[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 64396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31812]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey


Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC); Public Comment on the 
Proposal to Develop the ``FGDC Standard for a Geologic Data Model'' as 
a Federal Geographic Data Committee Standard

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FGDC is soliciting public comments on the proposal to 
develop a ``FGDC Standard for a Geologic Data Model.'' If the proposal 
is approved, the standard will be developed following the FGDC 
standards development and approval process. If the standard is adopted 
by the FGDC, it must be followed by all Federal agencies collecting 
geologic data directly or indirectly, through grants, partnerships, or 
contracts.
    In its assigned Federal leadership in the development of the 
National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), the FGDC recognizes that 
FGDC standards must also meet the needs and recognize the views of 
State and local governments, academia, industry, and the public. The 
purpose of this notice is to solicit such views. The FGDC invites the 
community to review the proposal and comment on the objectives, scope, 
approach, and usability of the proposed standard; identify existing 
related standards; and indicate their interest in participating in the 
development of the standard.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 19, 1997.

CONTACT AND ADDRESSES: The complete proposal is included in this 
notice. It is also posted at Internet address: http://www.fgdc.gov/
Standards/Documents/Proposals/geomod.html
    Comments may be submitted via Internet mail or by submitting an 
electronic copy on diskette. Send comments via Internet to: www.gdc.gov">gdc-
geomod@www.gdc.gov. Comments e-mailed as attachments must be in ASCII 
format.
    A soft copy version may be submitted on a 3.5 x 3.5 diskette in 
WordPrefect 5.0 or 6.0/6.1 format, along with one hardcopy version of 
the comments, to the FGDC Secretariat (attn: Jennifer Fox) at U.S. 
Geological Survey, 590 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 
Reston, Virginia, 20192.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following is the complete proposal for the 
``FGDC Standard for a Geologic Data Model''.
    Project Title: FGDC Standard for Geologic Data Model.
    Date of Proposal: April 18, 1997, revised: July 14, 1997.
    Type of Standard Proposed: Logical Data Model.
    Submitting Organization: FGDC Geologic Data Subcommittee.
    Point of Contact: David R. Soller, USGS.
    Objectives: The objective of this standard is to create a logical 
data model that will describe the various critical entities of a 
geologic map and the relations among them.
    Scope: This standard will describe how geologic map information 
will be configured in digital format, and will not proscribe methods by 
which geologic maps will be made. Geologic maps are very diverse in the 
type of information contained. The developers of the geologic map data 
model recognize this diversity, but will focus on the elements of 
geologic maps that are common to all or at least most geologic maps. In 
recognition of the diversity of information in geologic maps, the data 
model is being designed to allow for development of extensions to the 
standard. The intent is to develop and propose a standard that is 
widely accepted by map producers using a wide variety of computer and 
software systems.
    Justification/Benefits: Geologic maps are produced by various State 
and Federal agencies, according to various locally-developed guidelines 
for content and form. A geologic data model is needed by the geoscience 
community to provide consistency to the map data that are archived and 
served to the public and to promote the exchange of digital map data. 
The model will aid in the development of systematic mapping coverage 
for the Nation, and will facilitate production of a variety of 
derivative map products from a geologic map database, as mandated by 
the Geologic Mapping Act of 1992.
    Development Approach: A Geologic Data Model working map group has 
been formed through an agreement between the Association of American 
State Geologists (AAQSG) Digital Geologic Mapping Committee and the 
USGS National Geologic Map Database project. The working group is 
staffed by technical experts from the USGS, the State geological 
surveys, and the Geological Survey of Canada. The following steps will 
be taken:
     Define the general framework of the model (done--the 
working group has defined an entity-relationship model)
     Develop the model through presentation and discussion at 
public forums, and prepare it for general public review (in progress)
     Provide to the public a document describing the model and 
an implementation of the model (e.g., a set of ArcView software tools) 
for informal evaluation among the USGS, AASG, Geological Survey of 
Canada, the Geologic Data Subcommittee, and other interested parties 
(Summer, 1997)
     Revise the document according to comments received (late 
1997)
     Prepare a formal document containing the revised model and 
implementation for consideration by the Geologic Data Subcommittee 
(Spring, 1998)
     After final Subcommittee comment, submit to the FGDC 
(Spring, 1998)
    Related Standards: Geological Survey of Canada logical data model 
used for FieldLog software; British Geological Survey Logical Data 
Model (Technical Report WO/93/20R).
    Development and Completion Schedule: see Development Approach.
    Resources Required: The USGS, AASG, and Geological Survey of Canada 
are providing the resources to develop the model. The GDS will require 
resources to develop a draft for public review.
    Potential Participants: The USGS, the AASG, the Geological Survey 
of Canada, and professional societies.
    Other Targeted Authorization Bodies: None. However, the GDS will 
consider whether to propose the standard to other standards 
organizations such as ASTM.

    Dated: November 25, 1997.
John Fischer,
Acting Chief, National Mapping Division.
[FR Doc. 97-31812 Filed 12-4-97; 8:45 am]
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