Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Celebrate Geography Awareness Week and GIS Day

"Geography Awareness Week" occurs this week November 14-20.  Learn more about this National Geographic Society sponsored activity at this link.

Today, Wednesday, November 17 is also "GIS Day".  This event is sponsored by organizations such as ESRI, the National Geographic Society, the Association of American Geographers, University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, the United States Geological Survey and the Library of Congress, has been embraced for several years by many localities in Virginia.  Events are occurring in Northern Virginia, Richmond area, Tidewater and more.  Check with your local jurisdiction to see if they are having an event and go out and support this interesting and fun activity.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

FGDC Seeks Input on Geospatial Platform


The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is seeking input on its plan to modernize the National Spatial Data Infrastructure with The Geospatial Platform. As defined in the plan the Platform "... will offer a managed portfolio of common geospatial data, services and applications contributed and administered by trusted sources and hosted on a shared infrastructure".

The initiative is intended to increase information sharing across various levels of government and industry. The initiative will use a managed portfolio approach, be implemented using a service-oriented architecture, and will use open and interoperable standards and technology. The Platform will be governed by a Managing Partner and a Partner Network of federal, state, local and private sector organizations.

There is some confusion in the blogosphere over how the Platform relates to the National Map, the GeoLoB (Geospatial Line of Business), Data.gov, and the NOAA web mapping application for the BP Oil Spill response www.GeoPlatform.gov/GulfResponse. The FGDC plan explains the connections and notes that the existing NOAA application is a prototype for one type of application to be supported by the Platform. NOAA appears to be taking a larger role than in previous NSDI efforts that tended to be primarily USGS.

The Platform has been endorsed by the National Geospatial Advisory Committee. The FGDC is welcoming feedback on the plan via an IdeaScale website or by emails to geoplatformcomments@fgdc.gov through December 2010.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Geospatial Revolution Project Video - Episode Two is Released

Episode Two is now out on YouTube.  Click here to view on YouTube.  See version one from a previous GISVirginia Blog Post.