FGDC Subcommittee on
Cultural and Demographic Data (SCDD)

Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the October 14, 1998 Meeting

Representatives in Attendance

 
• Mr. Broome summarized agenda items from the September 1, 1998 FGDC Coordination Group meeting and the September 10, 1998 FGDC Steering Committee meeting:

FGDC Coordination Group
• Mr. Palmerlee (UCGIS) reported that there is a growing interest in the multitude of education and training issues that cut across stakeholder groups within the geographic information science community which include the appropriate curriculum content for different constituencies, accreditation and certification methods of delivering GIS education, and the roles of the universities and the private sector in GIS training, educational partnerships, and distance learning in GIS.  The USGIS will be holding an Educational Summit at the upcoming GIS/LIS Conference to communicate issues and concerns among members of different organizations.
• Mr. Palmerlee also asked that organizations and agencies consider their current interest and educational requirements for geospatial data activities.  Millington Lockwood (FGDC Bathymetric Subcommittee) volunteered to collect input and consolidate information from Federal agencies.
• For further information on agenda items from this meeting, please contact Fred Broome (301) 457-1056, fbroome@geo.census.gov or visit the FGDC website at http://www.fgdc.gov.
 
 
FGDC Steering Committee
• Secretary Babbit (FGDC Chair) acknowledged that FGDC efforts have been recently referred to in a speech by the Vice President in which he adopted and announced the FGDC Community/Federal Information Partnership (CFIP).  Dr. Schaefer (Department of Interior) gave an update on the status of CFIP and stated that even with the visibility and suport of CFIP by the Vice President's speech, agencies must ensure they have a coherent set of budget submissions in order to convince the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and The Hill to act favorably on their requests.
• Keith Laughlin (Council on Environmental Quality) reported that an interagency working group on sustainable communities has put together a report to the Vice President on what the Federal government can do to support local smart growth efforts and to encourage collaborative regional discussions.  Mr. Reisner (OMB) stated that the Administration supports this initiative and it is important that each of the agencies make that commitment known in their request to the OMB.
• During the Demonstration Projects Update, Mr. Moeller (FGDC Secretariat Staff) stated that last spring the idea was raised that we should build on some of the things that were going on through the FGDC and have comprehensive demonstrations.  The idea was to focus on those demonstrations and areas that were of general interest to communities.  Four topic areas were selected: suburban/urban growth, criminal justice, disaster preparedness and recovery, and water quality and quanitity.
• For further information on agenda items from this meeting, please contact Fred Broome (301) 457-1056, fbroome@geo.census.gov or visit the FGDC website at http://www.fgdc.gov.
 

• Fred Broome announced that an upcoming lecture entitled, "Emerging the New Uses of GIS in Criminal Justice Research and Practice," by Nancy LaVigne, will be held October 21, 2:00 - 3:15 PM, at the NCHS Auditorium.  This presentation provides an overview of current and likely future applications of GIS in the field of criminal justice.

• Fred Broome reported on the status of the Governmental Unit Boundary Data Content Standard.  Work on the standard slowed this summer and currently there is no completion date set.  The standard will be briefed in detail by the next SCDD meeting.

• John Knoerl (NPS) reported on the Cultural Resources Working Group (CRWG).  CRWG's first meeting will be held on November 23, 1998.  At this meeting, they will be electing a chair for the upcoming year, developing a work plan, and discussing the scope of the CRWG and its charter.  CRWG has applied for grant and scholarship money and asked Mr. Karlson for a funding update concerning travel expenses.

• Brian Ristola reported on the Y2K compliance of proposed SCDD standards.  The SCDD has three draft standards in development.  At the request of the Standards Working Group, the SCDD has reviewed all three standards and ensured that they are Y2K compliant.  For a copy of this memorandum contact Kristen O'Grady (301) 457-1056, kogrady@geo.census.gov.

• Daniel Karlson reported and gave a presentation on the Metadata Profile for Geospatially Referenced Cultural and Demographic Data.  Mr. Karlson first stated that this metadata profile supplements and expands on the principles, rules and compound and data elements within the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM), to account for the geospatially referenced cultural and demographic data.  Mr. Karlson identified areas in which this profile relates to and differs from CSDGM.  Section 1 of the profile requires the completion of the mandatory elements of the CSDGM.  Section 2 includes the modifications made to some of the conditions and domains of the data elements of the CSDGM which are considered essential for describing the cultural and demographic content of datasets.  Section 3 is essential for describing the cultural and demographic content of datasets defined by sources other than CSDGM.  Finally, the profile includes short names not only for mandatory and modified elements, but unique short names created for the user-defined metadata elements of Section 3.  ACTION: Please participate and provide comments.  Copies of the profile are available through Mr. Karlson (301) 457-1056, dkarlson@geo.census.gov.

• Valerie Hartung reported and gave a presentation on the Address Data Content Standard.  Ms. Hartung distributed three handouts containing an address model and definitions that are referenced in the address model.  Ms. Hartung welcomes any comments and suggestions to the approach she is taking in writing and editing this standard.  Ms. Hartung can be reached at (301) 457-1056, vhartung@geo.census.gov.

• Daniel Karlson reported on the new FGDC website design.  The SCDD homepage is in the process of adopting this new design.  The new design is not mandatory but encouraged by the FGDC.  The structure of the SCDD homepage will he the same, but the format will be different.

• Kristen O'Grady led the discussion on the effectiveness of the SCDD in 1998.  Several issues were addressed concerning representation and participation needs, suggestions for improvement, suggestions on future topics and agenda items at the Coordination Group meetings, and the SCDD's involvement with other agencies to coordinate program activities.  For a copy of the questions and handout please contact Kristen O'Grady.  ACTION: Please comment and send suggestions to Kristen O'Grady (301) 457-1056, kogrady@geo.census.gov.

• Kristen O'Grady distributed a copy of the SCDD 1998 Accomplishments (Draft).  ACTION:  Please comment and send suggestions to Kristen O'Grady (301) 457-1056, kogrady@geo.census.gov.

• Ted Hull (NARA) announced the upcoming 23rd Annual Conference of the Association of Public Data Users that will be held from October 25 to 28, 1998, in Alexandria, VA.  For a copy of the schedule, contact Kristen O'Grady (301) 457-1056, kogrady@geo.census.gov.

• Mike Kaczor let the SCDD members on a tour of the Natural Resources Conservation Service GIS Headquarters Lab.  A demonstration was given on the State of the Land project and website.  Further information on the project is available at http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/land/home.html.

The next meeting will occur on Wednesday, December 2  from 9:00 a.m. - Noon.   The meeting will be located at the Postal Square Building, OEUS conference rooms 3 & 4  on the fourth floor.
 

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