Todd Spangler PSU GEOG 596A Capstone Project Proposal June 26, 2012 Advisor: Dr. Anthony Robinson

1. Federal geospatial policies and platforms enabling data sharing: challenges and opportunities for the future Todd Spangler PSU GEOG 596A Capstone Project Proposal June 26, 2012 Advisor: Dr. Anthony Robinson

2. Agenda Background/Problem Statement Project Objectives Research Methods Expected Outcomes Project Timeline

3. Background/Problem Statement Challenges exist with geospatial data discovery, access, and exchange mechanisms across federal, state, and local governments • The US Government recognizes geospatial information as “Nationally Significant Assets” and is working to improve access to this data • Numerous policy documents and initiatives are attempting to foster more efficient use, management and production of geospatial data • Noticeable progress is being made with sharing of geospatial data but many gaps remain • Technology is changing so rapidly that Federal agencies will need to adapt in order to realize benefits and meet the needs of the nation

4. Project Objectives Three primary objectives: Review federal policies and initiatives to better understand how they are shaping geospatial data sharing and contributing to the evolution of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Compare and contrast several geospatial viewers to highlight information sharing methods and address any significant gaps or challenges Explore how emerging technologies like cloud computing and user defined content are likely to influence future NSDI implementation and associated challenges

5. Policy/Initiative Review

6. Policy/Initiative Review

7. Policy/Initiative Review Strategic NSDI concepts Geospatial LoB Concept of Operations Overview Geospatial Platform Conceptual Model

8. Analysis of Geospatial Viewers • Compare and contrast several geospatial viewers to highlight information sharing methods and address any significant gaps or challenges • Identify candidate viewers to be analyzed • Collect system description and purpose • Develop analytic method to compare and contrast • Summarize results

9. Analysis of Geospatial Viewers • Candidate viewers have been identified • System descriptions have been collected

10. Analysis of Geospatial Viewers • Determine criteria to assess geospatial viewer capabilities for publishing and consuming data • Utilize standards outlined in the Geospatial Line of Business: Common Solutions and Target Architecture Notional-Data still being collected

11. Emerging Technologies • Explore technologies like cloud computing, social media, and other user defined content • Evaluate how these technologies will likely influence future NSDI implementation and the associated challenge • Review recently published federal documents related to “The Cloud” and “Shared Services” • Gain familiarity with FGDC led “GeoCloud Sandbox Initiative”

12. Expected Outcomes • Anticipated finding from Policy/Initiative review: • Federal government policies have provided a roadmap producing, managing, and sharing geospatial data. • Many successful geospatial data sharing initiatives are underway • NSDI, Geospatial LoB, Geospatial Platform, Data.gov, etc • Gaps remain for discovering, consuming, and publishing geospatial information • Lack of incentives • Need mechanism to hold data owners accountable for compliance • Policies and initiatives will require constant updating to keep up with technology advancements • Defining NSDI themes was a major step in the right direction • Failed to define specific data sets within each theme

13. Expected Outcomes • Anticipated results from Analysis of Geospatial Viewers • Most systems have adopted OGC standards for sharing data services • Many systems are For Official Use Only (FOUO) restricting user access • Cloud based services may provide an effective means to share unrestricted data with broader audience • Most systems have not yet developed capabilities to incorporate user defined content/crowd sourced data from mobile devices (i.e. phones, Twitter, etc)

14. Expected Outcomes • Anticipated findings from review of Emerging Technologies • Cloud GIS (IaaS, SaaS, PaaS), data clearinghouses, and user generated content will improve accessibility of data but create challenges • Accuracy/trusted sources • Emerging technology will require federal agencies to modify policies, embark on new initiatives and make design changes to systems/architectures • GeoCloud Sandbox Initiative, etc

15. Project Timeline • Complete review of federal policy documents and initiatives - 6/20 • Deliver capstone project proposal to peers - 6/26 • Complete analysis to compare and contrast geospatial viewers to assess data exchange mechanisms - 7/15 • Finalize research on cloud based solutions and user defined content to summarize benefits and challenges facing Federal agencies -8/15 • Deliver final project presentation at a professional conference (tbd) Possible venues: -GIS in the Rockies 2012 Conference, Denver, Colorado, Sept 20-21, 2012 - GIS-Pro 2012: URISA's 50th Annual Conference for GIS Professionals, Portland Oregon, Sept 30-October 4

16. Conclusions • When complete, this project will benefit the GIS community in the following ways: • Broaden awareness of the policies and initiatives within the federal government addressing geospatial data sharing • Provide GIS managers with an assessment of various geospatial viewers and their embedded capabilities to publish/consume data • Shed light on emerging technologies that are likely to influence GIS in the future

17. Questions? Thank you for your time! tds204@psu.edu