NSDI Implementing The National Spatial Data Infrastructure Its Role in Indian Country Bonnie Gallahan American Indian Liaison Federal Geographic Data Committee

NSDI Geographic Information n Place matters to people n Geographic Information is important to 50% of US economic activity n Government activities often are geography based n Cross jurisdictional approaches call for common understanding n Government focus is increasingly on community solutions n Effective “place based” government requires data that citizens can use

NSDI However... Geographic information is collected by many different organizations and often is: n Hard to find n Difficult to access n Hard to integrate n Not current n Not documented n Not complete

NSDI The NSDI n Established by Executive Order in April 1994 to: l Advance goals of the National Information Infrastructure l Reduce duplication of effort l Promote effective management by all levels of government l Improve the acquisition, distribution and use of geographic information

NSDI The Vision of NSDI Current and accurate geospatial data will be readily available to contribute locally, nationally, and globally to economic growth, environmental quality and stability, and social progress.

Geospatial Data Some Examples Field MeasurementsMaps Remotely-sensed ImagesSpatially-referenced Data

NSDI The NSDI Partnerships Metadata GEOdata Clearinghouse (catalog) Framework Standards

National Spatial Data Infrastructure Policies and Indian Country n NSDI developed and implemented in cooperation with tribal, state, local and federal governments, private sector and academia n FGDC Standards developed in cooperative, consensus process n FGDC Standards are encouraged for voluntary use by non-federal organizations. They are required for use by federal agencies n The Executive Order does not impose any requirements on tribal governments

NSDI The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Role n Promote coordinated development, sharing and use of geospatial information n Facilitate coordination among federal agencies and work with non-federal geospatial data coordinating entities n Promote and coordinate National Spatial Data Infrastructure development and implementation

NSDI The FGDC n Numerous Stakeholders –Intertribal GIS Council –National Association of Counties –National League of Cities –National States Geographic Information Council –International City/County Management Association –Open GIS Consortium –University Consortium for Geographic Information Sciences –GIS Coordinating Groups from 30 States

FGDC and Indian Country n FGDC provides new ways of managing and using geographic information: n documenting and maintaining data - Metadata Standard n common protocols for access and dissemenation using the Internet- Clearinghouse n common sets of data for GIS applications - Data Framework n ability to transfer and integrate data - Data and Technology Standards n opportunity to leverage resources - Partnerships

FGDC and Indian Country n The FGDC can help to: n Empower tribes position as sovereign nations to take better care of future generations n Enable tribes to work more effectively with other tribes as well as with state, local and federal government agencies n Maintain and protect data that is proprietary or sensitive

NSDI Find out more... Bonnie Gallahan, American Indian Liaison Federal Geographic Data Committee USGS, 590 National Center Reston, Virginia Phone: Fax: Website: