Location: Agroecosystem Management Research
Project Number: 3042-21660-001-002-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2023
End Date: Jul 30, 2024
Objective:
The Geospatial Data Act (GDA) includes new legal requirements related to how Federal Agencies acquire, manage, share, optimize and govern information that is linked to spatial coordinates. The GDA was enacted on Oct. 5, 2018, and establishes requirements for the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC), National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC), the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and the NSDI strategic plan, the National Geospatial Data Asset Data Themes, Geospatial Data Standards, Geospatial Platform and Covered Agency Responsibilities as defined in section 101 of title 5, United States Code. One of the key GDA requirements for Covered Agencies is to publish and implement a geospatial strategy for advancing geospatial information and related geospatial data and activities (including technology and other resources) appropriate to the mission of the covered agency and in support of the NSDI strategic plan. With the formation of a multi-agency team, the Geospatial Information Officer at the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) drafted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Geospatial Strategic Plan (Plan) for Fiscal Years 2021-2024. The Plan lays out the strategy for advancing geospatial information and related technology and activities. It identifies four key goals:
• Implement the requirements of the Geospatial Data Act (GDA) and align with associated directives and legislation.
• Strengthen Business Engagement to increase understanding of the value of geospatial data, information, tools, and technology.
• Increase inter-agency cooperation by implementing collaborative partnerships to create geospatial cost efficiencies.
• Empower the USDA geospatial community of practice in support of the USDA’s mission.
Approach:
The USDA ARS Partnerships for Data Innovations (PDI) is being requested to host and continue the development and expansion of several key USDA department level geospatial assets. These assets include Feds Feeds Families (https://fedsfeedfamilies.ocio.usda.gov/), USDA Cadastral to assist OCIO in addressing the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 SEC. 103. CADASTRE OF FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY, USDA GeoLibrary (https://ars-geolibrary-usdaars.hub.arcgis.com/), USDA Digital Mapping Service a tool suite for optimizing the onboarding of USDA new employees and contractors (product for the USDA Office of Safety, Security and Protection); USDA Food Sovereignty GeoSpatial SWOT analyses suite (for the USDA Secretary Agriculture’s office); and the USDA Tribal GeoHub.
