Geography 5121: The Nature of Geographic Information

January - March 2003

Project 3:  Acquiring Geographic Data

click on image to view the project report.

The benefits of a functioning GIS can be measured by outcomes such as improved efficiencies in services, effective analysis to support decision-making, and increased public access to information.  The cost of producing accurate data according to established standards, however, can be very high.

Much work is being done to improve the quality of geographic data, extending public access to geographic information, and reducing costs associated with duplication of effort. The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) develops standards and procedures for the documentation and distribution of digital spatial data.  The establishment of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) is intended to encourage the development of GIS and sharing of expensive-to-produce data among government agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. The FGDC-sponsored National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse is a vital tool for searching and accessing spatial data via the Internet.

The Maryland State Government Geographic Information Coordinating Committee (MSGIC) (http://www.dnr.state.md.us/MSGIC/index.htm) was established by the Governor in 1992 to coordinate GIS activities among state agencies.  More recently, MSGIC has broadened its scope to encourage data production and sharing among GIS users in the private and public sectors.

This report highlights the types of geographic data made available through the efforts of MSGIC, and reviews data search procedures and an online electronic atlas, MERLIN.