Clearinghouse Committee Minutes Oct. 12, 2006

Meeting started at 9:00 am.
Present:
    Simon Geletta (Des Moines University)
    Jon Paoli (Iowa HLSEM/EMD)
    Brad Cutler (Golden Hills RC&D)
    Eric Abrams (Iowa DOT)
    Gregg Hadish (NRCS)
    Patrick Brown (ISU GIS Facility)
    Liz Manion (EM Coordinator Region ?)
    Curt Sullivan (Des Moines University)

On Conference Call:
    Joe Eckmann (ESRI)
    Casey Kohrt (Iowa DNR)
    Jim Giglierano (Iowa DNR)
    Micah Cutler (Hardin County)


---------
Agenda

1. Welcome and Introdutions
2. Overview and Progress of the Iowa Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
3. Discuss Clearinghouse Committee Charter
4. Coordination and Participation of Iowa Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
•     Ramona
•     ICIT Data Repository
•     Geodata.gov

1. Discuss ideas for promoting data documentation and sharing
2. FGDC grant opportunity and funding sources if any
3. Critique and discussion of features enhancements to the clearinghouse
4. Outreach materials

--------

Welcome and Introductions-the usual round of intros

Overview and Progress of the Clearinghouse
Patrick gave an overview of the Iowa Geospatial Data Clearinghouse. An additional document will be posted detailing the history of the clearinghouse.  Key points are: Established in 2003 with help of Joe Eckmann and Dan Haag of ESRI using ArcIMS Metadata Explorer app. Registered with FGDC as a Clearinghouse node and later with Geospatial OneStop (GOS). Currently all metadata is being harvested by GOS. Other activities have included FGDC/USGS CAP Category 2 award in 2004 for metadata training. Casey Kohrt and Patrick Brown organized 3 metadata trainings. Other money from grant went to build additional components of the IGDC. This past summer (July 2006) Micah Cutler, Casey and Patrick organized a metadata retreat held at Central College. Attended by a diverse range of organizations. Participants learned about metadata basics then had hands-on time to develop work related metadata and publish to the clearinghouse.

Discuss Clearinghouse Committee Charter
PB and BC gave an overview of the Clearinghouse Charter document intially developed by BC. The document was taken section by section. Key changes included changes to the Committee Mission. Eric Abrams suggested splitting out tasks from the Commitee Objectives section. A new section called Tasks which addresses yearly and multi-year goals will be added. Added Membership roles to include Education Coordinator and Policy and Procedures Coordinator.  Additional roles will added if needed. No identification of individuals for these roles were discussed. Changes will be made and placed in the Clearinghouse Committee area of the IGIC site for additional review.

Coordination and Participation
Three projects related to IGDC activities were mentioned and and updates were given

• Ramona - Jim G. gave an overview of Ramona ( http://ia.gisinventory.net ). Many counties have particpated. Brad C. mentioned that at NSGIC Iowa participation in this inventory system was among highest of all states. The IGDC will use Ramona as a tool to contact counties with data and encourage them to fully develop metadata and publish to the clearinghouse.
• ICIT Data Repository- Micah Cutler and Joe Eckmann described the project and gave an update on the status of the project which is on hold temporarily. In the past ICIT has mentioned that they will use the IGDC to hold metadata for their project. Patrick mentioned that we could still hold metadata training for them when the time comes.
  
• Geodata.gov- Patrick gave an overview of Geospatial OneStop and participation of the IGDC in their harvesting process.

Ideas for promoting data documentation and sharing and support of NSDI or state SDI
Put on hold until next meeting

FGDC/USGS CAP opportunity
Patrick mentioned that we could put together a proposal for Category 1 (FGDC Standards Implementation). Official announcement will be out in Oct/Nov and closes in January. Brad also mentioned the Category 3 (50 States Initiative) that is being worked on and the joint MAGIC proposal with MO, NE, AR, SD, ND, IA, OK and KS. Iowa will probably put their effort towards the regional grant and the 50 States Initiative headed by Jim G.

Critique and discuss feature enhancements to clearinghouse
Was not discussed. Patrick asked that committee members take some time to look at the clearinghouse and identify features that they would like to see. Email or call Patrick with ideas.

Outreach materials
A one-page factsheet was presented to the committee by Patrick for review. Several committee members state they would get back with suggestions.

Meeting closed at 12:00 pm. Future meeting not set, but will be announced in early 2007. Conference call preferred.

-Patrick Brown