Everything is somewhere. The "somewhere" factor, the place in Earth's space, is what identifies geodata or geospatial data -- digital information from many different fields of interest that can be geographically referenced.
Using geodata to "Make Livable Communities a Reality" will be the focus of the 1999 National GeoData Forum being held June 7-9, 1999 in Washington, D.C., at the Marriott at Metro Center. Sponsored by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), academia, public and private sector organizations, the forum will involve more than 400 elected officials, community leaders, industry leaders, and technology professionals.
"Whether protecting urban drinking water or mapping the contours of a new state park, sound decisions come only through good science and the participation of stakeholders," said Bruce Babbitt, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, and FGDC chair. "This lesson encourages us to ensure that information and power flow from the bottom up and that data are collected and used at the local level. That means engaging and educating all citizens to resolve their conflicts: a democracy in action that would have made Jefferson proud."
Keynote speaker Dee W. Hock, founder and CEO emeritus of Visa, will describe an innovative set of principles to apply in developing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) -- a national initiative to advance the nation's capacity to develop, use, share and disseminate geospatial data.
"This year's GeoData Forum is a great opportunity to get involved in setting the direction for this important initiative," stated U.S. Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski, 11th District, Pennsylvania. "Sharing data and using common solutions will dramatically improve the way we make decisions." Congressman Kanjorski and Secretary Babbitt are also keynote speakers.
"Making geodata commonly accessible will enable community leaders and citizens to successfully plan for issues such as resource conservation, economic development, crime reduction, and transportation," added Mark Schaefer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Science and Water.
The FGDC is an interagency committee composed of representatives from 16 Cabinet-level and independent federal agencies. The FGDC -- in collaboration with public and private sector organizations -- coordinates the development of the NSDI.