The Washington State Geospatial Clearinghouse was established in 1998 as a result of partners in the state working together. This page contains documents about the history and continued operation of the Washington State Clearinghouse.
Agenda:
Item 1 -- Accomplishments since last meeting
WA Clearinghouse node now has 233+ metadata records, up from 48 last
summer. Sources: WDFW, DNR, Ecology, various counties, NOAA, EPA, ONRC,
and more Some from Jeff's metadata workshops, but not as many as hoped.
ONRC has added 70+ records from Olympic National Forest alone.
DOT has metadata ready to go, but the intention is for them to actually post it themselves, which they haven't done. They may be concerned about the perceived increase in demand on resources once the data is made 'public'; despite other organizations experience that they are able to defer what used to be a 20-minute phone call to instead have the client simply go to the web.
SWWaCOG is still pending.
WaGAP is nearing completion; they will actually have only four metadata records (one each for landcover, mammals, herps, and birds with all species listed in each respective record). The data will also be served. Their web page is at www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/gap/dataprod.htm and includes links to metadata and datasets.
Possible solution is to set deadlines (as ONRC team has done) and tell users that their metadata will be posted after that date. Need to be sensitive to this with private organizations (timber companies) so you don't alienate them, but one can remind them about the access restriction section in metadata.
WAGIC is considering hiring metadata assistance for state agencies per ONRC model.
Phil Hurvitz has changed Metadata server so that it checking for new metadata records every hour and only re-indexes if there is a change.
Some data other than traditional metadata is being posted on the server. Specifically, the state Framework Project group is documenting data projects that are in preparation or planned.
Item 2 -- Metadata Entry System upgrade
Several enhancements to MES have been started.
MES has been reformatted using HTML tables; the entry screens are more organized and cleaner to navigate. The visual organization now corresponds to the sections' metadata standards.
A Help system has been added, linking to the FGDC workbook explanation of data fields.
NBII taxonomy fields have been added (one instance of these fields only).
A framework for saving metadata records in draft format (w/o immediately posting to server) has been designed and will be implemented during February.
We have an opportunity to add a few additional fields (5 or 6?) to MES, and Jeff is soliciting comments on which fields are most desireable. The "Basic" level fields are all included, and the rest of the fields that are included are drawn from the "Working" level.
A working/test prototype of the new version should be ready near the end of February.
Item 3 -- Clearinghouse and Framework
Carrie Wolfe gave an overview of how the Framework Project relates to
Clearinghouse. Current Framework projects in Wash. are Cadastral and
Hydrography.
Item 4 -- Demo of enabling Clearinghouse for data viewing
Jeff's demo of a prototype map viewing capability using ESRI Map Objects
Internet Map Server and Arc Explorer failed due to technology. This
technology will allow us to serve spatial data to people who don't have a
GIS on their PC and allow them to view it. Jeff may try to leverage off
the Access Washington state govt web page project.
Item 5 -- Metadata workshops
Jeff has scheduled metadata workshops in SW Wash. in the spring
(Vancouver and Cowlitz areas).
Item 6 -- FGDC/ISO standards implementation
Adoption of the FGDC standard as an ISO standard will have some effects
on our efforts. However, this has been delayed until summer 2000 and the
effects on projects such as us have not yet been well quantified.
Also...
Jenny Stone also gave a very brief overview of the PRISM (Puget Sound
Regional Synthesis Model) project, which will use SMMS for their metadata
efforts. Web site is www.prism.washington.edu.
Rob Norheim spoke a bit about the Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) (http://www.csc.noaa.gov/ccap) which did a prototype project at the Columbia River Estuary (www.csc.noaa.gov/id/products/crest.html). C-CAP will be working with PRISM to classify and perform change detection using TM images for the Washington coast.
Washington Clearinghouse Operations Group
In attendance: Jeff Holm, Teresa Alcock, Kathryn Womble, Jenny Stone, Rob Norheim
Agenda
Teresa commented that the names on the entry form are not from the content standard (i.e. resource disc). Also some of the content boxes are too big and others are not big enough. Comments about the directory structure included being able to put a dire ctory in your profile and set up MES locally. Teresa sees a need for local control of metadata.
Criteria for setting up a separate node in Washington state: 50 metadata records ready to put up or a collection built around a particular theme that logically goes together
Jeff will be attending the National Clearinghouse Meeting in Sep.
The group ranked desired upgrades for MES by each voting for their top 3:
ONRC (Olympic Natural Reources Center) has meetings scheduled with Olympic NP (Roger Hoffman), Olympic NF (Rick Jordan) and Mason County (Juan Jose Rodriguez)
ONRC GIS open house middle to end of January. They can handle 70+ people. Will be at Forks facility and probably have a registration fee.
Jeff participated in a national clearinghouse phone conference that Doug Nebert convenes once or twice a year. DIS sets up a local bridge and maybe there’s a way to include more of the Operations Group.
FGDC standard is moving toward an ISO standard.
ISITE 2.4 in progress. Want to move to it within a year.
WAGIC facilitated a framework survey for Washington to see national where we are. Raw data from the survey is coming in Sep/Oct. 96% response rate (about 105 surveys). Want to incorporate results into Clearinghouse site.
SWCOG has been contacted (Pacific, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum Counties) have about 10 metadata records.
Next meeting will probably be in late October
In attendance: Jeff Holm, Kathryn Womble, Rob Norheim, Phil Hurvitz + later Nick Chrisman, Dave Peterson, Jenny Stone, Theresa Alcock
We have created the basic structure and look and feel of the Clearinghouse, now want to focus on content.
Some discussion on browsing functionality for WA Clearinghouse. The feeling was that initially browsable pages need to be maintained by agencies submitting metadata with a link to the node. (I know I didn't get the whole discussion captured here!)
NBII is establishing a gateway that will only add servers that use NBII content standard (which is apparently FGDC metadata content standard plus a few more defined fields such as species data) Jeff feels that FGDC & NBII gateways should be combine d. Plan is to work with USGS to encourage that to happen. Encourage use of version 2 of content standard that allows for expansion fields. Rob mentioned that Dave Peterson may be able to help provide wording to go to USGS. Phil has already made wa-node NB II compliant. He may need to update a-node server info on FGDC server list.
Metadata records coming in will include 30 from Bellingham workshop; about8 from Grays Harbor workshop.
Discussion about following-up with workshop participants. Maybe from Jenny Stone or UW GIS Program? Kathryn & Jenny will come up with guidelines for this and send to Jeff.
Publicity other than workshops and conferences? ESRI PNW conference in October. Maybe have a Clearinghouse presentation? Kathryn asked if there were other state journals/newletters to let folks know about the Clearinghouse node. She will explore and wr ite up a blurb for publications.
Sub-node support. WA - Wash state node WA-ONRC (need narrative for registration form)
"Policy" needed for subnodes. Perhaps regional organizations that have significant metadata and large contributions of metadata built around a particular theme. Jim Eby from Fish & Wildlife wants his agency to contribute to wa-node, not have a sepa rate node or subnode. Would be great to get coverage diagrams and thumbnail sketches linked too. DNR will be adding metadata directly to wa-node. No sub-node.
Metadata Entry System (MES) Metalite-- Isite creates tags that are compliant with Federal GILS (Govt Information Locator System), but not with Washington State GILS. GILS collects MES descriptions & generate html and behind the scenes creates tags from pulling tages from metadata description. Jeff would like mp upgraded to get beyond the "plain Jane" look of the output. We need MES as minimum...Possible to make templates for sections 8-10
Web site needs some "How to's". Kathryn agreed to help write some content. Jeff will pass some existing text on to Kathryn. Kathryn & Theresa will work together. Look at (onrcguide.html)
The Clearinghouse is responsible for administration of Clearinghouse functions. Metadata contributors are responsible for the content and accuracy of metadata records.
Nov-Dec will be grand opening of ONRC GIS – Theresa Need to clean up test records and create a text envinroment. Phil will set up a test directory.
Jeff's proposed to chair a forum at the Annual State GIC meeting in September for Clearinghouse operators. Share experience and info.
Next Clearinghouse Operations Group meeting will probably be in August. Should know about success of CAP proposal in a couple of weeks.