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FGDC

FGDC Homeland Security Working Group

Michael Domaratz, Co-chair U.S. Geological Survey

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FGDC

Lessons Being (re-)LearnedLessons Being (re-)Learned

(courtesy EarthData)

• Data must exist before, during and after an event, and be readily accessible

• Partnerships are required among State, local, tribal and Federal agencies, and the private sector

• Map information is a national infrastructure, just like the Interstate Highway System

Selected InfrastructureSelected Infrastructure

Populated PlacesPopulated Places

RoadsRoads

RailroadsRailroads

PipelinesPipelines

Selected Federal reservationsSelected Federal reservations

Major Dams, Airports, and Power PlantsMajor Dams, Airports, and Power Plants

The 457 Watersheds Having Surface Water Intakes That Serve at Least 25,000 Persons

Another approach: WatershedsAnother approach: Watersheds

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NSDI

FGDC Homeland Security Working GroupFGDC Homeland Security Working Group

• Ensure that the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) supports the preparation for, prevention of, protection against, response to, and recovery from events and other threats to the nation’s population centers and critical infrastructures.

• Regular participation from:

Agriculture EPA NASA

Commerce FCC Transportation

Defense FEMA NSGIC

Energy Interior

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FGDC

ActivitiesActivities

• Policy concerns• Map symbology• Information content• Metadata (identified)• Interface specifications (identified)

Challenges: “fast consensus”, resources, and security concerns

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FGDC

Policy ConcernsPolicy Concerns

• Position paper “Homeland Security and Geographic Information Systems” identified gaps preventing effective use of data:

• Standards, data frameworks, and E-911support

• Promotion and resources for collaborative relationships

• Uniform approaches to homeland security that rely on standardized data and systems.

• Mobile GIS resources that can be available within 12 hours of an event.

• RAND study of publicly available geospatial data and vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure

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FGDC

Map SymbologyMap Symbology

• Use of different map symbols for the same information slows and degrades communication, especially when many organizations need to work together.

• Path:

• Draft a minimal set of symbols (emergency response first)

• Authenticate draft symbols with users

• Select the best path for accreditation

• Work with industry to test and implement

• Incrementally improve based on experience; repeat path for other homeland security “communities”

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FGDC

Information ContentInformation Content

• Early identification of “common” minimum information content that supports homeland security activities, especially that for critical infrastructure, will encourage convergence and enable sharing among those charged with developing data.

• Path:

• Gather information needs identified by “communities of interest” and compile draft of “minimum” information content

• Validate draft among initial set of stakeholders

• Use existing federal content initiatives for common needs.