CGIA Awards

These competitive grants are awarded through the NSDI Cooperative Agreements program by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. CGIA has successfully competed for awards that have furthered the goals of data coordination, metadata creation, Open GIS, and NC OneMap data access. Recent Competitive Grants awarded show a diversity of CGIA’s commitment to coordination efforts.

2006	Future Directions with Fifty States: A Business Plan to Sustain NC OneMap North Carolina possesses eight of the nine critical characteristics of a successful geospatial coordination program. The one identified deficiency is the lack of sustainable funding for NC OneMap. The development of a formal business plan is considered a vital component to making the case for sustaining NC OneMap. The NC Geographic Information Coordinating Council through CGIA is developing a Business Plan to Sustain NC OneMap. The Business Plan will attempt to secure state appropriated funding. In 2005 the Governor’s budget included a request for funds for NC OneMap. Unfortunately, the NC General Assembly did not include this request in the final budget. A key barrier to the GICC’s efforts to secure funding is that the NC OneMap implementation plan and five-year budget are not integrated into a formal business plan. Specifically, the current documents do not articulate a compelling business case nor adequately define the return on investments to the State. These missing components must be in place for the General Assembly or any other stakeholder to consider investing in the plan and, more critically, to sustain its operation.
2005	Transitioning NC OneMap to a Statewide Host Site on The National Map In early 2003 the GICC adopted a vision for a statewide framework of public domain geographic information that promotes the maintenance of economic vitality in our communities, public health and safety, and the quality of life for all North Carolinians. The vehicle for this vision is a comprehensive statewide geographic data resource, called NC OneMap. Later that year the GICC adopted an implementation plan for NC OneMap and in summer 2004, CGIA and USGS launched the NC OneMap map viewer (release 1) as an extension of The National Map. The application viewer of NC OneMap (release 1) was hosted by USGS at the Earth Resources Observation Systems Data Center (EDC) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This proposal made it possible for CGIA to transfer the daily operation and service of the NC OneMap application viewer from EDC to CGIA in Raleigh to enhance existing capability.
2003	The North Carolina Metadata Support Program Building on past successful efforts to promote and encourage the development of FGDC compliant metadata in North Carolina, CGIA, with the concurrence of the NC Geographic Information Coordinating Council established the North Carolina Metadata Support Program. The program provided direct assistance, at no cost, to local governments in developing FGDC compliant metadata that agree to participate in NC OneMap. The program provided continuing technical support for metadata to local government through a help desk. CGIA worked closely with the Local Government Committee to build metadata compliance throughout local government agencies.
2001	Linking North Carolina Web Mapping Sites Using the OpenGIS Specification The value of geographic information has been demonstrated in the response, recovery and mitigation activities associated with natural disasters in North Carolina. The present inability of agencies to easily and quickly find, view and share data during and after disaster events, however, remains a critical issue. This project launched a statewide initiative of enhanced web based data sharing for disaster management. OpenGIS Web Map Server Interface protocols were installed and tested at eight government agencies using a set of flood scenarios and three framework data themes: digital orthophotography, cadastral, and hydrography. The project laid the foundation for a future when everyone will have 24-hour access to reliable, accurate and documented geospatial data that are produced and maintained by multiple custodians.
1999	North Carolina Consolidated "Don't Duck Metadata" Program CGIA led representatives from nearly 40 local government organizations in the development of framework metadata records. CGIA and regional leaders developed and conducted one-day metadata workshops for all project participants. Additional workshops focused on "train-the-trainer" programs were offered to regional and interested local participants as well. A combined total of 74 compliant metadata framework files were developed and served through the North Carolina Geographic Data Clearinghouse. Additional project aspects include, purchase of metadata creation software, development of a metadata help desk, and limited one-on-one site visits for detailed support.