Re: [emergency] One-Stop GISArticle and some thoughts

["Carl Reed" <creed@opengis.org>]

I am not sure if this email will post to the list, so if it does not, could you please pass on? Thanks!

 

First, I would like to clear up one possible point of misunderstanding regarding the OpenGIS Consortium - we do not define data and/or content standards! We leave this to other organizations, such as the FGDC. The OGC is a voluntary consensus standards organizations dedicated to defining and approving interface and encoding specifications that enable interoperability of spatial data, services, and applications. These specifications are independent of content format and vendor neutral. I should also mention that many of the major producers of geospatial information at the Federal level are also members of the OGC - not just vendors.

 

For example, below is a simplified version of the reference architecture for the GOS Portal that the OGC membership implemented as a prototype.

 

 

 

In this architecture, a client that is OGC spec enabled can access ANY repository that is also OGC interface enabled. The various W*S interfaces support a variety of access mechanisms to the spatial repositories - from asking for simple georeferenced "pictures" to requesting and receiving the physical data in a neutral format payload (as GML - Geography Markup Language).

 

The OGC membership is also interested in working collaboratively through various interoperability initiatives to define higher level objects models for given domains of spatial data. Again, these are not content models. Instead, they are designed to allow schema mapping from disparate content models for a given domain (such as transportation) into a common model for use in an interoperable environment. We will be publishing a white paper on this topic in the very near future.

 

Regards

 

Carl Reed

OGC

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Rex Brooks <rexb@starbourne.com>

To: Eliot Christian <echristi@usgs.gov>

Cc: <emergency@lists.oasis-open.org>

Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 7:55 AM

Subject: Re: [emergency] One-Stop GISArticle and some thoughts

> Thanks Eliot,
> 
> I wasn't 
necessarily reading criticism of Geospatial One-Stop, just 
> noting the 
article and pondering on it in light of similar findings I 
> had made in 
Public Health. What we have is a kind of balkanization of 
> similar 
efforts that don't necessarily complement each other, nor do 
> they 
actually compete or intentionally detract from each other.
> 
> I 
agree that more such work is needed, especially in bringing 
> different 
efforts together, and it occurs to me that finding ways to 
> increase 
public awareness of these concerns, the improvements that 
> are coming 
online now and the ongoing work in this area is another 
> way to 
contribute to improving the overall situation. As with the 
> "Amber 
Alert" system, the attention that is focused on successful use 
> of these 
systems will multiply the effectiveness of those systems. 
> I'm not 
making any specific suggestions, just thinking out loud so to 
> 
speak.
> 
> Ciao,
> Rex
> 
> At 5:47 AM -0400 
6/13/03, Eliot Christian wrote:
> >At 06:15 AM 6/12/2003 -0700, Rex 
Brooks wrote:
> >>Hi Folks,
> >>
> >>Hmmmn. 
I don't quite know what to say about this article, but it 
> 
>>highlights a situation we should probably assess better.
> 
>>
> >>http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=10300774
> 
>>
> >>My recent survey of both the EM and Health Care 
standards arena as 
> >>part of my focus on Human-Centric standards 
revealed common 
> >>concerns in this area. I'm a lot less 
interested in trumpeting the 
> >>shortcomings than I am in how to 
best contribute to improving this 
> >>arena effectively--and saving 
us taxpayers some money better spent 
> >>elsewhere, while improving 
the availability and delivery of 
> >>information and 
services.
> >
> >I do not think one should read into the 
article any criticism of the 
> >Geospatial One-Stop. Rather, I think 
the point is made that even 
> >more of such work is needed. Here is 
some background in case you are 
> >interested.
> >
> 
>Everyone agrees that standardization of GIS data is and must be a 
> 
>primary goal. The ongoing process of GIS data standardization is 
> 
>supported by a variety of programs, in and outside of government. 
> 
>The Open GIS Consortium (OGC, http://www.opengis.org/ ) is a 
> 
>standardization forum that includes most GIS vendors among its 
> 
>participants. The Federal Government lead in such work is the 
> 
>Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC, http://www.fgdc.gov/ ).
> >
> 
>In cooperation with organizations from State, local and tribal 
> 
>governments, the academic community, and the private sector, the 
> 
>FGDC is developing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI 
> 
>http://www.fgdc.gov/nsdi/nsdi.html 
). The NSDI encompasses the 
> >technologies, policies, and people 
necessary to promote sharing of 
> >geospatial data.
> 
>
> >The Geospatial One-Stop ( http://www.geo-one-stop.gov/ ) is one 
> >specific project within this broad context of GIS data 
> 
>standardization programs and the NSDI. The project is accelerating 
> 
>standardization that otherwise would have taken longer to achieve. 
> 
>Given limited resources and time, the Geospatial One-Stop project 
> 
>chose to focus on those kinds of GIS data that are often the base 
> 
>layer for other kinds of GIS data. These most crucial GIS data are 
> 
>designated as "NSDI Framework". NSDI Framework data are "the best 
> 
>available data for an area, certified, standardized, and described 
> 
>according to a common standard."
> >
> >NSDI Framework is 
comprised of seven "themes", having the following 
> >data layers: 
Transportation (Road, Railroad, Transit, Air, 
> >Waterway), 
Hydrography, Government Units, Geodetic Control, 
> >Elevation, Digital 
Ortho Imagery, and Cadastral. You can see the 
> >products of this 
standards work of the Geospatial One-Stop at 
> >http://www.geo-one-stop.gov/Standards/
> 
>
> >Eliot
> >
> >
> >You may leave a 
Technical Committee at any time by visiting 
> >http://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/emergency/members/leave_workgroup.php
> 
> 
> -- 
> Rex Brooks
> GeoAddress: 1361-A Addison, 
Berkeley, CA, 94702 USA, Earth
> W3Address: http://www.starbourne.com
> Email: rexb@starbourne.com
> Tel: 
510-849-2309
> Fax: By Request
> 
> You may leave a Technical 
Committee at any time by visiting http://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/emergency/members/leave_workgroup.php
>