Chapter Two: Geospatial Data Development: Building data for multiple uses

Chapter Two | Context and Rationale | Organisational Approach | Implementation Approach

Organisational Approach

At the national level, common spatial data are defined through community and/or national agreements on content. Known as "framework" data in the United States and "fundamental" data within the Australian SDI. In the ASDI, Fundamental describes a dataset for which several government agencies, regional groups and/or industry groups require a comparable national coverage in order to achieve their corporate objectives and responsibilities. In other words, fundamental data are a subset of framework data. Similar concepts exist in other countries with similar terms, and most identify general themes of interest as "framework" information, for they provide a framework of base, common-use geospatial information onto which thematic information can be portrayed. An organization interested in implementing spatial data that will be compatible with local, regional, national, and global data sets, must identify, and potentially reconcile different framework designations across their geographic area of interest.

The framework is a collaborative effort to create a common source of basic geographic data. It provides the most common data themes geographic data users need, as well as an environment to support the development and use of these data. The framework's key aspects are

specific layers of digital geographic data with content specifications
procedures, technology, and guidelines that provide for integration, sharing, and use of these data; and
institutional relationships and business practices that encourage the maintenance and use of data.

The framework represents a foundation on which organizations can build by adding their own detail and compiling other data sets. Existing data content may be enhanced, adjusted, or even simplified to match a national or global framework specification. This is helpful for the purpose of exchange.

Framework Leverages the Development of Needed Data Thousands of organizations spend billions of dollars each year producing and using geographic data. Yet, they still do not have the information they need to solve critical problems. There are several aspects to this problem:

Most organizations need more data than they can afford. Frequently, large amounts of money are spent on basic geographic data, leaving little for applications data and development. Some organizations cannot afford to collect base information at all.

Organizations often need data outside their jurisdictions or operational areas. They do not collect these data themselves, but other organizations do.

Data collected by different organizations are often incompatible. The data may cover the same geographic area but use different geographic bases and standards. In addition, information needed to solve cross-jurisdictional problems is often unavailable.

Many of the resources organizations spend on geographic information systems (GIS) go toward duplicating other organizations' data collection efforts. The same geographic data themes for an area are collected again and again, at great expense. We cannot afford to continue to operate this way.

The framework will greatly improve this situation by leveraging individual geographic data efforts so data can be exchanged at reasonable cost by government, commercial, and non-governmental contributors. It provides basic geographic data in a common encoding and makes them discoverable through a catalog (See Chapter 4) in which anyone can participate. Using Web mapping and advanced, distributed GIS technology in the future, users can perform visual cross-jurisdictional and cross-organizational analyses and operations, and organizations can funnel their resources into applications, rather than duplicating data production efforts.

There are many situations in which the framework will help users. A regional transportation planning project can use base data supplied by the localities it spans. Government agencies can respond quickly to a natural disaster by combining data. A jurisdiction can use watershed data from beyond its boundaries to plan its water resources. Organisations can better track the ownership of publicly held lands by working with parcel data.

Geographic data users from many disciplines have a recurring need for a few themes of basic data. While these layers may vary from place to place, the common themes include: geodetic control, orthoimagery, elevation, transportation, geographic names gazetteer, hydrography, governmental units, and cadastral information. Many organizations produce and use such data every day. The framework provides basic content for these data themes.

By attaching their own geographic data - which can cover innumerable subjects and themes - to the common data in the framework, users can build their applications more easily and at less cost. The common data themes provide basic data that can be used in applications, a base to which users can add or attach geographic details and attributes, reference source for accurately registering and compiling participants' own data sets, and a reference map for displaying the locations and the results of an analysis of other data.

National and global frameworks are a growing data resource to which geographic data producers can contribute. It will continually evolve and improve. In practice, the content model of many framework layers may be simple enough that, as a collection target, at certain scales, it could be made available at virtually no cost. Content providers exist already in the United States to take and extend free government data with valuable additional attributes of value, e.g. marketing and demographic information. The core information itself may be given away for free, but extended information that are anchored to the geometry may have high current value that declines over time, and may re-enter the public domain after its proprietary nature expire. Thus commercial providers of information benefit through anchoring to a common framework system and cross-referencing with other attributes held by other organizations; consumers benefit in acquiring the framework core geometry, feature definitions, and base attributes as a by-product of the more advanced data set.

Who are the actors in framework data development?

users and producers of detailed data, such as utilities

users of small-scale, limited geographic data, such as street networks, statistical areas, and administrative units;

data producers who create detailed data as a product or a service;

data producers who create low-resolution, small-scale, limited themes for large areas;

product providers who offer software, hardware, and related systems; and

service providers who offer system development, database development, operations support, and consulting services.

Non-profit and educational institutions also create and use a variety of geographic data and provide GIS-related services. They cover the full spectrum of data content, resolution, and geographic coverage. Depending on the organization's activities, data use may range from high-resolution data over small areas, as in facility management, to low-resolution data over wide areas, as in regional or national environmental studies.

Organizations build national and regional framework efforts by coordinating their data collection and development activities based on intersecting interests within a community. The bounds of this community, however, given the diversity of types of organisations and individuals involved, needs to be non-exclusive and open to innovative contributions, exchanges, and partnerships. The framework should be developed by the entire community, with organizations from all areas playing roles. For some, the framework will supply the data they need to build applications. Others will contribute data, and some may provide services to maintain and distribute data. Some organizations will play several roles in framework development, operation, and use. The framework will take many years to develop fully, but useful components are being developed continuously.

Table of Contents

Chapter Two | Context and Rationale | Organisational Approach | Implementation Approach