NSDI | 2035 Strategic Plan | Goals and Objectives

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1—Governance: Implement National Governance

This goal aims to increase multisector nationwide participation and accountability in NSDI governance and implementation and establish and execute national oversight and management mechanisms for the NSDI. This involves setting up structures, policies, and processes to govern how the NSDI functions; establishing national priorities for geospatial data; establishing NSDI standards; and improving the processes by which geospatial data are collected, managed, shared, and used, in alignment with the NSDI core values.

National governance of the NSDI entails establishing the authority for NSDI decision-making; identifying roles and responsibilities; endorsing and promoting the use of open standards, specifications, and practices; ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks; identifying and securing the investments necessary for successful implementation and maintenance; and collaborating among partners.

Objective 1.1. Governance and institutions: 

Establish a national governance structure for the NSDI—to include all levels of government and the private sector—to develop, contribute to, and implement the NSDI, with a commitment to working together for the benefit of the Nation.

Expected results: An established collaborative and effective NSDI governance structure with defined authorities, roles, and responsibilities, and with representation from all sectors. 

Objective 1.2. Policy and legal: 

Refine the NSDI policy and legal framework to enable future implementation of the NSDI; appropriate use of geospatial technology; public-private-philanthropic partnerships; sharing, preservation, and use of geospatial data; and protection of national security, privacy, and proprietary interests.

Expected results: Public policy that reduces barriers to NSDI implementation, while protecting privacy and proprietary interests, ensuring security, and enabling public-private-philanthropic partnerships to advance the NSDI.

Objective 1.3. Financial: 

Identify and obtain the financial and other resources necessary for implementing and achieving the goals and objectives of this NSDI strategic plan through multisector investment. Resources are subject to the availability of funding.‌

 Expected results: A resourced NSDI that is efficient, sustainable, and extensible.

Goal 2—Data and Technology: Modernize the Infrastructure and Leverage Advanced Technology

This goal aims to leverage technological innovations (for example, AI; the broader use of space-based positioning, navigation, and timing [PNT]; and alternative PNT technologies both in space and on the ground) to reduce the level of effort required to acquire, develop, manage, maintain, access, distribute, and use geospatial data through the NSDI.

Application of such technologies will strengthen national resilience through responsible use of PNT services and align geospatial data within consistent, accurate, and precise geospatial coordinates defined by the National Spatial Reference System. Furthermore, this goal aims to establish comprehensive and authoritative national geospatial data that empowers informed decision-making, promotes economic growth, and enhances national security and resilience. 

Objective 2.1. Data: 

Ensure that the national geospatial data portfolio is accurate, up-to-date, and accessible to support critical applications for all users.

Expected results: Critical and trustworthy geospatial data that are readily available to all users, thereby ensuring an opportunity for consistent, equitable, and quality decision-making. Priority national datasets include national parcels, address, buildings and structures, hydrography, imagery, utilities, elevation and bathymetry, land use, trails, roads, road electronic navigation charts, and boundary datasets utilizing the necessary framework and standards.

Objective 2.2. Innovation and research: 

Foster, support, and encourage investment in cutting-edge geospatial research and development. Evaluate, embrace, and enable advancements in technology and promote their rapid and responsible adoption, while ensuring that the resulting data are safe, secure, and in compliance with privacy regulations.

Expected results: Advancements in geospatial research leading to innovative applications and improved data analysis in the areas of data collection, development, and updates; autonomous mapping; self-updating maps; intelligent global search and discovery; immersive visualization; and legal and policy-compliant AI-driven data capture and decision making, as well as improved access to and use of geospatial data and information in everyday applications (for example, digital assistants, large language models, web browsers, and mobile platforms). 

Objective 2.3. Standards: 

Make use of and participate in the forums that develop national and international consensus standards and maintain open standards, specifications, and best practices that facilitate rapid adoption of technology and data integration as well as promote local to global interoperability, data accuracy, data sharing, and reuse of the Nation’s data foundation and Federal geospatial portfolio. 

Expected results: Global interoperability.

Objective 2.4. Infrastructure: 

Maintain and evolve an interoperable geospatial ecosystem that connects users with geospatial data, maps, easy-to-use tools, models, solutions, advanced capabilities, and emerging technologies.

Expected results: A national geospatial ecosystem with a framework of findable, interoperable, standardized, accurate data from many trusted, distributed sources readily available for use by a wide variety of applications and users.

Goal 3—People: Building a Skilled and Inclusive Geospatial Workforce for a Sustainable Future

This goal recognizes that the success of the NSDI depends not only on technological capabilities and data quality but also on raising the overall awareness of the value and use of spatial thinking and analytics beyond the geospatial sector and on developing the skills, expertise, and engagement of the individuals involved in geospatial data management and utilization. This goal aims to build a skilled, engaged, and inclusive geospatial workforce that is equipped to advance and leverage the full potential of the NSDI to address complex challenges, drive innovation, and promote societal advancement.

Objective 3.1. Partnerships: 

Build multisectoral and multidisciplinary partnerships with Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments and the private sector, including private industry, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations, as well as international partnerships, all of which contribute to the NSDI. This includes promoting networks and communities of practice where individuals can share knowledge, expertise, and best practices, as well as collaborate on joint projects and initiatives.

Expected results: Public, private, and philanthropic partners working together to deliver the NSDI, engage future stakeholders, and build support for the vision of the NSDI by 2035.

Objective 3.2. Capacity and education: 

Nurture a skilled geospatial workforce by fostering continuous learning and providing the tools and training needed to advance the NSDI. Cultivate geospatial literacy across all sectors by promoting education and skill development, starting with early exposure in middle and high schools and continuing into undergraduate and graduate education. Champion lifelong learning in the geospatial field, ensuring that the workforce remains equipped with the evolving skills and knowledge necessary to drive NSDI innovation.

Expected results: A skilled workforce capable of advancing the NSDI. A geospatially literate citizenry. Secondary, undergraduate, and graduate curricula to incorporate and include geospatial concepts and technology skills.

Objective 3.3. Communication and engagement: 

Actively promote the use, understanding, and value of geospatial data and technologies to individuals and businesses beyond the geospatial sector, encourage the exchange of ideas, and strengthen awareness and understanding of the NSDI and its important benefits to our Nation and the world.

Expected results: All sectors have a strong understanding of the value of the NSDI and their role in the NSDI, and are actively contributing to the NSDI. Sectors are engaged through coordinating associations, such as the member and advisory organizations within the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO), the National Tribal Geographic Information Support Center (TribalGIS), and others. All citizens have a basic understanding and awareness of the NSDI.