114
vate companies. In keeping with the general goal
of facilitating access to information from a range
of potential users, the FGDC maintains a very active Web site that offers details on their various
programs and initiatives.
Two related FGDC initiatives are particularly
pertinent to the discussion of spatial data set dissemination. The first is an ongoing initiative to define standards for the metadata associated with spatial data sets. Like any major effort in standards
definition, the FGDC metadata standards program
is broad based, with participation from a wide collection of agencies and users. It is also an evolving process, with public comment on one version
incorporated as feedback in the refinement of new
versions. The first draft standard was released in
1994, and a second draft was released in 1998
(FGDC, 1998). The standard is very broad; it is designed to address metadata issues in data sets ranging from those derived through traditional field
studies, to remotely sensed data sets, to data sets
derived from complex computer simulations. As a
result, it is neither simple nor particularly easy for
the first-time user to grasp. For example, the standard describes over 300 different elements, over
100 of which are compound elements used to group
more elementary items of information. Although
many of these items are optional, the sheer size of
the standard itself can discourage potential users.
Given the complexity that is inherent in any such
standardization effort, it is essential that tools be
developed in parallel with the standard that supports both the creation of the metadata and the effective use of metadata databases through standard
electronic access tools. For simplicity, I lump both
these aspects together in describing the second
FGDC initiative of interest, the clearinghouse program. The purpose of this program is first and foremost to use modem networking technology, in the
form of standard Internet software, to promote the
dissemination of spatial data sets. Although it is desirable to make the data sets themselves available
over the network whenever feasible, the key focus
is on providing a standard type of data-set catalog
that can be shared electronically over the Internet.
With respect to the traditional library example discussed earlier, the idea is to create a flexible, multiindex catalog that can be used by a very broad
range of data resource holders to describe their collections; it would be published freely and easily as
part of normal Internet activity and effectively used
by an even broader potential user community
searching for data sets with particular characteristics.
The FGDC approach to meeting these very amEcological Data Storage, Management, and Dissemination
bitious design requirements has evolved in concert
with user expectations about how information
should be located on the Internet, shaped by the
rapid emergence of Web servers and browsers. The
FGDC approach has four primary components.
First is a database of indexable information, assumed to be metadata maintained on line in digital
form and composed in accord with FGDC content
standards. Second is a set of basic search protocols
available to users, which are assumed to be the
same standards used in modem libraries. One example here is the Z39.50 compliant indexingquerying systems that are standard in traditionallibrary searches. Another example is the emerging
pseudo standard represented by Web-based indexing-searching processes. Third, to demonstrate the
viability and potential advantages of this approach,
tools are provided to support an organization's ability to move through the entire process, from metadata creation, to indexing, to publishing the indices
in standard Internet-Web accessible forms. Finally,
simply making tools available is not enough; the
effective use of the tools must be actively supported
through training and demonstration programs for
both data-set developers and users.
Generally, all these activities fall under the umbrella of the FGDC clearinghouse program. More
specifically, the goal is to establish prominent sites
whose collections are of significant public interest,
hence assuring some user demand; whose managers
have some commitment to support public access;
and whose sites and collections can be linked and
indexed according to Z39.50 and Web-index mechanisms. Concurrently, in an ongoing sequence of
workshops, resource holders are shown the ways in
which their collections can be described and advertised using such mechanisms. The hope is that,
as the volume of information available in this manner grows, the public will become more aware of
the quality of access that can be achieved for both
the resource manager and the potential data user.
For more details on activities related to the clearinghouse program, see the FGDC Web site noted
earlier.
8.5 Ecosystem Information System
As a final example, we consider the ongoing evolution of other, more customized data-set classification mechanisms, as demonstrated by the University
of Montana's Ecosystem Information System (EIS)
(Ford et aI., 1994; Righter and Ford, 1994). EIS allows spatial data-set managers to use object-oriented data design and specification techniques to
vate companies. In keeping with the general goal
of facilitating access to information from a range
of potential users, the FGDC maintains a very active Web site that offers details on their various
programs and initiatives.
Two related FGDC initiatives are particularly
pertinent to the discussion of spatial data set dissemination. The first is an ongoing initiative to define standards for the metadata associated with spatial data sets. Like any major effort in standards
definition, the FGDC metadata standards program
is broad based, with participation from a wide collection of agencies and users. It is also an evolving process, with public comment on one version
incorporated as feedback in the refinement of new
versions. The first draft standard was released in
1994, and a second draft was released in 1998
(FGDC, 1998). The standard is very broad; it is designed to address metadata issues in data sets ranging from those derived through traditional field
studies, to remotely sensed data sets, to data sets
derived from complex computer simulations. As a
result, it is neither simple nor particularly easy for
the first-time user to grasp. For example, the standard describes over 300 different elements, over
100 of which are compound elements used to group
more elementary items of information. Although
many of these items are optional, the sheer size of
the standard itself can discourage potential users.
Given the complexity that is inherent in any such
standardization effort, it is essential that tools be
developed in parallel with the standard that supports both the creation of the metadata and the effective use of metadata databases through standard
electronic access tools. For simplicity, I lump both
these aspects together in describing the second
FGDC initiative of interest, the clearinghouse program. The purpose of this program is first and foremost to use modem networking technology, in the
form of standard Internet software, to promote the
dissemination of spatial data sets. Although it is desirable to make the data sets themselves available
over the network whenever feasible, the key focus
is on providing a standard type of data-set catalog
that can be shared electronically over the Internet.
With respect to the traditional library example discussed earlier, the idea is to create a flexible, multiindex catalog that can be used by a very broad
range of data resource holders to describe their collections; it would be published freely and easily as
part of normal Internet activity and effectively used
by an even broader potential user community
searching for data sets with particular characteristics.
The FGDC approach to meeting these very amEcological Data Storage, Management, and Dissemination
bitious design requirements has evolved in concert
with user expectations about how information
should be located on the Internet, shaped by the
rapid emergence of Web servers and browsers. The
FGDC approach has four primary components.
First is a database of indexable information, assumed to be metadata maintained on line in digital
form and composed in accord with FGDC content
standards. Second is a set of basic search protocols
available to users, which are assumed to be the
same standards used in modem libraries. One example here is the Z39.50 compliant indexingquerying systems that are standard in traditionallibrary searches. Another example is the emerging
pseudo standard represented by Web-based indexing-searching processes. Third, to demonstrate the
viability and potential advantages of this approach,
tools are provided to support an organization's ability to move through the entire process, from metadata creation, to indexing, to publishing the indices
in standard Internet-Web accessible forms. Finally,
simply making tools available is not enough; the
effective use of the tools must be actively supported
through training and demonstration programs for
both data-set developers and users.
Generally, all these activities fall under the umbrella of the FGDC clearinghouse program. More
specifically, the goal is to establish prominent sites
whose collections are of significant public interest,
hence assuring some user demand; whose managers
have some commitment to support public access;
and whose sites and collections can be linked and
indexed according to Z39.50 and Web-index mechanisms. Concurrently, in an ongoing sequence of
workshops, resource holders are shown the ways in
which their collections can be described and advertised using such mechanisms. The hope is that,
as the volume of information available in this manner grows, the public will become more aware of
the quality of access that can be achieved for both
the resource manager and the potential data user.
For more details on activities related to the clearinghouse program, see the FGDC Web site noted
earlier.
8.5 Ecosystem Information System
As a final example, we consider the ongoing evolution of other, more customized data-set classification mechanisms, as demonstrated by the University
of Montana's Ecosystem Information System (EIS)
(Ford et aI., 1994; Righter and Ford, 1994). EIS allows spatial data-set managers to use object-oriented data design and specification techniques to