Data Standards
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is using data standards to increase the quality and compatibility of its data. This approach will increase opportunities to share data and reduce incidents of redundant data development. Standards are being developed, reviewed, and adopted according to a formal process. Please review the definitions of terms used in this process.
A helpful document exists detailing the process for establishing data standards.
The FWS Manual Chapter 274 FW2 - Establishing Service Data Standards
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses the following types of standards:
Classification Systems
Name of Standard | Phase (Phase Definitions) |
Data Steward Appointed |
---|---|---|
Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Vegetation Classification | Adopted | No |
Data Elements
Name of Standard | Phase (Phase Definitions) |
Data Steward Appointed |
---|---|---|
Calendar Year | Adopted | Yes |
Congressional District | Adopted | Yes |
County Name | Adopted | Yes |
County Numeric Code | Adopted | Yes |
Dun & Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number | Adopted | No |
Ecosystem Unit Name | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Ecosystem Unit Number | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Fire Unit Identifier | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Fiscal Year | Adopted | Yes |
Geographic Area Name | Retired | Yes |
Geopolitical Entity Name and Code | Adopted | Yes |
IFWS Number | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
International Telephone Number | Adopted | Yes |
Latitude and Longitude | Adopted | Yes |
Literal Code | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Mailing Address | Adopted | Yes |
Maintenance Code | Superseded by GSA Federal Real Property Council’s (FRPC) Guidance for Real Property Inventory Reporting | N/A |
Maintenance Type | Superseded by GSA Federal Real Property Council’s (FRPC) Guidance for Real Property Inventory Reporting | N/A |
Office Names and Acronyms | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Organization Code | FWS Created & Adopted | No |
Organization Name | FWS Created & Adopted | No |
Organization Name Abbreviation | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Organization Type | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Organization Type Acronym | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Personal Property Number | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Program Names and Acronyms | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Project Number | FWS Created & Adopted | No |
Real Property Number | FWS Created & Adopted | No |
Real Property Use Code (formerly General Services Administration (GSA) Usage Code for Real Property Use Code) | Superseded by GSA Federal Real Property Council’s (FRPC) Guidance for Real Property Inventory Reporting | N/A |
Region Number | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Report To Organization Code | FWS Created & Adopted | No |
State Name and Alpha Code | Adopted | Yes |
State Numeric Code | Adopted | Yes |
Sub-Project Number | FWS Created & Adopted | No |
Telephone Number | Adopted | Yes |
Wind Direction | Adopted | Yes |
Wind Speed | Adopted | Yes |
Data Layers
Name of Standard | Phase (Phase Definitions) |
Data Steward Appointed |
---|---|---|
Congressional District | Adopted | Yes |
Critical Habitat Spatial Data Specifications (Draft) | In Review | Yes |
Digital Orthophoto Quad | Adopted | Yes |
Digital Raster Graphic | Adopted | Yes |
Ecosystem Unit Boundaries | Adopted | Yes |
Hydrography (DLG) | Adopted | Yes |
Hydrologic Units | Adopted | Yes |
Hypsography (DLG) | Adopted | Yes |
Political Boundaries (DLG) | Adopted | Yes |
Public Land Survey System; PLSS (DLG) | Adopted | Yes |
Riparian Areas | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Soils | Adopted | Yes |
Transportation (DLG) | Adopted | Yes |
Wetlands | FWS Created & Adopted | Yes |
Procedures
Name of Standard | Phase (Phase Definitions) |
Data Steward Appointed |
---|---|---|
Biological Metadata Standard | Adopted | Yes |
Data Exchange Format for Calendar Date | Adopted | Yes |
Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, Version 1.1 | Adopted | Yes |
Geospatial Data Exchange Format | Adopted | Yes |
Geospatial Metadata Standard | Adopted | Yes |
Minimum Map Elements for Internet Map Server (IMS) Applications | Adopted | Yes |