PURPOSE OF SUBCOMMITTEE:
The Ground Transportation Subcommittee helps coordinate Federal and non-Federal interests in ground transportation data, including the facilitation of information exchange and transfer of data; the establishment and implementation of standards for quality, content, and transferability; and the identification of requirements for the collection of spatial data to minimize duplication of effort where practicable and economical.
MAJOR FY 1998 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
The Ground Transportation Subcommittee met five times during FY 1998 -- four times in regular interagency meetings and one time in open session at the 1998 GIS-T Symposium, held in Snowbird, UT. Major accomplishments during 1998 are summarized below. Accomplishments are referenced to proposed actions in the Subcommittee's 1998 Work Plan.
Goal One: Increase the awareness and understanding of the vision, concepts, and benefits of the NSDI through outreach and education.
Objective: Develop and communicate the common principles and practices of the NSDI.
- Action 1: Convene an open meeting of the Subcommittee during the 1998 GIS-T Symposium in Snowbird, UT.
Outcome: An open meeting of the Subcommittee was held at the GIS-T Symposium, with 2 subcommittee members and 38 other participants in attendance. The meeting began with a presentation covering the FGDC, the Ground Transportation Subcommittee, and the NSDI. This was followed by a presentation on the NSDI Road Data Model Standard that is being developed under the Subcommittee's sponsorship.
Action 2: Participate in national and regional workshops involving transportation GIS professionals to discuss the activities of the Subcommittee and introduce the concept and activities associated with the NSDI.
Outcome: Presentations on the NSDI Road Data Model Standard development effort were made at the following conferences and workshops: (1) the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) Annual Meeting in Regina, SK; (2) the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) Annual Meeting in Annapolis, MD; (3) the Public Sector ITS Data Requirements Workshop in Santa Barbara, CA; the Kansas Geo-Spatial Data Standards Forum in Wichita, KS; the West Virginia Framework Data Kick-Off Meeting in Morgantown, WV; and the ESRI Northwest Users Group Meeting in Sun Valley, ID.
Goal Two: Develop common solutions for discovery, access, and use of geo-spatial data in response to the needs of diverse communities.
Objective 1: Establish common classification systems, data documentation and content standards, and other common models to enable data sharing.
- Action 1: Promulgate a draft standard transportation network data model.
Outcome: A "strawman" draft for the NSDI Road Data Model Standard was developed during FY 1998. The purpose of this standard is to establish a conceptual framework and methodological procedures for assigning unique, stable identifiers to transportation network segments that are independent of cartographic scale and specific network applications. A proposal for the standard was submitted for public review in June; only three non-consequential comments were received. BTS also set up a special Internet listserver to facilitate the exchange of ideas and comments on the draft standard as it evolved. The listserver currently has 45 members, and 26 messages have been posted since its inception. The first draft of the road data model was completed in November, and an initial meeting of the technical review team was convened in Washington, DC, in early December. The standard is currently being revised based on recommendations from the review team.
Objective 2: Continue the development of the National Geo-spatial Data Clearinghouse.
- Action 1: Identify state and local transportation spatial data holdings and encourage transportation agencies to make their data accessible through the NSDI Clearinghouse.
Outcome: Identification of spatial data holdings and state DOT awareness of and participation in state NSDI activities is an integral part of the BTS State DOT site visit program (See Goal Three). In addition, the Subcommittee plans to utilize the results of the Framework Data Survey to help identify other transportation agencies, primarily at the regional and local levels, with geo-spatial transportation data.
Action 2: Develop a national pipeline mapping data layer.
Outcome: Based on recommendations from a joint government/industry task force, an organizational structure was established in 1998 to collect, maintain and disseminate geo-spatial data on pipelines. The organizational structure includes repositories in approximately 14 states and a national repository to serve as coordinator and repository for those states with no state repository. The draft standards for pipeline data collection developed by the task force are being prototyped, and full data collection is expected to begin in 1999.
Objective 3: Establish and maintain framework data for the Nation.
- Action 1: Continue development and dissemination of the National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD).
Outcome: A North American Transportation Atlas Database (NORTAD) CD-ROM, containing major transportation facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, was released in June. Work continued on enhancements to the NTAD, including conversion of all databases to NAD 83, and acquisition of updated railroad network and station databases.
Action 2: Establish Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to coordinate development of a comprehensive road network database for the Nation.
Outcome: No action was taken during 1998, pending further progress on the NSDI Road Data Model Standard. Moreover, the Census Bureau's Geography staff is currently preoccupied with preparations for the 2000 decennial Census.
Goal Three: Build relationships among organizations to support the continuing development of the NSDI.
Objective: Build a network of organizations linked through commitment to addressing common interests within the context of the NSDI.
- Action: Conduct site visits to State DOTs to promote awareness of and participation in NSDI activities, and to identify research priorities for GIS in transportation.
Outcome: Six site visits to State DOT GIS offices were conducted in 1998. Summaries of each site visit are being posted on the BTS GIS Web Site.