Information Resources and Technology Management


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Maintenance Code Superseded by GSA Federal Real Property Council’s (FRPC) Guidance for Real Property Inventory Reporting N/A
Maintenance Type Superseded by GSA Federal Real Property Council’s (FRPC) Guidance for Real Property Inventory Reporting N/A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
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Real Property Use Code (formerly General Services Administration (GSA) Usage Code for Real Property Use Code) Superseded by GSA Federal Real Property Council’s (FRPC) Guidance for Real Property Inventory Reporting N/A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
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 Adopted Yes
Digital Orthophoto Quad Adopted Yes
Digital Raster Graphic Adopted Yes
Ecosystem Unit Boundaries Adopted Yes
Habitat Conservation Plan Spatial Data Specifications 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 Web Map Standards for Internet Map Servers (IMS) Applications Adopted Yes

 


Last updated: December 8, 2016