Transportation For The Nation - TFTN

Last week at the GIS for Transportation symposium - GIS-T - in Charleston, WV the strategic planning effort for TFTN was initiated. The GIS-T symposium is a gathering of mostly state and federal DOT officials that provided an opportunity to obtain the input of this stakeholder group. Throughout the year the TFTN strategic planning team will be soliciting input from various stakeholder groups from across the nation. The idea for TFTN was started by the National States Geographic Information Council - NSGIC - and was born out of the same notion of Imagery For The Nation. Essentially, these data are being collected multiple time by many different parties for various purposes. Why not collaborate so that we can collect transportation data once and use it many times? Makes too much sense. The challenge is of course in the collaboration of all the diverse business needs.

TFTN is important to Virginia GIS because it follows what we already have established, a "Transportation for Virginia" if you will, through the Virginia Road Centerline efforts. Thanks to data sourced from local governments who provide updated local transportation data to VGIN, who then combines the data statewide and includes VDOT data, Virginia has the most complete and comprehensive road network available in Virginia. These data are then leveraged with federal and private collaborators. An example of how the US Census is using Virginia RCL for the 2010 Census was demonstrated by this presentation from the US Census in slides 14-20.

Elevation for the Commonwealth

Elevation or topography data is a key framework data layer in any spatial data infrastructure. The existing National Elevation Dataset (NED) for Virginia is too old and not precise enough. LiDAR data is the recommended way to update elevation data to modern standards.

VGIN has coordinated three projects this spring to collect LiDAR for over 3,233 sq miles of coastal Virginia according to the latest USGS National Map LiDAR specification (funding was provided by USGS, The Nature Conservancy and University of Virginia). The map shows these projects as well as some existing LiDAR data sets for coastal Virginia.

To help coordinate the development of better elevation data for Virginia, VGIN is forming an elevation working group, or Elevation Framework Initiative Action Team (FIAT). This group will:

• Conduct an inventory of existing elevation datasets
• Recommend elevation data standards and best practices
• Promote coordination and collaboration on the development of new elevation datasets
• Promote data sharing and incorporate elevation data in existing clearinghouses

If you are interested in serving on this working group please contact me, John Scrivani, on or before April 26th. To learn more about elevation efforts in Virginia you may want to look at my presentation to the VGIN Board from April 7th.

Geospatial Technology Competency Model - Public Comment Period

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration and the National Geospatial Technology Center have posted for public comment until May 1, 2010 the Geospatial Technology Competency Model. The draft document is available for download. It does require that you first register and set up a user name and password prior to download.

From the draft model:

The Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) is depicted in a pyramid graphic with nine tiers. This shape illustrates how occupational and industry competencies build on a foundation of personal effectiveness, academic, and workplace competencies. Each tier is comprised of one or more blocks representing the skills, knowledge, and abilities essential for successful performance in the industry or occupation represented by the model.

All interested parties are encouraged to submit feedback as this has the potential to eventually trickle down from the US Department of Labor into our Human Resource departments.

Virginia Receives Broadband Mapping Grant

From the NTIA Press Release from March 5:

"NTIA has awarded the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology $1,799,979 for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a two-year period in Virginia, bringing the total grant award to approximately $2.3 million. The Virginia Center for Innovative Technology is the designated entity for the state of Virginia.

Awardees will collect and verify the availability, speed, and location of broadband across the state. This activity is to be conducted on a semi-annual basis in the next two years, with the data to be presented in a clear and accessible format to the public, government, and the research community."

Partners with CIT include the Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) and Virginia Tech.

Recent News Articles about GIS Web Portals

Three recent news articles about GIS web portals in Virginia have been published.



Middlesex County

A nice article in the Southside Sentinal about Middlesex County's new GIS web portal, including a discussion by VGIN Advisory Board member Stan Hovey on the value of orthophotography and GIS education.



Waynesboro

The City of Waynesboro has unveiled their new online GIS. See the article in the NewsVirginia.com



James River Association

The James River Association was recently profiled in NBC12.com discussing their new "Runoff Calculator", which allows citizens to assess your impact on the James River watershed.

GovTech Magazines 2010 "Doers, Dreamers and Drivers"

Virginia has several names listed in Government Technology Magazine's ""2010 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers" article. Leading the list is Deputy Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson, who has been the key driver behind Virginia's Broadband and Broadband Mapping efforts. Other notable Virginians mentioned in the article are Wanda Gibson, CTO, Fairfax County, Bill Greeves, communications and IT Director, Roanoke County, and Bill Hobgood, project manager, City of Richmond. With four of the twenty-five names listed, the most for any one state, Virginia is once again showing the way with its leadership.

Data Sharing Issues: What Works and What Doesn’t

This is an interesting post from "NSGIC News" that discusses GIS data sharing issues. Originating from South Carolina, it is a compilation of input from GIS Coordinators from across the country.

NSGIC News: Data Sharing Issues: What Works and What Doesn’t