National Geospatial Advisory Committee

1. National Geospatial Advisory Committee Discussion of The National Map February 4, 2009 National Geospatial Advisory Committee

2. Overview • Introduction (Allen Carroll) – 5 minutes • Overview of The National Map – 60 minutes • Program Overview/Partnership Strategy (Mark DeMulder) – 15 minutes • Topographic Maps Strategy (Kari Craun) – 15 minutes • National Hydrography Dataset as example of TNM data stewardship (Jeff Simley) – 15 minutes • Questions/Answers – 15 minutes • Draft recommendations from TNM Subcommittee (Allen/Subcommittee) – 10 minutes • Committee Discussion – 45 minutes

3. TNM Subcommittee • Subcommittee Members: • Allen Carroll (Chair), Jack Dangermond, David Maune, Jay Parrish, Mike Ritchie, Steve Wallach • Purpose: • Review customer business requirements research results and provide input on the next generation and long-term vision of The National Map • Activities to date: • Reviewed TNM background materials • Several conference calls – Subcommittee members/TNM leadership • In-depth briefing at USGS, December 11 • Developed draft recommendations for consideration by NGAC

4. USGS Overview Presentation

5. TNM Subcommittee Summary conclusions • The National Map is key to the vision and goals of NGAC • Other elements, e.g., Imagery for the Nation, can be seen as subsets of TNM • TNM deserves NGAC’s full attention, support, and guidance • The National Map strategy and effort is sound • Subcommittee is impressed with the management team, its vision, and its accomplishments • But TNM needs greater visibility and support within DOI and exec. branch • There’s a natural tension between TNM as ‘engine’ and ‘product’ • PRODUCT: topographic maps for the nation • ENGINE: TNM as dynamic spatial data resource/service Trick isn’t to choose between these, but to balance them • Partnerships are key to TNM; degree of success varies • Intra-governmental: across federal agencies; fed/state/local • Public/private sector: esp. issues of licensing imagery & transportation data

6. NGAC TNM Subcommittee Draft Recommendations: • NGAC endorses The National Map as providing essential “base” data layers that should be the foundation upon which government geospatial activities are conducted • Coordination among federal agencies to compile and maintain base data layers, while largely successful, needs to be enhanced • National Hydrologic Dataset as model for successful data stewardship • BLM collaboration on Public Land Survey System needs strengthening • FEMA, Transportation partnerships may need strengthening as well • TNM’s unique role provides opportunity for effective coordination • NGAC should provide guidance on issues concerning licensing and use of commercial datasets for TNM, especially imagery and transportation • TNM should convene a vendor conference to discuss issues and seek consensus • Key goal: ensure some form of free public access to data • There is no current “home” for county and local government boundaries—an essential National Map component. This needs to be addressed

7. NGAC TNM Subcommittee Draft Recommendations (2): • R&D effort is needed to assess science, technology, and cartographic challenges of integrating multiple data sets • USGS / TNM is the only integrator of base data layers; integration is a vital role • TNM should conduct a pilot project testing integration of all key data layers • Identify small geographic area; assess technology, workflows, science, cartography • Publishing strategy is sound (publishing products despite fact that some data layers are incomplete) but requires continued review and refinement • Example: Topographic map product currently does not integrate elevation or hydrography because their alignment is inexact. National Map team should consider integrating one OR the other until alignment is improved “A government cannot do any scientific work of more value to the people at large than by causing the construction of proper topographic maps of the country.” –John Wesley Powell