ASPRS: The Imaging and Geospatial Information Society has released an official policy statement declaring its support of the collaborative nature of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). ASPRS President Thomas Lillesand deemed the efforts of the NSDI "essential to providing full access to quality geographic information and technology for all citizens."
ASPRS joins the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) in recognizing the value and importance of broad participation and empowerment of all sectors in building the NSDI, including the federal, state and local government, academic, private and non-profit sectors. The 1998 NAPA report, "Geographic Information for the 21st Century: Building a Strategy for the Nation," can serve to enhance and focus the implementation of the NSDI in the United States as we enter the new century.
"The need for multi-level collaboration and partnerships to build capacity for using geographic information are critical to the growth of our profession and to the continued economic competitiveness and health of the Nation into the 21st Century," stressed ASPRS Executive Director James R. Plasker. "In turn, ASPRS favors a forum similar to the National Spatial Data Council proposed by NAPA, to bring together all stakeholders of the NSDI in an environment where no single sector is perceived as having control."
Rather than selective endorsement or rejection of individual study recommendations, ASPRS favors supporting the overall philosophy conveyed by the report. In reviewing the NAPA recommendations, ASPRS concluded that "examining any one of the recommendations or issues in isolation was precarious and likely to compromise the integrity and intent of the complete proposal." As such, ASPRS urges groups with responsibility for implementing one or more recommendations to respect the context of the complete set of recommendations.
ASPRS does recognize that certain recommendations in the report are controversial and merit further thoughtful debate. ASPRS President-elect Michael Renslow noted that "ASPRS is prepared to fully participate in this dialogue as the primary organization representing a large and growing segment of the geospatial community."
The ASPRS policy statement is available on the ASPRS web site at http://www.asprs.org.
Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 7,000 geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.