support Center, Navigation Data CenterU.S. Geological Survey-Biological Resources DivisionU.S. Geological Survey-National Mapping Division
**Vermont**Vermont Center for Geographic Information, Inc.Bruce Westcott
**Washington**State of Washington-Department of EcologyWashington State Department of Information ServicesU.S. Geological Survey-Biological Resources Division, University of Washington Field Station
**Wisconsin**Wisconsin Department of Administration-Office of Land Information Services
**West Virginia**West Virginia Division of Environmental ProtectionWest Virginia State GIS Technical CenterHancock County Assessor's Office
**Wyoming**County of Natrona
FGDC SecretariatNew FGDC StaffThe FGDC secretariat has added two new staff members Julie Binder Maitra isthe new standards coordinator.   She comes to the FGDC from USGS NationalMapping Division headquarters, where she acquired an extensive background ingeospatial data standards development.    Julie was instrumental in developingthe Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards endorsed by the FGDC in June1998.  In addition, she has been active in standards development throughISO/Technical Committee 211, Geographic Information/Geomatics; NationalCommittee for Information Technology Standards (NCITS) Technical Committee L1,Geographic Information Systems; and the OpenGIS Consortium.
Julie began her federal career at the Defense Mapping Agency field office inSan Antonio, Texas.  She also worked at the USGS Mapping Center in Rolla,Missouri.   In 1993, she relocated to USGS headquarters in Reston, Virginia,where she had a leadership role in developing product standards for the USGSNational Mapping Program.  Julie holds a B.S. degree from WashingtonUniversity in Saint Louis and an M.S. degree from the University ofMissouri-Rolla.
Mark Reichardt joins the staff as the international activities coordinator.He is responsible for the coordination of international programs related tospatial data infrastructure.  To ensure that spatial issues can be adequatelyaddressed at the local, national, and global levels, Mark works with variouscountries and organizations to assist in the development of national, regional,and global spatial data infrastructures that accommodate data exchange andinteroperability.  His areas of focus include the Global Spatial DataInfrastructure, the International Steering Group for Global Mapping, DigitalEarth, and a number of nation-to-nation cooperative programs.
Mark is on rotational assignment from the Department of Defense.  He began hisfederal government career in 1980 with the Defense Mapping Agency.  The bulkof his career has been devoted to mapping and information technologyinitiatives.  Recently, he has been involved in several communitywide programs,including an assignment to the Vice President's National Partnership forReinventing Government to establish a series of community demonstrationshighlighting the benefits of GIS and SDI in local decision-making.  He wasalso a key member of a DoD Geospatial Information Integrated Product Team thatsuccessfully reshaped the strategic direction of geospatial data production tosupport national security.  Mark holds a B.S. degree in agriculture from theUniversity of Maryland and has completed additional undergraduate work incomputer science.  He is currently pursuing a master's degree intelecommunications management from the University of Maryland UniversityCollege. |
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