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.

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