Attendees
 

Standards Promotion

Barnes reported that he had sent eighty questionnaires to potential reviewers of the list of defacto standards in the "Starting Points" report (Handout: sample letter and mailing list of reviewers). He has already received ten responses, all with positive comments about the report. He will compile more detailed results for a future meeting. Cialek added that the MetroGIS project is attempting to develop a list of priority data needs by May. A geospatial information needs survey will be conducted in early February with over 125 Metro area subject matter experts. Cialek described MetroGIS’s two basic purposes related to standards: 1) to identify common data needs and thus serve as a catalyst for collaboration; and 2) to identify data that will be collected separately but that could benefit by using standard methods. Wencl noted that MetroGIS can only recommend standards, not mandate them.

Cialek distributed a revised draft of the FIPS County Code Standard that follows the IPO format Bentley presented at the 10/15 meeting (Handout: Numeric Codes for the Identification of Counties in Minnesota, Draft, 11/25/96). Three changes were suggested: Maki will rewrite the compliance section in order to make compliance expectations more explicit; Casey suggested that the heading "Who cares about this standard" be changed to "Who is affected by this standard," and Maki will evaluate the implications of specifying that the codes be character type versus allowing them to be integer type. The Committee voted to approve the standard format subject to these changes. Cialek confirmed that it will be possible to revise the standard format at any time and that a different format will be needed for a "guideline" rather than a "standard." Cialek proposed that the Committee present an update to the Information Policy Council on Standards Committee activities after the retreat.

Committee Chair Election Procedure

Cialek raised the issue of Committee Chair selection for the upcoming year. Cialek was re-elected with no further discussion.

Strategic Plan Retreat

Muessig reported on progress in planning the Committee Retreat at the Minnesota History Center. It will be held on Tuesday, February 25th, probably from 9:00 - 3:00 or 4:00 (exact times will be announced once a facilitator is selected and an agenda finalized). Cialek distributed copies of the original Committee Project Plan for attendees to review before the Retreat (Handout: Project Plan: GIS Standards, 4/20/93). The Committee discussed possible agenda topics, concluding that improved communication underlay most concerns. Kotz suggested that benchmarks or timelines be set for goals; Vaaler and La Mott noted that their customers in non-metro areas are generally are not very aware of Governor’s Council activities and do not realize that Committee meetings are open to the public; Piegat felt that many users question what either the Committee or standards in general has done to help them and that the Committee should explain benefits of standards more explicitly.

Federal Activities

Wencl updated the Committee on Federal Standards Working Group activities, noting that two standards, cadastral and wetlands, are through the review process (Handout: Standards Working Group web pages: Homepage, List/Status of FGDC Standards page; Subcommittee on Base Cartographic Data page). Another handout detailed the standards review process (Handout: FGDC Standards Working Group: Reference Model) and a third one summarized the process (Handout: FGDC Standards Development Process). A final document (Handout: Draft Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards, 1/6/97) details the system that will replace the current National Map Accuracy Standards. This standard is out for review by any interested parties. Cialek said the degree of Committee involvement in the review process could be a topic for the retreat. Vaaler described how information on federal activities can be directed to "point people" at various organizations who will then inform others. West noted that point people are often administrators who do not communicate enough to hands-on users.

Wencl announced that an SDTS Implementation Workshop will be held March 1997 at the University of Missouri in Rolla.

Metadata

Cialek distributed a revised summary of the DataLogr negotiations (Handout: Proposed Licensing Agreement for Distribution of DataLogr Version 2.0: Requested Changes in Terms, 12/31/96). He also said that LMIC is starting to test metadata’s use in a pilot clearinghouse. He referred the committee to a diagram of a clearinghouse structure taken from the FGDC’s web site (Handout: How to Implement a Geospatial Data Clearinghouse Node).

The next meeting of the GIS Standards Committee is the all-day Retreat on Tuesday, February 25th, 1997 (exact time to be announced), Irvine Room, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul. Attendance is limited to 25. Please contact Laura Muessig at
651-296-1208 or gc@mnplan.state.mn.us if you would like to participate.