Purpose of the NSDI Geospatial Data Theme Principles

The purpose of this portion of the supplemental guidance is to create a method for identifying geospatial themes that fall under the purview of OMB Circular A–16. Appendix E of OMB Circular A–16 contains a list of nationally significant <Add link to lexicon,  NDT-1> themes.  This list, however, is not a complete list of all themes and datasets that could be considered nationally significant.  OMB Circular A–16, therefore, authorizes the FGDC to adjust the existing list of themes in appendix E after notifying OMB and receiving approval.  Accordingly, this supplemental guidance does the following:

• Describes the NSDI geospatial data theme principles, which are to be used collaboratively to identify how a specific topic <Add link to lexicon, A–16-2> aligns to OMB Circular A–16 themes of national significance;
• Defines the process for evaluating the topic against the guidelines; and 
• Provides a method for the FGDC to exercise its responsibility for adjusting appendix E of OMB Circular A–16.

For purposes of this guidance, “adjusting a theme” in appendix E of OMB Circular A–16 is interpreted to mean adding, deleting, or combining existing themes.

The principles outlined in the following subsections are intended for use by the FGDC to establish, modify, and maintain the list of spatial themes that make up the NSDI.  The principles articulate the priorities by which the FGDC shall continue to seek common solutions for geospatial information and services to implement the vision for the NSDI.  Thus, any theme and associated data added to OMB Circular A–16, appendix E, is also considered part of the NSDI.

Geospatial Data Theme Principles

This section contains a brief definition and explanation of each NSDI geospatial data theme principle.  To the extent possible, the definition of each principle is consistent with or contains language from official Federal Government documents.  These documents include Architecture Principles for the U.S. Government (2007), OMB Circular A–16, OMB Circular A–130, and Geospatial Line of Business (LoB) documents.

Principle 1

Themes are national capital assets that serve the needs of citizens, and they should be readily discoverable and accessible to anyone.

• Themes ensure that the needs of citizens are served through the effective and efficient development, provision, and interoperability of geospatail data and services.
• Themes support the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), facilitate the efficient collection, sharing, and dissemination of spatial data with public and private sectors, and help address issues that affect the Nation's physical, economic, and social well-being.

Principle 1 correlates directly with principle 1 of the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA),  <check this link> the vision of the Geospatial LoB, and the vision of the NSDI.  Under this principle, A–16 datasets associated with each theme enable Governments to serve the needs of citizens.  This is achieved through theme management that promotes the effective and efficient collection, sharing, and disseminations of spatial data.  Coordinated collection and use of geospatial data and services allow decision-makers to meet the diverse needs of the Nation.

Principle 2

Themes are national in scope and are created and managed in response to well-defined spatial data requirements that are common across multiple Federal agencies and other organizations.

• Themes are derived from specified or implied requirements for spatial data and services, as articulated in the agencies' federal enterprise architecture (FEA) reference models, data reference models, and related products.
• Themes are mission driven; spatail data are national capitol assets.
• Datasets associated with themes are managed as close to the source as practical.

Principle 2 correlates with principle 2 of the FEA, which states that the “Federal architecture is mission-driven.”  The FEA supports program mission needs and enables technology.  When choosing process and technology solutions, agencies seek to optimize business processes, integrate technologies, and then use performance standards to define automation requirements.  The business reference models,  which are products of the FEA, categorize the functions of the Federal Government.  Thus, Federal agencies, which create and maintain geospatial data, must align their investments with those broad functional categories.

Principle 3

Themes reflect legislated mandates; clearly defined directives, such as Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7); or core spatial reference datasets.

• Efficient and effective development, provision, and interoperability of geospatail data and services enable the core missions of Federal agencies and their partners.
• Themes reflect foundational, program specific, and homeland security needs that are consistent with the business reference model as well as cross-agency line of business initiatives, E-government initiatives, and other initiatives that span multiple government agencies.

The main purpose of principle 3 is to weigh the need for spatially referenced datasets described under the NSDI, as well as the need for cross-functional spatial data and services.  The Federal Government creates vast amounts of geospatial data.  Some data form the foundation for georeferencing other data, while other data are common to any cartographic, navigational, or analytic project, are critical to national defense or law enforcement, or are useful for the proper administration of public policy.  This principle conveys that datasets may have overarching national significance because they are legislatively required, are essential to homeland security, or are necessary for georeferencing business data.  These priorities must be consistent with the business reference models and the other NSDI geospatial data theme principles.

Principle 4

A-16 Themes should promote cohesice and collaborative development, maintenance, and evolution of multiple datasets across Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments and the private and nonprofit sectors.

• National spatial data themes collectively enable services that are reliable, effective, and efficient.
• Portfolio management of geospatial resources is essential to help eliminate duplication, avoid redundant expenditures, reduce resources spent on unfunded mandates, accelerate the development of E-goverment to meet the needs and the expectations of citizens and agency programmatic mandates, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public management.

Principle 4 correlates with stages of the geospatial data lifecycle  as well as FEA principles 4 and 5 <check this link>.  A–16 themes should promote cohesive and collaborative development, maintenance, and evolution of multiple datasets across Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and the private sector.  Geospatial themes and associated datasets are key for a single integrated enterprise, which improves the implementation of Government-wide strategies and the coordination of the services to citizens.

Principle 5

Themes focus on the spatial representation of physical assets that are important to the Nation, including boundaries (jurisdictional, legal, and analytical).

• Natural and manmade assets are inherently spatial phenomena.
• Geospatial data are a means to describe the physical location, attributes, and relationships of these phenomena to other business or statistical data and to each other.

Principle 5 loosely correlates with principle 7 of the FEA <check this link> and, more importantly, it is fundamental to ensuring the integrity of geospatial data and services, given their unique structure.  Geospatial data are distinctly different from non-geospatial data.  Processes and systems used for geospatial data must be correctly integrated with business data and systems to effectively and accurately leverage the additional levels of business intelligence gained by adding the ability to influence decisions through the examination, analysis, and context of spatial characteristics.  Themes and associated datasets are integral parts of unified common operating database (COD), (an interoperable national view and background).  Under this COD, the physical, natural, and manmade geographic features, as well as administrative boundaries (which provide a statistical reference) are digitally referenced to each other and to the Earth’s surface (that is, they share the same horizontal and vertical coordinate reference systems).  Thus, datasets under each theme provide positional control and referential context, which users can attach to or use to produce their own spatial datasets for a specific subject of interest.

Application of the NSDI Geospatial Data Theme Principle

In developing the NSDI geospatial data theme principles, the Geospatial LoB Lifecycle Management Work Group explored several processes to adjust themes found in OMB Circular A–16.  This assessment included evaluating quantitative and qualitative criteria for modifying A–16 themes and the appropriate communication channels to validate recommendations.  The following is a summary of the method agreed upon by the work group:

• Any stakeholder (Federal or non-Federal) requesting to adjust an existing theme or to add a new theme shall inform the chair of the FGDC of said request in writing.
• Requests to adjust an existing theme shall originate from that theme’s current lead agency and be presented in writing to the chair of the FGDC.
• The chair of the FGDC shall forward this request to the FGDC Secretariat, whose executive director shall invite the lead agency for the theme to prepare a formal proposal for consideration by the FGDC Coordination Group.  The FGDC Secretariat may provide the requesting agency with guidance in the development of the proposal.
• The requesting agency’s FGDC Coordination Group member shall present the proposal to the FGDC Coordination Group for consideration.
• The FGDC Coordination Group shall apply the NSDI geospatial data theme principles to the topic(s) presented by the requestor agency.
• Each FGDC Coordination Group member agency may cast one vote on the outcome of the proposal.
• The FGDC Coordination group makes recommendations to the Steering Committee on requests to add, delete, or modify a theme.
• The FGDC Steering Committee votes (in accordance with voting processes outlined in the Coordination Group charter) to approve or disapprove the recommendations of the FGDC Coordination Group.     
• Annually, the FGDC Steering Committee shall submit recommended changes to Circular A-16 appendix E to OMB  for concurrence.