Department of Transportation

Arizona Geographic Information Council 2002 Conference Report

This year's Arizona Geographic Information Council (AGIC) conference was held in Mesa, Arizona. The attendance was slightly better than 200 attendees. The presentations and speakers were varied and covered and range of topics although the conference emphasized Homeland Security issues.

In General

Several consistent themes appeared in various presentations. The common themes echoed several times were:

• Metadata
• Spatial Accuracy
• Geodatabase
• Data Accessibility/Data Integration (redefinition of "Enterprise GIS")
• Homeland Security

Metadata

Metadata needs were discussed in almost every presentation. Very few people have good metadata if any at all. The problems with metadata creation seem to stem from the lack of definitive direction that has been offered by anyone. Queries of web sites will result on any number of different formats for creating and maintaining metadata. However, it was primarily acknowledged that metadata should be in some format, even if it is as simple as a text file that verbally describes the data.

The need for metadata is becoming increasingly important as Homeland Security projects realize GIS will play a major role in emergency response. As such, data availability will only be beneficial if there is metadata attached. It is clear that life or death decisions cannot be made if data sources are not known, unreliable, not current, etc. All of these (and more) aspects are a part of reliable metadata.

Spacial Accuracy

Spatial accuracy has been debated many times throughout the development of GIS. Many people have indicated they only need a cartoon map whereas the surveying profession has indicated that more spatial accuracy is needed. This year's conference contributed substantially the surveyor's need to be involved with GIS, especially as Homeland Security projects will require the most accurate data available when making life or death decisions. It was consistently at the conference that spatially accurate data is preferred, however needs to develop data sets for immediate use, and prohibitive costs usually divert the effort. This is where the tie back to Metadata comes in. People absolutely need to know the spatial accuracy of data.

Geodatabase

The brass ring of GIS developers is implementing a geodatabase. Although this is not a requirement for the short term, future GIS implementation and development will benefit from utilizing a geodatabase. A goal each organization should endeavor to realize is the creation of a geodatabase and subsequent migration of data. However, it was clearly pointed out that the creation of critical data sets, maintenance of data, and proper metadata outweigh the need to simply have everything in a single database.

Data Accessibility/Data Integration(redefining "Enterprise GIS")

Substantial time was dedicated to discussion of data accessibility and seamlessly integrating multiple data sets, across multiple jurisdictions into one seamless map. The primary focus for this is Homeland Security. Data standards are desperately needed for at least the state level to distribute to local agencies. The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) has standards and guidelines that are far too complicated for most uses. A more simplified direction must be offered to the states, and then to local agencies to use future standards that will assure local data can be utilized in the event of an emergency.

Aside from Homeland Security needs, the USGS is developing a new vision to create a "National Map". Their goal is to provide the framework to allow contribution of routinely maintained data sets into a "seamless national map".

Overall it became clear throughout the conference that we need to think at least nationally (if not globally) when creating "critical" data sets. ("Critical" data sets have yet to be defined, but relates to infrastructure with a high emphasis on transportation, services, and utilities). "The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few"(Spock). Too many time data sets that "Serve My Purpose" and lack coordination with others are a detriment to an organization in both investment and usability of the data. This is not a unique problem to any organization, but the need for better teamwork and putting aside egos were stressed. The safety of our country depends on this change of attitude.

As these issues were discussed, the question "What exactly is an "Enterprise GIS?" was presented. Discussed evolved to the point that "Enterprise GIS" was a phrase coined by large GIS vendors to support their product deployment throughout an organization, whatever size that organization may be. Comments emphasized that an "Enterprise GIS" was an improper term to be used in today's world. As such it was made clear by the State Cartographer that "Enterprise GIS" does not have jurisdictional boundaries. Enterprise GIS means that some person at the federal level can use a federal data set, and combine it with a state maintained data set, and then get a local (and even private) data set, combining these layers in a way needed at that time for decision making. For lack of a better term at the moment this term was still used, but in this different context.

Homeland Security

Homeland Security focused on the needs for Metadata, Spatial Accuracy, and Enterprise GIS (the new definition) all as discussed above. The primary focus at this time revolves around the ability to provide fast and reliable data within three (3) hours of a disaster. New York City was cited as the shining example of an effective ability to accomplish this task. Roads, transportation infrastructure, utilities, human services (fire stations, police stations, hospitals, etc), ortho photography, elevation models and parcel data were specifically noted as critical for first response teams. As the emergency mitigation proceeds, other feature layers are needed like, "new" orthophotography, LIDAR data, satellite images, location of small features (wells, tanks, structures, and building plans, etc.).

The GIS efforts of New York City were shown to be the most advantageous "proactive" GIS result in history. The fact that New York City completed major development of a GIS three years ago was a significant advantage to the rescue and clean up efforts after 9/11. The GIS manager for New York City has some advice for us all:

• Required data must be accessible within THREE (3) hours of the need
• MAINTENANCE of the data is critical
• First responders need LOCAL data (facility type data)
• Lack of data is "very damaging"
• "Critical Inventory" is necessary (exactly what this is has not been determined, one can only imagine what might be needed in an emergency).

Homeland Security efforts should currently be directed at creating, maintaining and sharing critical data. The issue of what is, or is not appropriate data for mass consumption should not be the focus at his point. The general consensus is that we should proceed with data distribution that will enhance our economy and business efficiency. Common sense, not fear, should be the guide for limitations of what is open and freely distributed. There may be more guidance of this issue from the state or federal government later on.

Miscellaneous Tidbits

• Digital Orthophotography- This was a basic presentation covering digital orthophotography. ADOT uses digital orthos and terrain models for almost every design project.
• GIS Without Geodesy is a Crime (Felony)- Dave Minkel with the NGS discussed several key aspects of how geodesy and surveying are critical to GIS. Dave explained the original USGS horizontal control grid and the HARN adjustment grids. Also discussed was the proper use of the Geodetic Coordinate Data Base (GCDB) developed by the BLM. This is a scary proposition and if not restrained by proper field survey location of the section corners, GIS developers could be heading for disaster. If most importance in this presentation Dave showed the significant amount of error that is created when data is "reprojected" using standard projection tools (like ArcView uses Moldinsky). Reprojection of data should only be accomplished using NADCOM, free software available from the NGS.
• ArcIMS Metadata Server- ESRI showcased their new metadata server component to use with ArcIMS. Although this presentation was a sales pitch is was pointed out that it does not matter what software or format metadata is maintained with…DO METADATA.

Notes from numerous talks and presentations:

• Governments are "data rich" but "information poor"
• GIS is the "best tool" to organize, analyze, and deliver data
• There needs to be better communication with government leaders, CIO’s and CEO’s regarding the benefits of GIS
• NYC forced utilities to comply with the City’s GIS standards or "get out" of their right-of-way.
• Per 9/11 disaster…"Invest in GIS BEFORE YOU NEED IT"
• 80% of all government data is "location" or "geographic" in nature
• AGIC will be creating a "data portal"
• The trend for utilizing data is to find ways to utilize "local" data more and more while relying less on "federally maintained" data sets. A good example of this is the USGS proposal for a National Map, discussed above.
• County and Local data is MOST Resolute, MOST Accurate, and MOST Current