FGDC to Host Briefing Tuesday, June 8 on National Geospatial Advisory Committee and the Geospatial Platform

FGDC will be holding a briefing and discussion on Tuesday, June 8, from 1:30 - 3:00 PM EDT about two current FGDC activities: 1) the next round of nominations and appointments to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC), and 2) the development of the Geospatial Platform initiative. The briefing will take place as part of our monthly FGDC Coordination Group meeting. For those who would like to attend in person, the meeting will be held at the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), 401 9th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20576. For those who cannot attend in person, WebEx and conference line information is included below.

NGAC Nominations/Appointments

The NGAC is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides advice and recommendations to the FGDC on geospatial policy and management issues and provides a forum to convey views of non-Federal stakeholders in the geospatial community. Approximately one-half of the 28 current appointments to the NGAC will expire in January 2011. The next round of appointments will be initiated with a Call for Nominations in late June 2010. In the June 8 briefing, we will provide information on plans for the nomination and appointment process, and seek input and feedback from partners in the geospatial community. Our goal is to seek highly-qualified nominees who will provide a representative cross-section of organizations and perspectives on the committee.

Geospatial Platform

The President's FY 2011 Budget included guidance to develop a Geospatial Platform that will include common geospatial data, services, and applications; shared infrastructure; portfolio management; and a governance framework to address the requirements of State, local and tribal agencies. An interagency team is developing a Modernization Roadmap that describes a strategic path forward for development and implementation of the Platform. The briefing on June 8 will provide a status report and describe next steps and opportunities for input and involvement in the development of the Platform.

WebEx/Telecon Information

1. Go to the following URL: http://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=746168088&p=&t=c

2. Enter the required fields, but leave the Conference/ Meeting passcode field blank.

3. Indicate that you have read the privacy policy.

4. Click on Proceed.

Conference Line: 1-866-836-1495, Access Code: 5537244#

About MAPPS
Formed in 1982, MAPPS is the only national association exclusively comprised of private firms in the remote sensing, spatial data and geographic information systems field in the United States. The MAPPS membership spans the entire spectrum of the geospatial community, including Member Firms engaged in satellite and airborne remote sensing, surveying, photogrammetry, aerial photography, LIDAR, hydrography, bathymetry, charting, aerial and satellite image processing, GPS, and GIS data collection and conversion services. MAPPS also includes Associate Member Firms, which are companies that provide hardware, software, products and services to the geospatial profession in the United States and other firms from around the world. Independent Consultant Members are sole proprietors engaged in consulting in or to the geospatial profession, or provides a consulting service of interest to the geospatial profession.

MAPPS provides its 180+ member firms opportunities for networking and developing business-to-business relationships, information sharing, education, public policy advocacy, market growth, and professional development and image enhancement.

For more information on MAPPS, please visit www.MAPPS.org.