Template - Priority Action High Level Plan

Priority Action High Level Plan

FOR THE HYDROGRAPHY FRAMEWORK

(Draft 10/28/99)

October, 1999

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Objective 1: FRAMEWORK DATA DEVELOPMENT

Produce multi-use geographic data through partnership efforts between government and private organizations.

Priority Action:

Complete a digital Framework for Washington including the cadastral (property ownership), hydrography (surface waters), transportation, ortho-imagery (corrected aerial photographs), and topography (elevation) data sets.

Facilitator: Carrie Wolfe

Description of the Hydrography Framework Project:

Many organizations, at all levels of government and private industry, need the same basic geographic information system (GIS) data for their business functions. One of the commonly needed themes of GIS data is hydrography (i.e. surface waters). As the popularity of GIS data has increased, many organizations now use and develop this information. Unfortunately, many resources are spent duplicating the same types of data sets. In other cases, organizations need hydrography data but cannot afford the data collection costs. This environment of individual data development and use is redundant and inequitable. It also creates data sharing problems. Data sets are often inconsistent and incompatible which makes cross-jurisdictional and cross-organizational analysis and decision making very difficult.

These issues are being addressed within the Washington State Hydrography Framework Project. This project was initiated approximately two years ago. Currently, a regional (Washington, Oregon, and northern California) hydrography data model has been developed and agreed upon by many participating federal, state, local, and private organizations. This data model includes base information that can be built upon with further detail by individual organizations. A regional Hydrography Framework data integration and update application is under construction. This will allow multiple organizations to collaboratively update and improve the Hydrography Framework over time. Existing hydrography data, within Washington, will be improved and converted to the new Hydrography Framework data model. A key goal of the Hydrography Framework development effort is to reduce the duplication of effort in hydrography data collection and maintenance and increase data sharing capabilities by producing consistent and sharable data and documentation. When complete, the Hydrography Framework data will be made accessible to all organizations and the general public for improved information access and decision making.

Potential Benefits:

Provide consistent data analysis capabilities across jurisdictions and organizations.

Spread data collection/maintenance costs across many organizations.

Increase opportunity for start-up GIS in resource-poor organizations (e.g. rural counties) by providing database templates, core data, and standard protocols for data sharing partnerships.
Improve access to data for public and private sectors.
Reduce time spent building databases allowing resources for applications development and other vital needs.
Provide better data for decision making and planning functions.
Share information among a network of GIS users through long term business partnerships.

Project Objectives:

Take advantage of concepts and procedures already established within the realm of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).

Identify data providers and users of Washington Framework and incorporate their needs.

Make Framework data accessible to the public over the Internet for the least possible cost.

Ensure vertical integration between Framework data themes.
Collect and utilize the best available data for the Framework.
Provide a sustainable Framework data system that will endure and evolve over time.
Develop mechanisms to update and improve the Framework data as better information becomes available.
Ensure outreach to potential Framework partners and the general public.
Address and incorporate the business needs identified in the Strategic Plan.

Project Tasks and Estimated Effort: Major tasks that need to be completed to accomplish objectives and a high-level estimate of required effort.

Tasks	Estimated Effort Existing Resources
Task 1 Recruit Framework Theme Partners and develop a Project Charter
Task 2 Identify project funding sources for development and ongoing support	Note: Discussed taking Task 2 out and reflecting it in the Priority Action: Identify management strategies and funding for Framework data development, maintenance, and distribution.
Task 3 Define appropriate business process requirements
Task 4 Define minimum, common data and metadata requirements per theme Task 5 Address appropriate legal issues including data privacy issues
Task 6 Determine available partner data and implement appropriate data integration
Task 7 Define data distribution process including instructions, metadata, and cost support
Task 8 Identify and develop vertical integration (i.e. between framework data themes) methods
Task 9 Develop a long term business plan for Framework data theme sustainability

Potential Project Team Leader and Members:

Hydrography

Lead – Ecology and WADNR
Members – Existing Hydrography Framework Partners

Session Participants:

Shirley Lewis WA State Library

Larry Pearson Benton County

Steven Rush Hanford

Julie Krackstedt CTED

Dave Steele WADNR

Jim Hinthorne CWU

Kim Gleason Klickitat County

Gene Thorley USGS
George Spencer WSDOT

Joe Bowles WW Co. Engineers

Connie Krueger WW Co.