FGDC Subcommittee on
Cultural and Demographic Data (SCDD)

Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the February 23, 1999 Meeting

Representatives in Attendance

 
Leslie Godwin, SCDD Vice Chairperson, opened the meeting. After introductions, the following topics were reported on:

• Ms. Godwin announced that Fred Broome (Chair) would not be attending the meeting today.  Mr. Broome is out of town on business.

• Ms. Godwin reported that she and Mr. Broome attended the FGDC Coordination Group retreat on January 19 to 20.  The purpose of this year's retreat was to discuss the Coordination Group's direction for 1999.  Participants included FGDC Subcommittee and Working Group Chairs, representatives from each federal agency and representatives from stakeholder groups.  Click here for minutes from the February 1999 Coordination Group meeting that provide a follow-up discussion from this retreat.

• Ms. Godwin reported that the  Standards Working Group is holding a meeting concurrently (Tuesday, Feb. 23, 9:00am) and minutes of this meeting will be available from  http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/meetings/minutes/1999/minutes_1999.html when they are completed.  The FGDC Steering Committee is holding a meeting this week on Wednesday, February 24.  Minutes from this meeting will be available from  http://www.fgdc.gov/fgdc/fgdc_org.html when they are completed.

• Several SCDD members expressed interest in the 1999 National GeoData Forum.  This Forum will be held June 7-9, 1999.  Click here for more information about the Forum including potential topics and its location.

• Valerie Hartung reported on the Metadata Profile for Geospatially Referenced Cultural and Demographic Data.  Ms. Hartung has assumed responsibility of editing and managing this profile since Daniel Karlson stepped down from his position on the SCDD.  Ms. Hartung announced that Fred Broome (Chair of SCDD) has withdrawn the SCDD's proposed Profile.  Several issues need to be resolved concerning this Profile and as a result, the Profile has been on hold for several months.  These issues are technical in nature and include  1) the creation and implementation of new "rules" for hierarchical nesting of metadata elements and  2) geographic bounding boxes.  Several attempts have been unsuccessfully made to schedule a meeting with the FGDC Secretariat's standards and clearinghouse expert.  Mr. Painter (FGDC Secretariat) said he would report the status of this profile and concerns to the FGDC.

• Ms. Godwin led the discussion on the FGDC Secretatiat Representative / Adopt a committee.  At the 1999 FGDC Coordination Group retreat it was proposed that each FGDC Subcommittee should have representation from the FGDC Secretariat Staff as an approach to resolve any lack of communication.  David Painter has been selected to represent the FGDC Secretariat at upcoming SCDD meetings.  He will serve as liaison between the SCDD and FGDC Secretariat.  Mr. Painter can be reached by telephone at (703) 648-5513 and by E-mail at dpainter@usgs.gov.

• John Knoerl (National Park Service) reported on the Cultural Resources Work Group's (CRWG)January 7, 1999 meeting.  There were 45 people in attendance, and 17 of those being on travel scholarship.  After introductions, the meeting started with an overview of the FGDC, SCDD and the FGDC standards process, provided by Fred Broome.  Issues raised while discussing the Charter and Workplan were the work group name, charter statement, membership and funding.  A Membership Rights and Responsibilities Statement was distributed to each of the members and it was decided that membership will be open to those that are interested.   Mr. Knoerl also reported on funding issues with CRWG.  Seventeen members at the meeting were allowed a certain amount of per diem, however, only a fraction of them were provided with the cost of airfare from BLM.  It was determined that approximately $11,000 dollars would be needed per year to fund travel expenses.  Mr. Painter (FGDC)offered to look into the status of funding opportunities available from the FGDC.  Minutes from the CRWG January 7, 1999 meeting can be obtained from Katie Ryan (202) 243-9550  katie_ryan@nps.gov.

• Mr. Painter (FGDC) explained that the Framework Introduction and Guide is a good source of information for those getting started with the NSDI as well as describing "best GIS practices" to share common data.

• Ms. Godwin gave a powerpoint demonstration summarizing the the background, objectives, scope and components of the Governmental Unit Boundary Data Content Standard.  Ms. Godwin also distributed copies of the Working Draft - Governmental Unit Boundary Data Content Standard.  Brian Ristola (Census Bureau) will be the new technical expert and mentor of this standard.  For further information, please contact Mr. Ristola at (301) 457-1056  bristola@geo.census.gov.

ACTION:   Review the Working Draft - Governmental Unit Boundary Data Content Standard and identify what your agency recognizes as governmental units and determine whether this standard would work within your agency.

• Amy Bishton (Census Bureau) gave an hour presentation of the American FactFinder (AFF).  The AFF is the newest feature of the Census Bureau's website and will be available to the public on March 15, 1999.   The AFF will allow you to access data from the 1990 and 2000 Decennial Censuses of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and the 1997 Economic Census.  Ms. Bishton concentrated the presentation on the data access and map based components of this system.  Ms. Bishton also distributed a brochure explaining the AFF.  For a copy of this brochure, contact Kristen O'Grady (301) 457-1056 kogrady@geo.census.gov.

The next meeting will occur during the month of April, 1999 although an exact date has not been determined.  A meeting location and time will be announced at a later date.  Check back soon!
 

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Last revised: Friday, 08-Dec-2000 11:35:58 EST