Representation to Federal Programs

Staff at CBI provide Biological Resources Division and USGS representation to federal programs and activities that support biological and geospatial technology activities. This role ensures that USGS and BRD appropriately coordinate with other federal activities in these arenas.

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)

The FGDC was established through Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-16 and was charged to coordinate the surveying, mapping, and spatial data activities of federal agencies to meet the needs of the nation. Major objectives of Circular A-16 are to avoid duplication and minimize costs in mapping and spatial data activities, which involves establishing standards and providing wider access to geospatial data. The FGDC also has been charged with coordinating geospatial data-related activities with other levels of government and with the public, private, and academic sectors.

The FGDC is chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, with representatives from 17 participating departments or agencies. It is presently composed of 12 subcommittees, six working groups, and a coordination group (made up of the chairs of the various thematic subcommittees and working groups and other federal agency representatives).

Interior Geographic Data Committee (IGDC) Remote Sensing Working Group

CBI staff provide BRD representation for the IGDC Remote Sensing Working Group. Department-wide issues include Department of the Interior (DOI) input for NASA space programs (Landsat, Mission to Planet Earth, and others); DOI activities, procedures, and policies related to remotely sensed data and Global Positioning Systems technology; and DOI policies and procedures for acquiring, sharing, and archiving space-based data.

Cartographic Data Needs: USGS A-16 Program

Circular A-16, which directed the creation of the FGDC and other National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)-related activities, directs the USGS to gather high-priority base cartographic data requirements from federal and state agencies. Each year, the USGS coordinates information about these data requirements submitted by agencies; the IGDC Base Mapping Working Group then adjudicates the selection process. This selection process takes into account the amount of money (usually several million dollars) OMB has allocated to USGS that year for A-16 data production, any agency-matching or cost-sharing funds, multiple agency requests for the same data, and Interior or Presidential initiatives. BRD has been very successful in obtaining data through this process.

Last Updated: Wednesday, 02-Jan-2008 15:38:46 MST