Part B
LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY/BUREAU AND/OR SUBCOMMITTEE/WORKING GROUP REPORT (Agencies With Lead Responsibilities Assigned under Current Circular A-16 Authorities) (Please provide a separate report for each activity for which you have the lead)
1. Program/Activity Name:
Subcommittee on Base Cartographic Data.
2. What are the programs this data supports?
Base cartographic data are defined as the fundamental data set of geographic data that are normally produced in the preparation of national series general purpose graphic and digital cartographic products. These data represent the physical and cultural features (natural, artificial, or both) of part or the whole of the Earth's surface. . Examples of these cartographic data include roads, streams, contours, boundaries, and geographic and other coordinate reference systems. Many of the base cartographic data support and are a component of the National Mapping Program.
Very Briefly Describe All Applicable Items:
3. Uses of Data: What are the end uses of this data? How does it benefit customers, support lead and other agency missions, etc.?
Base data are used individually or collectively the data can provide the framework upon which other themes of geographic data can be referenced
4. Charter/Plan: Do you have a current charter or plan for collection?
Yes
Should it be updated?
No. As the chair of the Base Cartographic Subcommittee and Interior Geographic Data Committee technical group, the USGS works with Federal Agencies to understand and meet their base cartographic data requirements.
5. Metadata: What is the status of metadata? Is it discoverable and served through the NSDI Clearinghouse? What percentage of this theme's data has metadata and is in a Clearinghouse node? Subcommittee members are encouraged to create and publish metadata for all base cartographic data.
6. Standards: What is the status of this theme's data, process, transfer, and classification standards?
The Base Cartographic SubCommittee has proactively worked on developing NSDI Standards. Below is a list of the endorsed standards and those under development.
Data - Endorsed standards
Content Standard for Digital Orthoimagery, FGDC-STD-008-1999
Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS), FGDC-STD-002 (a modified version was adopted as ANSI NCITS 320:1998)
Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS), Part 5: Raster Profile and Extensions, FGDC-STD-002.5
Standards under development
Content Standard for Framework Land Elevation Data
7. Management, Progress: List FY 2000/2001 activities/progress to date (quantify where possible)
Prior to January 2000, the Base Cartographic Subcommittee accomplished a majority of its tasks and therefore from January 2000 to present, there has been little activity of the subcommittee.
8. Leadership: Describe your active leadership role with others (private, local, State, Federal) who collect and use this data.
The USGS is active member and serves in an executive capacity of numerous organizations that use base cartographic data. They include NSGIC, NACo, MAPP, AAG
9. Collaborative Partnerships: How many major partnerships with others do you have on this theme? (list if desired).
There are major partnerships with Federal Agencies such as the Bureau of Census, US Forest Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Through the Department of the Interior High Priority Program, the USGS partners and works closely with the Department of the Interior Bureaus (Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service)
10. Scope: Are you engaged in broad participation and international/global coordination?
Yes. The USGS has an active international program and works with the Peoples Republic of China, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Antarctica.
11. Policy: Do you have a policy in place for full and open access or data sharing?
Yes
12. Are there areas or issues regarding lead responsibilities for spatial data themes that require attention, or lessons-learned that you would like to share with others? Please describe.
None.