Geography Network Supports Open StandardsEsri is committed to providing software that enables users to easily create, provide, and share geographic data with other users. Now Esri has brought the sharing of Esri is not alone in its quest for providing geographic data in an easy-to-use format accessible by everyone. Since a Federal Executive Order in 1994 requesting government Above left: The Geography Network Explorer allows users to easily define their area and criteria of interest. Esri has implemented several specifications that have been agreed on by the OGC and has made them available to the public. One of the specifications Esri's software conforms to is the OGC's Simple Features Specifications, which allow different software vendor packages to communicate basic geographic data at a common level for access and analysis. Esri has also implemented the Web Mapping Server (WMS) Specification in its ArcIMS software and on the Geography Network. The WMS services are a methodology for publishing geographic data in a standardized format over the Internet, allowing them to be easily
Above right: Esri also implemented the Web Mapping Server (WMS) Specification in its ArcIMS software and on the Geography Network. The Geography Network complements and supports the Federal Geographic Data Committee's efforts to create a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). It also supports the international community's efforts to create a Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) and a Digital Earth. Each of these initiatives encompasses policies, standards, and procedures for organizations to cooperatively produce and share geographic data in an open environment. This adherence to industry-standard formats and technology makes it easier than ever to publish geographic data on the Internet. The Geography Network supports the federal government's strategies for the dissemination of geographic data by adhering to its four goals. The first goal is to increase the understanding of the vision, concepts, and benefits of the NSDI through outreach and education. The Geography Network supports this vision by promoting data sharing through a virtual marketplace environment for geographic data, maps, and services. Second, the Geography Network supports developing common solutions for discovery, access, and use of geographic data in response to the needs of diverse communities. The Above left: The Location Organizer Folder (LOF) client is an Esri tool that was developed as part of Esri's commitment to open standards technology. Using community-based approaches to develop and maintain common collections of geospatial data for sound decision making is the third tenet of the spatial data standard. The Geography Network supports locally distributed and maintained databases such as clearinghouses. Organizations can retain control over their own data while making it available through the Geography Network, enabling access to this data by many. National and international FGDC registered clearinghouse sites are registered on the Geography Network to provide GIS users with the most geographic data possible. Last, the Geography Network assists in building relationships among the organizations that are supporting the NSDI. The Geography Network provides the infrastructure to build and support the sharing of data across different industries, organizations, and nations. The virtual marketplace of the Geography Network lends itself to building new and innovative relationships that encourage the involvement of the user in developing new geoservices and solutions. Esri continues to be active in creating an open environment through its software products and its participation in the development of the Geography Network. Read Esri's newest white paper explaining these concepts in more detail, entitled The Geography Network and the NSDI, available on GeographyNetwork.com. For more information, visit the Geography Network at www.geographynetwork.com. |