NSDI | What is the NSDI

NSDI | What is the NSDI?

Per the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) is defined as “… the technology, policies, criteria, standards, and employees necessary to promote geospatial data sharing throughout the Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, and the private sector (including nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education)”.

The NSDI provides a place-based framework for connecting public and private data for understanding and decision making. The NSDI framework brings together governmental, academic, commercial, and international capabilities to facilitate the development and use of geographic data, tools, applications, and services to support evidence-based understanding and decision-making.  The NSDI framework concept is developed by representatives of county, regional, State, Federal, Tribal and other organizations under the auspices of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). The NSDI supports the following activities:

• Connects the Data Ecosystem | The NSDI provides a place-based framework for connecting public and private data for understanding and decision-making. 
• Development of Foundational Data | The NSDI is a collaborative community-based effort in which commonly needed data themes are developed, maintained, and integrated by public and private organizations within a geographic area. Foundation data is one of the key building blocks and forms the data backbone of the NSDI.  National Geospatial Data Assets include foundation data and provide additional high-value datasets that support national priorities.
• Facilitates Data Sharing | The NSDI facilitates seamless data development, information sharing, and collaborative decision-making across multiple sectors of the economy.  
• Geospatial Infrastructure | The NSDI is a means to assemble geographic data nationwide using geospatial technologies to serve a variety of users.