At GITA in Seattle this year I attended two sessions on what I consider to be one of the most important government initiatives in the area of geospatial data, national data models (my term).  In the US national data models include Department of Homeland Security – Geospatial Data Model (DHS-GDM) and DoD’s venerable SDSFIE data model, which is also an ANSI standard.  In Canada the national data model that appears to be emerging is the National Infrastructure Data Model – the data model is actually defined in Natural Resources Canada, Critical Infrastructure Information Identification, Project Report, Version 4.2, January 29, 2008.

At GITA there was a session on the DHS-GDM led by Greg Gardner, Oracle Corp.  Paula Rojas and Philip Dawe of GeoConnections presented a session related to the Canadian NIDM model.

The DHS-GDM and NIDM seem to be primarily motivated by emergency planning and the need to be able to exchange information rapidly and efficiently between local and state and provincial governments.  SDSFIE seems to be motivated more by an operational requirement for exchanging facilities data within DoD. 

The reason I believe these national data models to be so important is that with every emergency, like the pipeline accidents (Bellingham and El Paso gas) that motivated the Pipeline Safety Act, government moves in the direction of mandating the capture and exchange of more digital data about national infrastructure.  Government is also motivated to act to ensure uninterrupted communications, transportation, power, water, and other essential services.  For example, in 2004 in the UK an act was passed called the Traffic Management Act which will come into force April 1 which will require utility companies and local authorities to report digitally the location of street-works activities in England and Wales. The motivation for this act is to help reduce disruption for the travelling public.

My own perspective, which I believe is shared by many people, is that national data models should build on and not replace existing standards such as LandXML , Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) , Open Geospatial Consortium, and others, which are already supported by vendors and recognized by government organizations including for example, virtually all state and provincial DOTs.  Otherwise I am very concerned that these initiatives run into the risk of becoming another SDTS (US) and COGIS (Canada), for those of you that can remember.