"A popular Government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."  --  James Madison

Access to Information Access to Information & &

Geospatial Data Clearinghouses—Geospatial Data Clearinghouses—The Pennsylvania ExperienceThe Pennsylvania Experience

FTP&

Metadata

Relational DatabaseDevelopment

Map Services&

Customization Tools

In this presentation…In this presentation…Background on the evolution of the clearinghouse movement & the PA clearinghouse

Past and current challenges and initiatives for Pennsylvania

Other projects supported by free access to data

A number of astronauts, and then all of us who saw the photography from space, marveled at how much the Florida peninsula, meandering Mississippi, the islands of Britain, and the boot of Italy resembled the maps everyone had grown up with. We had taken it for granted that maps were faithful reflections of reality; but we were somehow amazed when reality turned out to be true to the maps.

—John Noble Wilford, The Mapmakers

In the US, there is the expectation of free access to In the US, there is the expectation of free access to information—”The Right to Know”.information—”The Right to Know”.Historically, US government and most state government Historically, US government and most state government information is provided to the public.information is provided to the public.Digital information, such as GIS data, is no exception.Digital information, such as GIS data, is no exception.However, sharing digital data is a complex process! However, sharing digital data is a complex process! Distributed computer networks, intricate programming Distributed computer networks, intricate programming languages, communication protocols, relational database languages, communication protocols, relational database architectures, user interfaces, and metadata standards must architectures, user interfaces, and metadata standards must be established and implemented. be established and implemented.

Background on the clearinghouse movement…Background on the clearinghouse movement…

The National Spatial Data Infrastructure—NSDIThe National Spatial Data Infrastructure—NSDI

The NSDI was established by executive order under President Clinton as a means to eliminate redundancy in data creation and streamline government operations and cooperation.

The NSDI was a gateway to distributed networks hosting spatial (GIS) data. The NSDI enabled search and retrieval of information (using Z39.50

protocol) much like a library catalog shows what books and articles are available.

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) was given the task of developing standards for data sharing for use in the NSDI. These included metadata standards and implementation of the NSDI by creating partnerships with spatial data providers such as state governments.

To participate in the NSDI, partners had to establish a spatial data clearinghouse that contained metadata based on FGDC standards and utilized the Z39.50 protocol to allow users to search from the national gateway.

How do these things relate to theHow do these things relate to the “Pennsylvania Experience”? “Pennsylvania Experience”?

Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA): Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA): The Geospatial Data Clearinghouse for the The Geospatial Data Clearinghouse for the

Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaCommonwealth of Pennsylvania

What is PASDA?What is PASDA?

PASDA is the Commonwealth’s node on the NSDI, participates in GOS, the Geography

Network, and the NBII

Provides widespread sharing of

Geospatial data

Eliminates thecreation of

redundant data sets

Serves as a resourcefor locating datathroughout PA

PASDA BackgroundPASDA Background

PASDA was initiated in 1996 as a partnership between Penn State University and the PA Department of Environmental Protection.

PASDA was established in the Penn State University Library and was a collaborative project of the library, the Geography Department, and the PSU Institutes of Energy and the Environment.

The program was originally coordinated by the PSU Maps Librarian who managed the data partnerships, metadata development, and data organization.

PASDA is currently funded by the Governor’s Office of Administration, Geospatial Technologies Office, and is under PSU Institutes of Energy and the Environment.

PASDA, which began by serving 35 datasets, currently provides access to 50,000 data files, numerous web GIS applications, and data customization tools. It is the largest state spatial data clearinghouse in the United States.

PASDA ServicesPASDA Services

• Our services include:

Data Storage and Access

Data &Metad

ata

PASDA

Users

Outreach

•PASDA info.•GIS tutorials

Metadata

Planar Distance Units:meters Geodetic Model: Horizontal Datum Name:North American Datum of 1927 Ellipsoid Name:Clarke

Planar Distance Units:meters Geodetic Model: Horizontal Datum Name:North American Datum of 1927 Ellipsoid Name:Clarke

Planar Distance Units:meters Geodetic Model: Horizontal Datum Name:North American Datum of 1927 Ellipsoid Name:Clarke

Planar Distance Units:meters Geodetic Model: Horizontal Datum Name:North American Datum of 1927 Ellipsoid Name:Clarke

Planar Distance Units:meters Geodetic Model: Horizontal Datum Name:North American Datum of 1927 Ellipsoid Name:Clarke

Training & Assistance

PASDA works with Partners on:-Data Acquisition-Distribution Issues-Documentation

PASDA Provides:

-Storage -Management -Access tools -Assistance

Data Distribution Via the Web—Available for Anyone to Use

How PASDA Works: •PASDA is about Partnerships•PASDA works with data providers to acquire data and develop data distribution plan and metadata.•Data acquisition and maintaining partnerships is one of the most difficult and dynamic components of a clearinghouse.

Typical advanced GIS user

Some Quick Questions…

Why is it so difficult to obtain data?

Legal issuesTerritorial issuesQuestions about accuracyOther reasons?

Who do you think PASDA partners might be?

State agencies such as PennDOTLocal governments such as the City of PhiladelphiaNon-profit organizations such as the Western PA ConservancyAcademic institutions like PSUI mentioned metadata, what is it and why do you think it might be important?

Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Single Date/Time:

Calendar Date:1994

Currentness Reference:publication date

Status:

Progress:Complete

Maintenance and Update Frequency:None planned

Spatial Domain:

Bounding Coordinates:

West Bounding Coordinate:-74.739

East Bounding Coordinate:-73.652

North Bounding Coordinate:45.156

South Bounding Coordinate:44.496

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme Keyword Thesaurus:None

Theme Keyword:RF3 alpha Hydrography River Reach streams stream network rivers

hydrography ArcInfo navigation drainage

Place:

Place Keyword Thesaurus:Geographic Names Information System

Place Keyword:New York NY New York English-Salmon

Access Constraints:none

Use Constraints:none

Point of Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Contact Person:Dan Parker

Contact Address:

Address Type:mailing and physical address

Address:401 M Street SW (4503F)

City:Washington

State or Province:DC

Postal Code:20460

Country:United States

Contact Voice Telephone:1-800-424-9067

Data Set Credit:McKay, Lucinda; Sue Hanson; Robert Horn; Richard Dulaney; Alan Cahoon; Mark

Olsen; and Thomas Dewald, 1994. The U.S. EPA Reach File Version 3.0 Alpha Release (RF3-Alpha)

Technical Reference. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

Originator:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Water/OST Basins

Originator:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Water/OST Basins

Title:USEPA/OW River Reach File 3 (RF3) Alpha for CONUS, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Title:USEPA/OW River Reach File 3 (RF3) Alpha for CONUS, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Spatial Domain:

Bounding Coordinates:

West Bounding Coordinate:-74.739

East Bounding Coordinate:-73.652

Spatial Domain:

Bounding Coordinates:

West Bounding Coordinate:-74.739

East Bounding Coordinate:-73.652

Calendar Date:1994

Indirect Spatial Reference:English-Salmon - New York

Direct Spatial Reference Method:Vector

Description:

Abstract:The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Reach Files are a series of hydrographic databases of the surface waters of the continental United States …

Description:

Abstract:The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Reach Files are a series of hydrographic databases of the surface waters of the continental United States …

Planar Distance Units:meters

Geodetic Model:

Horizontal Datum Name:North American

Datum of 1927

Ellipsoid Name:Clarke 1866

Planar Distance Units:meters

Geodetic Model:

Horizontal Datum Name:North American

Datum of 1927

Ellipsoid Name:Clarke 1866

Metadata…

Info about the dataInfo about the data

What is Metadata? Here is the official answer…

More Questions…

What types of data do you think would be available through a spatial data clearinghouse?

•Digital elevation models•Digital Aerial Photos•Digital Topo Maps•Vector Data—•Streams, roads, boundaries•Tabular data such as Census data•Temporal data such as weather data•Others?

Who uses PASDA?

•Government Agencies•Emergency Response Teams•Non-profits and Conservancies•Consulting and Engineering Firms•Academic Institutions•Citizens•K-12 Schools

Some of our users and data partners…Some of our users and data partners…

PASDA Clearinghouse Applications and Utilities

•The PASDA Data Cart

•The PASDA Data Wizard

•Map Services

•Web GIS applications and viewers

ArcIMSMapServices

ArcIMSMapServices

NSDI – GOSHarvesting

NSDI – GOSHarvesting

GoogleEarth

GoogleEarth

Clip &Reproject

Clip &Reproject

WMSMapServices

WMSMapServices

WebGISApplications

WebGISApplicationsFTP

.ZIP FilesFTP

.ZIP Files

Current Architecture…

Central table drives the Website and integrates all services

Website

Central Table

xml

xml

xml

FTP.zip

SDE

WebGIS

MapServices

ArcIMS -- WMS --Google EarthNSDI -- Geospatial One-Stop

Metadata

DirectDownload

Clip, Reproject& Download

Data Access Tools & UtilitiesData Access Tools & Utilities

View & Interact with data on a mapClip, reproject & download

Census 2000

Imagery Viewer & Download Imagery Viewer & Download ToolTool

Zoom to a County, Place, Zoom to a County, Place, Address, or QuadAddress, or Quad

Real Time Weather Data from Real Time Weather Data from the National Weather Servicethe National Weather Service

Integrated with Google EarthIntegrated with Google Earth

Why is GIS Data Sharing Why is GIS Data Sharing Important…Important…

After KatrinaAfter Katrina

Why is GIS Data Sharing Why is GIS Data Sharing Important Continued….Important Continued….

What Can be done with GIS What Can be done with GIS Data?Data?

What else can GIS Data be What else can GIS Data be used for?used for?

Questions?Questions?