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    News Fifty States Next Steps Report

                                    Over the past five years the Fifty States Initiative has been
successful in raising the
profile of the NSDI with state and local geospatial stakeholders by
catalyzing strategic and business planning. The next steps for the
program involve consolidating those gains, supporting the realization
of the plans through implementation, and beginning the process of
measuring where the nation stands on NSDI development. The thrust of
the recommended next steps for the Fifty States Initiative acknowledges
that successful statewide strategic planning efforts are winding down
and that there needs to be a new focus on assisting states in
actualizing the goals identified through strategic planning. The report
makes seven specific recommendations.

Read the report here. (PDF)

                                        Fifty States Next Steps Report - 
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                            Fifty State Measures of Progress Report Now Available

                                    To provide insight into how the Fifty States Intiative has improved
coordination on geospatial matters, and thereby impacted the growth of
the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), this report analyzes
quantitatively and qualitatively how the Fifty State grants benefited
state government geospatial activities.  Four analyses applied in
this report are: 1) analyses of the nine criteria for successful
geospatial coordination from the National States Geographic Information
Council (NSGIC) Survey, 2) analyses of five questions from the NSGIC
Survey selected by the analysis team based on those question being
indicators of the level of success in coordination, 3) survey responses
from federal employees concerning the effectiveness of Fifty States
Initiative grants in improving state geospatial coordination, and 4) a
qualitative assessment of changes in the effectiveness of state
coordination efforts based on five case studies of states that have
received grants.  The Federal Employee Survey and qualitative
assessment provided strong evidence that grants have been effective and
useful for states.

View
Report [PDF]

                                        Fifty State Measures of Progress Report Now Available - 
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                            NSDI CAP is making a difference

                                    Results of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure Cooperative
Agreements Program were recently featured an August 10th article in
Government Computer News.  NSDI CAP recipients highlighted
included Inside Idaho, the Missouri Spatial Data
Information Service (MSDIS), and DuPage County,
Illinois.  To read the full article by Patrick Marshall please
go here.

                                        NSDI CAP is making a difference - 
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                            Carbon Project Releases Open Source Dashboard for Geodata.gov

                                    BURLINGTON, MA, August 24, 2009 – The Carbon Project announces the
availability of an open source dashboard for Geodata.gov, the federal
government's information service for maps and data. The free
application enables "at-a-glance" visualization of geospatial assets
and monitoring of Geospatial One-Stop (GOS) search functions from
desktop PCs.
The GOS Dashboard is available as a free download at http://www.thecarbonportal.net
A video preview is available at - http://thecarbonproject.com/Videos/GOSGadget1/GOSGadget1.htm
The Carbon Project will also host an initial online workshop on August
31, 2009 to promote community dialog on the functions of the dashboard
with NSDI users and developers. If you wish to participate please
contact info@thecarbonproject.com.
"The GOS Dashboard is designed to integrate Geodata.gov search and
access functions into enterprise users desktops, and make geospatial
data and services more open and transparent," said Doug Nebert, Senior
Advisor for Geospatial Technology at the Federal Geographic Data
Committee (FGDC).
"The GOS Dashboard is powered by GeoRSS and builds on our experience
developing applications for Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI)," said
Nuke Goldstein, CTO of The Carbon Project. "The Dashboard is based on
Microsoft Gadgets and enhances common RSS functions with the ability to
configure searches, view geodata footprints on a mini-map, and access
desktop GIS applications from ESRI and other vendors directly with the
data people find."
The GOS Dashboard is part of the 2009
National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Cooperative Agreement
Program (CAP) and will be jointly designed in support of
governmental activities by The Carbon Project, the US Army Corps of
Engineers and other FGDC representatives and based on key business
requirements.

About The Carbon Project

The Carbon Project is an innovative, high-energy software and
technology company specializing in spatial data infrastructure
applications and innovative geosocial solutions. The Carbon Project
serves professionals, software developers, government agencies and
businesses that develop mapping solutions or use geospatial data.
Headquartered in Burlington, MA with offices in Virginia, The Carbon
Project is a privately owned company backed by individual investors.
For more information please visit: www.TheCarbonProject.com.

                                        Carbon Project Releases Open Source Dashboard for Geodata.gov - 
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                            North American Profile of International Standard on Geographic Information Metadata Now Available

                                    United States and Canada collaborate to publish regional profile of ISO 19115

                                       

                                        North American Profile of International Standard on Geographic Information Metadata Now Available - 
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                            Interior Department Seeks Nominations for National Geospatial Advisory Committee

                                    Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced [DOI News Release] on
July 6 that the Interior Department is seeking nominations for
membership on the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC).

Nominations for appointment to the NGAC should be submitted
electronically to ngacnominations@fgdc.gov by
August 21, 2009.  Nominations may be addressed to "NGAC Review
Panel."  Nominations may be submitted on behalf of others, or
individuals may self-nominate.  Nominations should include:

Contact information for the nominee (name, title, organization,
mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number).

A statement summarizing the nominee's qualifications and interest
in NGAC membership and describing the nominee's ability to represent a
stakeholder group.

A biographical sketch, resume, or vita.

One letter of reference and a list of two additional references
with contact information.Please do not submit additional references or letters of
recommendation, they will not be considered by the review panel. 
Final decisions on appointments to the committee will be made by the
Secretary of the Interior.

The NGAC provides advice and recommendations on Federal geospatial
policy and management issues and provides a forum to convey views
representative of partners in the geospatial community.  The NGAC
was established by the Department of the Interior on behalf of the
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) under the authority of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The NGAC includes 25-30 members, selected to generally achieve a
balanced representation of the viewpoints of the various partners
involved in national geospatial activities.  NGAC members are
appointed for staggered terms, and approximately one-half of the seats
on the committee will be appointed during this round of
appointments.

**Contact**

For additional information or questions, please contact John Mahoney
(jmahoney@usgs.gov,
206-220-4621)

                                        Interior Department Seeks Nominations for National Geospatial Advisory Committee  - 
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                            ISO Technical Committee 211 publishes Standards Guide

                                    The Standards Guide from ISO Technical Committee 211, Geographic information/Geomatics, is compiled from text and diagrams from  from the ISO 19100 series of geographic information standards. It provides general overviews and diagrams that depict relationships of the internal components of a standard and the relationship of that standard with other standards in the ISO 19100 series of geographic information standards.

                                       

                                        ISO Technical Committee 211 publishes Standards Guide - 
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                            50 States: Revised Strategic and Business Plan Guidelines

                                    The FGDC has just released new guidelines for Geospatial Strategic
and Business planning. These guidelines replace the 2006 edition. The
guidelines are to help states as they move toward improved statewide
geospatial coordination. These guidelines were developed to support of
the FGDC Fifty States Initiative.

View the guidelines.

                                        50 States: Revised Strategic and Business Plan Guidelines - 
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                            Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Current Issues and Future Challenges

                                    The Congressional Research Service has published a report entitled
"Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS):
Current Issues and Future Challenges".

Author, Peter Folger.

CRS report number R40625.

Download
[PDF 961 KB]

                                        Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Current Issues and Future Challenges - 
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                            FWS announces availability of Cadastral Geodatabase

                                    The Cadastral Data Working Group of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is proud to announce the availability of our Cadastral
Geodatabase.  This GIS data reflects the boundaries of the entire
National Wildlife Refuge System, as well as the parcel data.http://www.fws.gov/data/Cadastral.htm

This data is current as of May 1, 2009.  A revised dataset,
reflecting updates and any needed corrections, will be posted in
November 2009.
For those of you that desire data for a specific Region: in ArcMap,
select using the attribute FWSREGION.  The Regions are listed by
name and Region number in the Unique Values.
The design and compilation of the cadastral geodatabase is the result
of many years of effort by FWS Cartographers and GIS Specialists. 
We will continue to populate the remaining feature classes, which will
provide very detailed info regarding the land and water the FWS
manages.
To learn more about the FWS Cadastral Geodatabase:

http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/feduc09/papers/vandegraft_cad_gdb_for_fws_9-1-08.pdf
Agency Contact: Doug Vandegraft, Chief Cartographer Email: Doug_Vandegraft@fws.gov

                                        FWS announces availability of Cadastral Geodatabase - 
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                            FGDC 2009 Summer Newsletter now available

                                    **Topics**

Fifty States Initiative

2009 NSDI CAP Awards

EPA and Partners Metadata Training and Outreach Project: Increasing
Transparency and Accountability across the Nation

What’s In a Name? Ask the U.S. Board on Geographic Names

Q&A about External Standards

Laurentian GIS Collaborative GIS Web Mapping

Connecticut River Watershed Stream Information ToolDownload
[PDF 3.7MB]

                                        FGDC 2009 Summer Newsletter now available - 
                                           Read More
                        
            
            
            
            
                
                            FGDC & GeoConnections, Canada, hosting First Nations and Tribal Government geospatial Workshop

                                    June 14, 2009

                                       

                                        FGDC & GeoConnections, Canada, hosting First Nations and Tribal Government geospatial Workshop  - 
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                            U.S. Delegation to attend ISO TC211 28th Plenary and Meetings

                                    ISO Technical Committee 211
(ISO TC 211), Geographic information/Geomatics, is the international
forum for development of geographic information standards.  The
ISO TC 211 Secretariat has received the list of U.S. delegates to its
28th plenary and meetings, scheduled for May 25-29, 2009.

The U.S. Delegation includes personnel from the FGDC and FGDC member
agencies National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, U.S. Census Bureau,
and the U.S. Geological Survey.  It also includes personnel from
private industry.

Key meetings are:

New work item for Revision of ISO 19115:2003, Geographic information
- Metadata

New work item for Data quality

Editing committees for:

ISO 19144-2, Geographic information - Classification Systems – Part
2: Land Cover Classification System LCCS

ISO 19103, Geographic information - Conceptual Schema Language
(Revision of ISO/TS 19103:2005)

ISO 19148, Geographic information - Linear Referencing
SystemsThe ISO TC 211 28th Plenary agenda and complete
calendar of meetings are publicly available from the ISO TC
211 website.

About ISO TC 211

Office of Management and the Budget (OMB) Circular A-119 directs
Federal agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in lieu of
government-unique standards and to participate in voluntary consensus
standards bodies, whenever possible. OMB Circular A-119 provides
Executive Branch guidance to Federal agencies on the implementation of
the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) of 1996
(P.L. 104-133).

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the U.S. member
body of ISO, the International Organization for Standardization. ANSI
is a non-governmental organization that describes itself as the “voice
of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system.”

Widespread implementation of standards developed through ANSI and
ISO promote data sharing at international and national levels. This
benefits Federal and non-Federal agencies alike.

ANSI has accredited the InterNational Committee for Information
Technology Standard (INCITS) to develop standards for Information and
Communications Technologies (ICT). INCITS Technical Committee L1,
Geographic information systems (INCITS L1 for short), is the means by
which the U.S. participates in ANSI and ISO standardization activities
in geographic information.

Point of contact

Ms. Julie Binder Maitra, FGDC Secretariat, jmaitra [at] fgdc.gov,
(703) 648-4627.  Ms. Maitra is the International Representative
for INCITS L1.

                                        U.S. Delegation to attend ISO TC211 28th Plenary and Meetings - 
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                            Feds Buy Smart, announcing issuance of new Geospatial SmartBuy Request for Quotation

                                    MARCH 6, 2009 — It is on the horizon, very soon federal agencies
will have access to a single ordering schedule for geospatial software.
Released on Friday March 6, 2009, under a broad initiative supported by
the Department of the Interior (DOI), many Federal agencies will be
able improve their efficiency and save taxpayers money by consolidating
their purchases of geospatial technology under the government-wide
Geospatial Line of Business (LoB).
Partnering with General Services Administration, a new SmartBuy
Agreement will be available for the first time to state, tribal and
local governments. Qualified GSA Schedule 70 holders will find the new
RFQ on the GSA Advantage website (www.gsaadvantage.gov).
The Geospatial (LoB) Common Services Work Group, composed of
representatives from across the Federal community, worked with the
General Services Administration (GSA) SmartBUY Team to implement a
multi-vendor Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) - that will provide
small, medium, and large government users a common portfolio of
geospatial technology options.  Types of software within the scope
of the RFQ include computer aided design, web-based visualization,
imagery analysis, geo-coding, national and international road networks,
and geospatial analytics and modeling.
For vendors and agencies alike the new Geospatial SmartBUY Agreement
will help reduce costs and streamline administration, while improving
access to high quality commercial geospatial software, packaged data,
and other support products.  This SmartBUY will make geospatial
technology more accessible while bringing transparency to the
purchasing process. 
Please contact Stephen Bell (703-306-7595)  if you cannot locate
the RFQ at stephen.bell@gsa.gov.
For more information on this program, please contact Lew Sanford Jr.:
lsanford@fgdc.gov or
703-648-4152. For further information on Geospatial Line of Business
activities: www.fgdc.gov/geospatial-lob.

                                        Feds Buy Smart, announcing issuance of new Geospatial SmartBuy Request for Quotation - 
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                            2009 NSDI CAP - Categories 2 and 4 awarded

                                    March 10, 2009

                                       

                                        2009 NSDI CAP - Categories 2 and 4 awarded - 
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                            2009 NSDI CAP - Categories 1, 5, 6, and 7 awarded

                                    February 17, 2009

                                       

                                        2009 NSDI CAP - Categories 1, 5, 6, and 7 awarded - 
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                            Circular A-16 Supplemental Guidance Endorsed

                                    The Circular A-16 Supplemental Guidance [PDF 1.8MB] was “endorsed” by
the FGDC Steering Committee in December, 2008 with 21 agencies voting in favor (none opposed) [PDF 41KB].

Circular A–16 Supplemental Guidance provides the foundation for a
portfolio management approach to nationally significant geospatial data
themes and associated datasets under the auspices of Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A–16.  It sets the framework
for a lifecycle-based portfolio management and reporting process
intended to increase the transparency of the development and
maintenance of nationally significant datasets.  It provides a
standard lexicon for use in this process.  It offers a decision
process for adding, modifying, or deleting specific themes or datasets
from Appendix E of OMB Circular A–16 based on alignment with long-term
national strategies or goals, specific business requirements, benefits,
and costs. We thank the Lifecycle Working Group for this achievement.
The product has been transmitted to OMB for final review.

                                        Circular A-16 Supplemental Guidance Endorsed - 
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                            2009 NSDI CAP - Category 3: 50 States Initiative Awards

                                    February 5, 2009

                                       

                                        2009 NSDI CAP - Category 3: 50 States Initiative Awards - 
                                           Read More
                        
            
            
            
            
                
                            Newest Version of EPA Metadata Editor (v3) Now Available for Download

                                    The newest version of the EPA Metadata Editor
(EME), version 3, is now available for download on EPA's public
National Geospatial Program Web site. The EME allows users to
efficiently create and edit geospatial metadata records that meet
Agency and federal government requirements. EME v3 is replacing EME
v2.1 which was released in July of 2007, and was downloaded by over
1,800 users from EPA; federal, state, and local governments;
universities, nonprofits, and the private sector. EME v3 contains all
the functionality of v2.1 plus many extras that were requested by users
during requirements gathering efforts. A list of the new capabilities
of EME v3 can be found at the Web site under the FAQ section. Users can
also get access to on-line video training and the EME source code from
the Web site. For more information please contact Michelle Torreano (torreano.michelle [at]
epa.gov, 202-566-2141).

                                        Newest Version of EPA Metadata Editor (v3) Now Available for Download - 
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                            NOAA Names First Woman to Direct National Geodetic Survey

                                    Juliana P. Blackwell has been named the new director of NOAA’s Office of National Geodetic
Survey where she will oversee NOAA's responsibilities for the
nation's spatial reference system. She is the first woman to head the
nation's oldest federal science agency which was established by
President Thomas Jefferson in 1807 as the Survey of the Coast.

Click HERE for the complete story.

                                        NOAA Names First Woman to Direct National Geodetic Survey - 
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