GIS that facilitate spatial analysis play an increasing role in decision making at all levels of government and private industry. GIS analyses, in turn, depend on the availability, quality and compatiibility of digital geographic data. Development of this data is normally the highest cost factor in the use of the technology to redress today s problem. Substantial amounts are invested annually in producing geospatial data. Many of these data collection activities are redundant.
Data already exists, but it is hard to find frequently undocumented and in incompatible formats.
Thus there is a need to have a reliable means to share geospatial data amongst all users which could result in significant savings for data collection, enhanced use of data and better decision making. The NGDI is seen as the technology, policies and people necessary to promote geospatial data sharing through out all levels of government, the private non profit sectors and academia. Infrastructure in this context means as under. A Governmental or administrative apparatus. The NGDI will provide a base or structure of relationships among the data producers and users that will facilitate data sharing.