The Open Data Consortium project was initiated and organized by GIS Consultant Bruce Joffe. The purpose of the ODC project was to derive and promote a model policy for distributing governmental geospatial data, that can serve as a de-facto example to guide public agencies. The model policy was developed in a series of interactive workshops and teleconferences with people from local government, private companies, Federal and state agencies who are willing to pursue a broad consensus of agreement. This initial phase was funded by a USGS contract with the GeoData Alliance (www.geoall.net) and the generous support of our sponsors. Phase 1 has been completed. View the Phase 1 scope of work. View the Model Data Distribution Policy. (450 kb)
During the course of the project, participants shared their success stories for raising money, and saving taxpayer dollars through the use (not the sale) of their digital geodata. These insights were compiled into an article entitled, "10 Ways to Support GIS without selling data" and a PowerPoint presentation (1.2 mb). The key to making this happen is to allocate some of the captured revenue and savings back to the GIS department. Phase 2 of the project was thereby proposed to develop recommendations for modifying current accounting practices in local government. View the Phase 2 scope of work. Regrettably, this proposal has not yet been funded.
Concurrently, the USGS-FGDC awarded a small grant to the GeoData Alliance to formulate the performance requirements for distributing public geodata through web-based portals like Geospatial One Stop (www.geodata.gov). The Open Geospatial Consortium (www.opengeospatial.org) was subcontracted to formulate the technical specifications, and the Open Data Consortium was subcontracted to formulate the policy requirements. This phase has been completed. View the Phase 3 scope of work. View the Geodata Transaction Requirements report (450 kb).
Currently, we are conducting a small project to promote greater understanding and acceptance of the Model Data Distribution Policy. This effort is funded by a USGS-FGDC Category 3 CCAP grant, administered by the California Geographic Information Association (www.cgia.org). View the Phase 4 scope of work.
Ongoing participation, assistance, and support is needed to continue. Please let us know if you are able to help.
How the ODC Project Can Help You
When you begin a project that includes analysis of geographic information, what are your initial concerns?
- Where can I get the data I need?
- Is data quality adequate for my purposes?
- Who do I contact to get the data?
- How much will it cost?
- How soon can I get it?
An increasing number of private enterprises are expending resources to develop
information portals that provide ever more complete datasets and geospatial services
covering ever more locations. There concerns are similar to yours, plus:
- They need an efficient way to contact the hundreds of counties and thousands of cities that create and maintain digital geographic data, and
- They need a standard for data costs and acquisition terms rather than trying to negotiate with each source agency separately.
Meanwhile, more and more government agencies are completing their digital geographic databases and are concerned that their data be distributed and used as widely as possible. Most can not afford to market, advertise, or sell their data effectively, yet many expect (and hope) to distribute their data to their citizens or customers. In addition, the Federal government needs to build nationwide geographic data coverages through the use of the most accurate and current data sources – local cities and counties.
Clearly, this situation is ripe for collaboration and cooperation. There are data needs to be filled and government agency sources that want to fill them. An organization is forming to facilitate the connection ... and your participation is invited! The GEODATA ALLIANCE (www.geoall.net), a non-profit, membership organization with a national scope of concern for geographic information issues, adopted the OPEN DATA CONSORTIUM project as an "emergent initiative" with the following objective:
"Formulate a model data distribution policy to be used to guide local governments that make digital geographic information available to the public."
A consistent and standardized data distribution policy, adhered to by most public data producers, benefits the geographic information community (data producers, distributors and users) for these reasons:
• Users of local government geographic information will gain better access to needed data.
• Local governments will find more, and diversified, users for their data.
• State and National agencies engaged with Homeland Security and Emergency Response will be able to compile accurate, up-to-date geographic data before a disaster happens.
• The USGS "National Map" and the NIMA "133 Cities" projects will be able to acquire the accurate, locally-produced geospatial data they need to build a nationwide geospatial databank, and to maintain it in a timely manner.
• Data distributors and value-added resellers will have easier, more efficient access to the data that is the "raw material" of their geospatial services to the public.
• NSDI metadata catalogs will be more thoroughly and regularly populated with locally-based information.
• Data maintenance, update, and metadata documentation will become accepted as part of the normal data distribution business process.
The ODC project's current support structure includes:
• Project initiation and management by the GeoData Alliance, a non-profit, membership organization of geospatial professionals concerned with national-scope issues.
• Initial support is being provided under contract with the USGS.
• Ongoing support is being provided by public and private sector sponsoring agencies who understand that a consistent, consensus-based data distribution policy will help their operations.
• Current work is funded through a small FGDC CCAP grant, administered through the California Geographic Information Association (www.cgia.org) .
Phase 1 scope of work: Develop a Model Policy.
Phase 2 scope of work: Develop Recommendations to Modify Local Government Accounting Procedures to capture the benefits from use of public geodata.
Phase 3 scope of work: Develop Geodata Transaction Requirements for accessing data on-line while protecting the owner's rights.
Phase 4 scope of work: Promote the Model Data Policy.
How the ODC Project Can Help You
A
standardized data distribution agreement among public data providers and
private sector data distributors could improve the market mechanism
for digital geographic information (dGI). Such a mechanism would better utilize
private sector enterprise to distribute public sector data.
√ Local governments
would benefit from a wider distribution and easier availability of
their data. They could also experience greater data sales revenue (if they
choose to sell their data) through the wider marketing and sales reach of
private distributors.
√ Private data
distributors and value-added service providers would experience lower
costs for the "raw material" (e.g., government dGI), more efficient
accumulation and update maintenance of the data. These factors would
translate into lower prices for their services, along with greater volume and
higher profits.
√ Advocates for greater
accessibility of government data to the public would observe more providers
of government dGI, offering greater fulfillment of special-request
services at competitive costs.
For example, resellers and
repackagers of USGS maps, and U.S. Census Bureau data, supplement the
distribution channels of government data providers. They provide convenience
and service to users of public data who would not be fulfilled if only
government distribution channels existed. Private resellers make money
distributing government data, yet, the added cost does not inhibit user access –
it actually increases data availability!
As participating local governments collectively agree to adopt a standardized set of terms and conditions for data distribution, the environment (i.e., the "market") for dGI could become more integrated and fluid.
A standardized data
distribution policy, coupled with an up-to-date catalog (roster) of local
government dGI providers (contact personnel) would enable data users (including
resellers and service providers) to gain access to dGI more efficiently and more
inexpensively.
The result of the ODC program will be a Model Agreement to guide public agency data distribution policy, focusing on the terms and conditions for distribution or sales through third-party private sector enterprises.
√ Local governments will benefit from a Model Agreement by having a standard that has been developed and accepted by representative peers, upon which to base their own public policy.
√ Private sector data distributors will benefit from a Model Agreement that creates a regularized market environment from which to acquire dGI at its sources. Predictable costs and guaranteed data update cycles will enable businesses to invest in and execute long-term distribution plans.
√ Data users (consumers) will benefit from an active data market that encourages a greater number of data resellers to repackage government data with value-added services. Consumers would find more channels of data and services available to meet their needs. A competitive environment would keep the cost low and service potential high.