North Dakota GIS Day 2003: Presentations
The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and The National Map
Presenter: Ron Wencl, Mapping Liaison
USGS
The National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) was defined in Presidential Executive Order 12906 as "the technology, policies, standards, and human resources necessary to acquire, process, store, distribute, and improve utilization of geospatial data." The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), composed of 14 agencies that produce and use geographic data, was charged with coordinating the federal government's development of the NSDI and to ensure that State, local, and tribal governments also have an integral role in the evolution of the NSDI. Major initiatives undertaken to develop the NSDI have included: the development of standards; the establishment of a national digital geospatial data framework of basic data categories; and the creation of a distributed electronic network of data producers and users, known as the National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse.
The U.S. Geological Survey and its partners have made great strides toward implementing internet access to seamless, base geospatial data for the nation. "The National Map" is the name given to the multi-sector, integrated, responsive geographic base data and map program for topographic information. The National Map is planned to be a seamless, continuously maintained, and nationally consistent set of public domain base data. Work in 2003 has focused on making data available through a common, web-based user interface for the nation's urban areas. A tremendous amount of progress has been made in forming partnerships with Federal, State, and local governments, as well as the private sector, to include data they have developed in The National Map. Completion of critical development on The National Map catalog has enabled the inclusion of partners' existing web map services in The National Map through an OGC-compliant interface. The National Map standards have also been developed in conjunction with Geospatial One-Stop standards.
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