Putting Time in Its Place Putting Place in

Putting Time in Its Place … Putting Place in Its Time: Collaborating on Best Strategies to Preserve Geospatial Content Why Archiving and Preserving GIS Data Is Important Maps tell a compelling story of change over time. They document movement, progress, and change to the landscape. GIS is used as an analytical tool to model climate change, study demographic trends, track changes in land use and are also used to create thematic maps that paint the picture about “place. ” Geospatial data are public records and certain data need to be preserved for their legal, fiscal, analytical, and historic value. These data are “at-risk” of being overwritten when updates or changes are made and the superseded snapshots are then lost for future use and analysis. NC Geospatial Data Archiving Project (NCGDAP) http: //www. lib. ncsu. edu/ncgdap The NC Geospatial Data Archiving Project is a joint project of the NC State University Libraries and the NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis focusing on collection and preservation of digital geospatial data resources from state and local government agencies. Key outcomes: • Acquisition and archiving of key state and local agency geospatial data resources • Application of emerging digital repository technologies to preservation of geospatial data • Initiation of discussions within the state's data producer community about data archiving practices • Completion of surveys of current archiving practice in state and local agencies in NC • Outreach and engagement to the commercial software and service provider community on the topic of data preservation • In collaboration with national partners, formation of a Data Preservation Working Group within the Open Geospatial Consortium international standards organization Poster Contributors NCSU: Jeff Essic, Steve Morris, Matt Sumner CGIA: Alec Bethune, Zsolt Nagy Wake Co: Anne Payne State Archives: Kelly Eubank • Contribution to Library of Congress efforts to cultivate a national digital preservation infrastructure Geo. MAPP http: //www. geomapp. net/ GICC Archival and Long-Term Access Committee The Archival and Long Term Access ad hoc Committee was established by the NC GICC in November 2007, and their final report was approved at the GICC meeting on November 19, 2008. The full report is available for download from http: //www. ncgicc. org. The committee was composed of county, municipal, state, federal, regional, and academic representatives. Both GIS professionals and archivists were included. Listed here are 8 General Best Practices for Geospatial Data Preservation recommended by the Committee. 1. Annually review policies and data integrity. 2. Develop and maintain fully compliant FGDC metadata. 3. On-line network storage of archival data 4. Make archived data readily available to other agencies 5. and the public. 6. 5. Frequency of Capture: 6. The data storage format should be: • publicly documented • non-proprietary • supported by readily accessible software Recommended: • Vector data: non-compressed shapefiles • Raster data: Geo. TIFF or TIFF with world files • Naming: Consistent scheme, using jurisdiction & theme keywords, and date. Example: WAKE_PARCELS_2008_01 7. Participate in NC One. Map GIS Inventory 8. Publicize Agency Retention and archival schedules/practices Geo. MAPP pairs state government archives and geospatial experts on the preservation of geospatial content. Challenges faced by the partners revolve around policies, process, inventory, appraisal, technical infrastructure, storage capacity, funding, and ensuring long term access. Project Objectives Geo. MAPP partners aim to demonstrate, learn, and report on project activities to meet the following objectives: • Identify and inventory “at risk” or temporally significant geospatial data Current Activities • Developing a common inventory tool to track, organize and compare data between states • Identifying and appraising datasets to potentially be transferred to State Archives and between project partners • Documenting data transfer and ingest processes • Creating a general business plan to detail the benefits of archiving geospatial content • Publishing a project pamphlet • Determine criteria and appraisal process for data assessment • Identify system and capacity requirements for ensuring long term access to data • Determine best practices for data transfer and movement to state archives and among states • Document the benefits of geopreservation • Engage stakeholder organizations and industry in problem solving and outreach State Partners NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis NC State Archives NC State University Libraries Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Kentucky Division of Geographic Information Utah Division of Archives Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center NCGDAP and Geo. MAPP are funded by the Library of Congress’ National Digital Information Infrastructure Program (NDIIPP). NDIIPP’s mission is to develop a national strategy to collect, archive, and preserve for future generations the burgeoning amount of digital content, especially materials that are created only in digital formats. Each project focuses on capturing, preserving, and making available significant digital content, building and strengthening a network of partners, and developing a technical infrastructure of tools, services, and best practices which will be shared to help manage our digital heritage.