Minnesota Geospatial Commons Being Planned
[This article is in the Spring 2010 issue of the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium newsletter.]
A joint MetroGIS and MnGeo advisory workgroup is moving forward at full steam
to define and facilitate a test-bed implementation of what they are tentatively
calling the “Minnesota Geospatial Commons”.
What is the Commons?
The Commons is envisioned to be a next-generation data discovery site, and much, much more. The organizations that brought you the Data Deli, MN Geographic Data Clearinghouse and MetroGIS DataFinder, along with others from state, regional, county and city government, are working together on a coordinated, next-generation site that is planned to allow users to:
- Search for, view and download data
- Find, acquire and use applications
- Find and use web services
The planned site would include the following functions:
- Web service ratings and monitoring
- Back-end broker that connects applications to web services
- User reviews of data, web services and applications
- Geospatial community news and discussion
- Shared development space for application developers
- State standards and user-provided tips and how-to documents
A list of the preliminary proposed functions and priority level can be found
here. Additionally, a survey will be used to
collect more information about the needs of potential users of the Geospatial
Commons (see below).
Test Version
The workgroup is planning to implement a test version of the high priority functions using the ESRI Geoportal Extension. MnGeo has agreed to host the test implementation. The multi-agency implementation group includes MnGeo, the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. They will be directed by the full Geospatial Commons Workgroup which will also be involved with testing.
The group hopes to have something tangible to test and report at the 2010 MN GIS/LIS Conference in October.
It is too early to know if the MN Geospatial Commons will replace the
existing major MN geospatial data discovery sites, or work with them to better
coordinate the effort, but the intention is to make one main location where
people can find and share geospatial resources in Minnesota.
More Information
For more information, visit the Geospatial Commons
Workgroup site or contact Mark Kotz at
mark.kotz@metc.state.mn.us or
651-602-1644.
Survey of User Needs!
Please help to design the MN Geospatial Commons by completing this survey which will be open until June 30, 2010.
Return to Geospatial Commons Workgroup