About the GIS Inventory

Introduction

Welcome to version 4.0 of the GIS Inventory system. It is maintained by the National States' Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) as a tool for states and their partners. Its primary purpose is to track data availability and the status of geographic information system (GIS) implementation in state and local governments to aid the planning and building of Spatial Data Infrastructures. The Random access metadata for online nationwide assessment (Ramona) database is a critical component of the GIS Inventory.

Ramona forwards FGDC-compliant metadata on user data layers to a web folder that is harvested by the Geospatial One Stop Portal managed by the Federal government. This provides more opportunities for discovery of user information. In addition, the system uses a catalog services web (CSW) interface to provide data on orthoimagery and elevation products to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Mapping Information Platform (MIP) which provides access to the National Orthophoto Programs Committee (NDOP) and the National Digital Elevation Program Committee (NDEP). Access to the CSW interface will be expanded for more users in early 2011 and discussions are underway with several Federal agencies to provide greater access to the information contained in the GIS Inventory.

Development Stages

This website was originally created in 2006 by NSGIC under award NA04NOS4730011 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The Department of Homeland Security has been the principal funding source since 2008 and they continue to support the system through 2011 under Order Number HSHQDC-10-P-00233. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have provided additional resources to maintain and improve the GIS Inventory.

The GIS Inventory was expanded in October 2009 to include an all new system for the National Cadastral Inventory. The Cadastral Subcommittee of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) completed the first National Cadastral Inventory in 2002 that was followed by updates in 2005, 2007 and 2009. The purpose of these surveys is to track trends and progress toward the completion of the National Cadastral Spatial Data Infrastructure (NCSDI). The NCSDI is a set of standardized parcel data from county and other local government sources that is assembled and published through state data services for use in government to government (G2G) data sharing. The methodology, data structure and interface is used to support the wildland fire project and has been readily adaptable to other business operations such as hurricane response and support for state cadastral business programs. More information about the National Cadastral Spatial Data Infrastructure can be found at the FGDC Cadastral Subcommittee's Web Page.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided the funding in FY 2009 to complete the merger of these two systems that differ slightly in the way that the information is gathered and presented. The GIS Inventory is maintained by individual users that document their own organizational information and data holdings. The National Cadastral Inventory is maintained by key cadastral contacts in each state to support their unique business requirements. The long-term goal is to merge both systems to provide even better services and features for their users.

Credits

GIS Inventory application development by runskip.com

GIS Inventory site design by busickdesign.com

Project design, requirements assessment and management by BurGIS LLC, Saligoe-Simmel LLC, A.J. Wortley and Fairview Industries

Thanks to the Minnesota Department of Administration for their help with MapServer and PHPMapscript.

The statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations are those of NSGIC and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, Federal Emergency Management Agency, or Department of Homeland Security.