GSDI Standing Committees

Standing Committees recommend programs of action to the GSDI Council and Board and carry out specific tasks as set forth under the GSDI bylaws and as requested by the Council or the Board. Individuals interested in contributing to the work of committees should contact the committee chairs.

(1) Legal and Socioeconomic Working Group
Chair(s): Kate Lance, Roger Longhorn
Group Discussion List

The Legal and Socioeconomic Working Group explores the legal and economic frameworks within which spatial data infrastructures are developed within individual nations and multi-nation regions. It encourages dialogue in regard to varying public policy and legal approaches and explores models, approaches, and experiences that may enhance cooperation among nations in sharing spatial data and spatial technologies. The committee identifies, acquires, analyzes, and reports to GSDI Association members policies or legislation being adopted or considered by national, regional (multi-nation) or international law bodies that might be relevant to the goals of the GSDI Association or otherwise affect the global development of spatial data infrastructures. The committee shall propose and develop statements if needed in support of the goals of the organization, propose and draft responses to legislation that may be adverse to those goals, and develop approaches for communicating with legislators, agency personnel, and other policy makers.

(2) Communications Committee
Chair(s): Sam Bacharach, Mark Reichardt
Group Discussion List

The Communications Committee shall ensure timely communication between and among the Board, the Council, and all members of the GSDI Association and between the GSDI Association and individuals and organizations outside with regard to GSDI Association matters. As a primary vehicle for communication, the Communications Committee shall be responsible for the design, content, and maintenance of the GSDI Association web site, and shall ensure that member institution"s web sites are informative and up to date. Information to be available through the web site includes but is not limited to organization background materials, membership lists, bylaws, newsletters, technical reports, other publications, announcements, press releases, and member applications. Using appropriate technology, the Committee shall maximize the probability that relevant information reaches all delegates before each meeting of the Council. The Committee shall also develop methods and policies for distribution of a GSDI Association Newsletter at least twice a year.

(3) Membership Committee
Chair(s): John Moeller
Group Discussion List

The Membership Committee shall actively solicit new members and associate members. Application materials from prospective new members are accessed on the web and reviewed by the Committee before submitting these materials to the entire GSDI Association Council. Council delegates must have access to application materials on the web for their review at least two weeks prior to the council meeting when voting on a member application occurs.

(4) Sponsored Projects Committee
Chair(s): Carmelle Terborgh
Group Discussion List

The Sponsored Projects Committee shall advise the Board on all matters that involve the GSDI Association with regard to sponsorship of funded projects, including grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. Funded projects are defined as any payments to the GSDI Association that oblige the GSDI Association to provide services to the organization providing the funding. The GSDI Association Board retains the final authority over such funded activities, cooperative agreements and contracts. The committee shall be responsible for dealing with all sources of externally funded activities for the GSDI Association. The Committee shall communicate with funding agencies to determine or develop requests for proposals or scope of work for GSDI Association projects, solicit people from GSDI Association member institutions to conduct work under such contracts, accomplish proposal peer review processes if required or desired, work with funding agencies to select institutions or individuals to conduct or coordinate such projects, and monitor such contracts to ensure completion in a timely manner in adherence to schedules agreed upon with the funding agency. The chair and vice-chair of the Sponsored Projects Committee, as well as the Executive Committee of the GSDI Association, are ineligible to apply for any project funding administered by the Sponsored Projects Committee during their term and for six months after their last date of service on the committee, whether by resignation, expiration of term, or otherwise.

(5) Conference Planning Committee
Chair(s): Alan R. Stevens
Group Discussion List

The Conference Planning Committee shall be responsible for planning the annual GSDI Association meeting.

(6) Technical Working Group
Chair(s): Doug Nebert, Greg Yetman
Group Discussion List

The Technical Working Group provides continuous observation and review of technical issues affecting the development of local to global spatial data infrastructures. It develops and reports on technical topics essential to the creation of compatible spatial data infrastructures, explores technical standards issues, and disseminates technical reports, examples, case studies, and similar learning materials of interest to GSDI Association members.