December 21, 1998
New schedule for revised 1999 FGDC funding program

It is anticipated that the revised 1999 FGDC funding program announcement will appear on or about February 1, 1999. Information will be made available through the Federal Register, various list servs and the FGDC web page at www.fgdc.gov

October 24, 1998
FGDC Restructures 1999 Funding Programs

Open period for 1999 FGDC funding programs will be delayed until mid to late December 1998. The programs will be significantly altered in scope and structure. Check the FGDC (www.fgdc.gov) web page in December for more information and links to application materials. Announcement of these programs will be made through Internet mailing lists, the FGDC web page, the Federal Register and GIS industry publications.

October 5, 1998
Announcement of the 1999 National GeoData Forum

Make plans now to attend the 1999 National GeoData Forum in Washington, D.C. June 7-9, 1999. The two and one-half day meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect on the past, assess the present and explore future development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. A Steering Committee, co-chaired by Mark Schaefer, Department of the Interior, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science; and Gene Thorley, Chair, FGDC Coordination Group, will plan the Forum. The Steering Committee members are: Eric Anderson, International City/County Manager's Association; Mayor Ann Azari, National League of Cities; Bruce Cahan, Urban Logic Inc.; Allen Carroll, National Geographic Society; Don Cooke, Geographic Data Technology, Inc.; Fred Corle, Interoperability Advisory Group; Gregory Elmes, University Consortium for Geographic Information Sciences; Hank Garie, National States Geographic Information Council; Michael Goodchild, Mapping Sciences Committee; Randy Johnson, National Association of Counties; Congressman Paul Kanjorski; Terry Keating, Lucerne International; John Moeller, FGDC; David Schell, Open GIS Consortium; Jim Souby, Western Governor's Association; and, Nancy Tosta, National Association of Regional Councils. For more information contact Kathy Covert, FGDC Staff, (703) 648-4144.

September 3, 1998
Clearinghouse Implementors Workshop

Annapolis, Maryland, September 11, 1998, 9-6 p.m.
Register by September 4 for this workshop which will provide a forum for current and prospective Clearinghouse implementors to share developments. Time will be reserved for metadata and clearinghouse demonstrations. Details.

September 2, 1998
The Community/Federal Information Partnership and Community Demonstration Projects

In a major address at the Brookings Insitution in Washington , D.C., Vice President Gore called for stronger efforts nationwide to enhance the livability and economic competitiveness of American communities. The Vice President said the Administration will expand its support for the use of geographic information systems technologies and encourage increased public access and sharing of geographic data to put "more control, more information, more decision-making power into the hands of families, communities, and regions - to give them all the freedom and flexibility they need to reclaim their own unique place in the world, "

Full text of the Vice President's speech
White House Press Release
FGDC Press Release
Community Federal Information Partnership
Community Demonstration Projects

The June 1998 version (version 2) of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata supersedes the June 1994 version (version 1) of the standard and is fully backwardly compatible with version 1. Version 2 allows for the definition of user profiles and extensions. Some production rules have been modified for ease of use. Version 2 of the standard is applicable to all new and legacy geospatial data produced by the federal government under Executive Order 12906. The FGDC invites and encourages organizations from state, local, and tribal governments, the private sector and non-profit organizations to use the standard.

July 2, 1998
New FGDC stakeholder: The International City/County Management Association

Founded in 1914, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is the professional and educational organization of more than 8,200 appointed administrators and assistant administrators serving cities, counties, other local governments, and regional entities around the world. The association provides technical assistance, training, management assistance, and publications to help local government professionals improve their skills and increase their knowledge. ICMA also serves as a clearinghouse for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information and data about local government.

April 21, 1998
FGDC endorses policy on information access and privacy

The Steering Committee of the FGDC endorsed a policy on access to public information and the protection of personal privacy in federal geospatial databases. This policy applies to all federal geospatial databases from which personal information is retrieved.

March 4, 1998
NSDI Measures of Progress Workshop

This workshop was convened by the FGDC to consider the question "How do we know how we are doing at building the NSDI?" Participants represented diverse perspectives on GIS and NSDI. The NSDI was understood as a broad-based effort to improve data sharing and use. The purpose of NSDI is to get usable geospatial data into the hands of citizens and decision makers.

March 3, 1998
Colorado Plateau Coordination Workshop.

Report of a meeting held in Farmington, New Mexico, October 28-29, 1997. Cosponsored by the FGDC and the geographic coordinating councils of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Report is in PDF format.

February 17, 1998
Invitation to review study on geographic information by the National Academy of Public Administration

A panel convened by the National Academy Of Public Administration (NAPA) has completed its report on geographic information resources in the U.S. and the nation's need for geographic information. The report entitled "Geographic Information for the 21st Century" was released in mid-January and is available for purchase in hard copy from NAPA. Summaries of the report also available from the NAPA website at www.napawash.org.

The Federal Geographic Data Committee is requesting your support in reviewing the report and in identifying and moving forward on opportunities presented for furthering the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. The NAPA study was an agenda topic at the NSDI partnership meeting held on January 13, 1998. It was the feeling of the participants at the meeting that the community should give careful review and consideration to the report and reach consensus on those recommendations that they could move forward together on. The intent of this review is to solicit input from all sectors of the geospatial data community and to convene an inter-sector team to assess the comments and propose further actions. Guidelines and a format for commenting are provided in the NSDI page of this site.

February 13, 1998
Cooperative Agreements Programs Final Reports

Final Project Reports are now available for many 1994-96 Cooperative Agreements Program projects.

January 21, 1998
Framework Introduction and Guide Published

The Federal Geographic Data Committee has published a new handbook titled The Framework Introduction and Guide. The guide introduces the framework concepts that have been developed over the past several years by the geospatial data community in support of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure and describes what individuals and organizations can do to participate in its development and use. Order a copy by writing, faxing or e-mailing the FGDC (c/o U.S. Geological Survey, 590 National Center, Reston, VA 20192, att. J. Fox; 703-648-5755[fax], gdc@usgs.gov). Request the Framework Introduction and Guide. Be sure to include your full postal address. A digital version of the introduction and guide will be posted as soon as available. Look for it in the Framework/References section.

[ What's New 1997 ]

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