- GeoMAPP Marketing Communications
- Geospatial Archival Business Planning
- Assessments and Inventories
- Geospatial Appraisal
- Data Transfer
- Archival Processing
- Archival Access
GeoMAPP Marketing Communications
GeoMAPP Newsletter Archives
Latest Issue: November 2011 previews GIS Day and the last Informational Partners meeting in December.GeoMAPP Brochure, 2011 !Updated for 2011!
Preserving America's Geospatial FootprintsMay 2011
The new 2011 GeoMapp brochure, Preserving America's Geospatial Footprints, describing the importance and challenges for preserving geospatial content, and listing tools developed by the GeoMAPP team to address these challenges, has been published and is available for download.
GeoMAPP Brochure, 2009
Preserving America's Geospatial FootprintsJanuary 2009
The GeoMapp brochure, Preserving America's Geospatial Footprints, describing project objectives, challenges, and partnerships, has been published and is available for download.
GeoMAPP Press Release, 2008
Multi-state Geospatial Content Transfer and Archival DemonstrationFebruary 2008
North Carolina, Kentucky and Utah announced the award of a multi-state grant titled Multi-state Geospatial Content Transfer and Archival Demonstration.
Geospatial Archival Business Planning
GeoMAPP Geoarchiving Business Planning Toolkit (zip) 
December 2011
- Geoarchiving Business Planning Process Map & Checklist
- Geoarchiving Business Planning Guidebook
- Geoarchiving Business Cost-Benefit Analysis Guidance
- Geoarchiving Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool (Excel)
- Geoarchiving Use Case Guidance
- Geoarchiving Business Planning Bibliography
GeoMAPP Business Plan Poster
May 2009A poster, presented at the IS&T Archiving, 2009 conference, illustrating building a business plan for the archival preservation of state and local geospatial data resources.
GeoMAPP Business Planning: Developing Materials to Get Stakeholder Buy-In
July 2009Presentation by the GeoMAPP team at NDIPP Partners Meeting, 2009, on building a business case for preserving GIS records. The presentation includes the results to two national surveys which focused on states archiving GIS records and the drivers for archiving, describing outreach and engagement efforts, and providing a step by step approach to business planning. The presentation concludes with an overview of the Utah Geoarchives Business Plan.
Utah's Business Plan for Archival Preservation of Geospatial Data Resources
December 2008This business plan outlines goals, program benefits, program requirements and costs, and an implementation plan for preserving geospatial data by the Utah Division of State Archives and the AGRC.
Utah's Electronic Records Management Business Case
This electronic records management (ERM) strategy is a collection of definitions, distinctions, best practices, and industry standards that will enable the efficient use of Utah state government resources and continued confidence in the state’s records management stewardship.
Utah State Archives - Utah AGRC Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Division of Archives and Records Service (Archives) and the Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC). The document outlines responsibilities to preserve the long-term availability of geospatial data.
Multistate Geo-archival Process Flow
This document, created in the early phase of the grant project, charts how archives and data stewards will interact intra- and inter-state to move geospatial data.
Assessments and Inventories
GeoMAPP Storage Primer
December 2011 Storage is an important component of any archival solution. The GeoMAPP Storage Primer provides an overview of several storage concepts, components and technologies. Archivists can use this primer as a basic introduction to help inform their conversations with their IT partners when evaluating and selecting storage solutions. The document also presents a summary of the storage configurations used by the GeoMAPP partners for their geospatial archives, depicting practical implementations of many of the concepts and technologies introduced in the Primer.
GeoMAPP State Architecture and Storage Challenges
The GeoMAPP partners felt it would be useful to document their current storage environment as well as the challenges they faced to procure it and stand it up. This documents is intended to be a companion piece to the GeoMAPP Storage Primer.
Geospatial Data File Formats Reference Guide (Microsoft Excel)
July 2011Electronic file format support is a fundamental challenge in the long-term preservation of digital materials. This issue is especially relevant for geospatial datasets that are created, shared, and stored in many different formats, many of which are proprietary to a specific vendor and/or software application. Geospatial data is primarily comprised of raster data, made up of a two dimensional array of equally sized cells where each cell holds a single attribute value and location coordinates, or vector data, represented as points, lines, and polygons. In addition to the fundamental geographic information, many datasets also include underlying tables of data that further elaborate the geographic elements, such as population counts, income values, average property values, demographic information, or identifying information for individual features such as name, address, etc. Then all of this data may further be wrapped within an encompassing database that enables relationships and analysis across the datasets. Many of the geospatial formats are manifested as numerous files in a variety of file types. All of these aspects pose challenges to GIS professionals and to archivists both today and in the future.
This spreadsheet provides a quick reference of some of the common geospatial raster and vector dataset types, and can serve as a tool to identify geospatial format types based on file extensions.
Geoarchiving Self Assessment (Microsoft Excel)
September 2010This document is intended for you or others to use to objectively evaluate your archives’ potential to archive geospatial data and/or your archives’ present geoarchiving practices. You must have Microsoft Excel 2003 or 2007 to view. We’d love your feedback on the effectiveness of this tool. Please contact geomapp@ncdcr.gov
System Inventory Template (PDF)
System Inventory Template (Excel)This document helps you to record your current systems in preparation for implementing your geoarchiving solution. It includes: servers, storage, networking infrastructure.
Surveys, 2008
In the summer and fall of 2008, the GeoMAPP team conducted several state specific and national surveys to identify geospatial creation and archiving trends among state and local agencies in North Carolina as well as among state archives and members of the national geospatial community.
National
The GeoMAPP team developed two similar surveys, one targeting state government archivists and records managers, and another distributed to state Geographic Information Officers (GIOs) and other state government GIS leaders. The surveys featured some questions unique to the target audience and others that were common across surveys for ease of comparison. Below are the survey questions and resultant raw data.
- NSGIC Geo-Archival Practices Survey
- NSGIC Survey Raw Data
- CoSA/NAGARA Geo-Archival Practices Survey
- CoSA/NAGARA Survey Raw Data
State Specific
Following on the heels of two successful local government surveys conducted by the North Carolina Geospatial Data Archiving Project (NCGDAP) project in 2006
and 2008, and running in parallel with two national surveys listed above, Kentucky and North Carolina conducted surveys within their states targeting geospatial data creators within their borders. Below are the survey questions and corresponding results.
- Kentucky Local Government GeoArchives Survey
- Kentucky Survey Raw Data
- North Carolina State Agency GeoArchives/Retention Study
- North Carolina State Agency Results
Preserving Geospatial Datasets and Geospatial Metadata
Utilizing Geospatial Metadata to Support Data Preservation PracticesJanuary 2011
Metadata associated with geospatial datasets can provide a rich insight into the technical details about the dataset it is describing while also providing information about the 'who', 'what', 'when', 'where', 'why', and 'how' to explain the dataset's purpose and utility. When thoughtfully populated, geospatial metadata can be a critical resource for understanding and managing geospatial data for current and future GIS practitioners and those trying to preserve the geospatial data.
GeoMAPP has prepared a checklist that identifies key geospatial metadata fields that can be beneficial to the long term preservation of the GIS datasets. While fully compliant, richly completed full geospatial metadata records should always be the preferred standard for GIS data creators, the above checklist highlights metadata fields that deserve special focus to be thoughtfully populated by GIS data creators, and more thoroughly reviewed by GIS clearinghouses to benefit long-term GIS data preservation, access, and use.
Use this document to assess the readiness for archiving and preservation of the metadata associated with your geospatial datasets.
Geospatial Appraisal
Informational Partners Meeting Focus on Geospatial Appraisal
Appraisal of Geospatial Data
July 28, 2011 The GeoMAPP team led a web-based presentation and discussion exploring archival appraisal of geospatial data. The presentation provided an introduction to archival appraisal and then looked at appraisal within the context of geospatial data. The partners presented their legislative mandates for archival authority that prompts appraisal, and an overview of a suggested appraisal process that includes identifying geospatial data to be appraised, often in relation to a geospatial inventory activity, assembling a cross-organizational appraisal team, identifying appraisal criteria or questions, reviewing and assessing the materials, documenting your appraisal determinations, and documenting disposition decisions through retention schedules. The GeoMAPP Partners also described and shared insights from their appraisal experiences.
New Partner Mentoring: Introduction to Archival Appraisal
June 2011"Appraisal is the process of identifying materials offered to an archives that have sufficient value to be accessioned" (Society of American Archivists Glossary). This presentation offers an introduction to archival appraisal, and then explores considerations for appraising geospatial datasets, and how the GeoMAPP Partners (NC, KY, UT) have approached appraising their geospatial resources.
Records Retention Schedules, 2009
- Kentucky State Agency Records Retention Schedule
- Maine Records Retention Schedule
- Michigan Records Retention and Disposal Schedule
- North Carolina Local Retention Schedule (Draft)
- North Carolina Retention Schedule - DENR/CGIA/NCOneMap (Draft)
Data Transfer
Preserving Geospatial Datasets and Geospatial Metadata
Utilizing Geospatial Metadata to Support Data Preservation PracticesJanuary 2011
Metadata associated with geospatial datasets can provide a rich insight into the technical details about the dataset it is describing while also providing information about the 'who', 'what', 'when', 'where', 'why', and 'how' to explain the dataset's purpose and utility. When thoughtfully populated, geospatial metadata can be a critical resource for understanding and managing geospatial data for current and future GIS practitioners and those trying to preserve the geospatial data.
GeoMAPP has prepared a checklist that identifies key geospatial metadata fields that can be beneficial to the long term preservation of the GIS datasets. While fully compliant, richly completed full geospatial metadata records should always be the preferred standard for GIS data creators, the above checklist highlights metadata fields that deserve special focus to be thoughtfully populated by GIS data creators, and more thoroughly reviewed by GIS clearinghouses to benefit long-term GIS data preservation, access, and use.
Geospatial Data File Formats Reference Guide (Microsoft Excel)
July 2011Electronic file format support is a fundamental challenge in the long-term preservation of digital materials. This issue is especially relevant for geospatial datasets that are created, shared, and stored in many different formats, many of which are proprietary to a specific vendor and/or software application. Geospatial data is primarily comprised of raster data, made up of a two dimensional array of equally sized cells where each cell holds a single attribute value and location coordinates, or vector data, represented as points, lines, and polygons. In addition to the fundamental geographic information, many datasets also include underlying tables of data that further elaborate the geographic elements, such as population counts, income values, average property values, demographic information, or identifying information for individual features such as name, address, etc. Then all of this data may further be wrapped within an encompassing database that enables relationships and analysis across the datasets. Many of the geospatial formats are manifested as numerous files in a variety of file types. All of these aspects pose challenges to GIS professionals and to archivists both today and in the future.
This spreadsheet provides a quick reference of some of the common geospatial raster and vector dataset types, and can serve as a tool to identify geospatial format types based on file extensions.
Best Practices for
Geospatial Data Transfer for Digital Preservation
December 2011 The GeoMAPP project's primary goal is to ensure the long term preservation of archived geospatial content. In order to preserve geospatial content, the GeoMAPP team explored processes, techniques, and tecnologies to transfer geospatial data to an archival organization with state-wide preservation responsibility for geospatial data. This paper offers guidance on planning, preparation, and execution of dataset transfers to the archival organization, and highlights the data transfer experiences from the GeoMAPP partner states. The paper also includes an archiving project roadmap that will assist organizations exploring geoarchiving in planning their data transfer projects, suggestions for GIS and archival cross-organizational collaboration for orientation and knowledge transfer, network and infrastruture considerations in preparation for transferring files, naming and file organizational recommendations, and tips on tools for packaging and validating data file transfers. The paper also provides a role-based summary of the data transfer tasks for geospatial contributors and the archival recipients. Be sure to refer to the appendices for project planning checklists and numerous resources to support the data transfer planning, preparation, and execution activities.
BagIt and Esri ArcCatalog Demonstration Video (WMV format) (20 minutes)
Video demonstration and tutorial demonstrating use of BagIt and Esri ArcCatalog to validate file transfer and functionally verify geospatial datasets.
Data Transfer Documentation
One of the main tenets of the GeoMAPP effort was to move geospatial content (1) between GIS creators and the State Archives within each state and (2) between states via the State Archives. Below are the results of the efforts for each state. Also included is a design template for states planning to implement intrastate data transfer.
- System Inventory Template
- Intrastate Data Transfer Design Outline
- North Carolina Intrastate Data Transfer Design and Evaluation
- Utah Instrastate Data Transfer Design and Evaluation
- Interstate Data Transfer Design Outline
- North Carolina Usability Study Final Report
- Montana State Library Spatial Data Transfer Design
BagIt User Guide (ver 2)
SAN Bagging: How to Install and Use the BagIt Library to Create and Validate Bags (ver. 2)BagIt Quick Reference Summary
April 2011
Inter-system and inter-organizational file transfer is a fundamental aspect of transferring geospatial datasets, whether datasets are being transferred to another agency, a GIS clearinghouse, or an archival organization for long-term preservation. To ensure data integrity, it is important to verify that files are transferred without any unintended changes. Developed jointly by the University of California, California Digital Library and the U.S. Library of Congress, BagIt offers a program to package and inventory a collection of files, and to validate that the files’ integrity was maintained through the file transfer. This BagIt user guide provides information on where to find and download the BagIt code, installing BagIt, creating bags, transferring bags, and verifying the integrity of transferred bags. It will be helpful to people who are new to BagIt, and are looking for a getting started guide.
BagIt Tutorial Videos
BagIt Tutorial: Part 1 - Introduction to BagIt (WMV format) (10 minutes)BagIt Tutorial: Part 2 - Installing BagIt and Java Runtime Environment (WMV format) (30 minutes)
BagIt Tutorial: Part 3 - Creating and Verifying Bags (WMV format) (30 minutes)
BagIt Tutorial: Part 4 - Retrieving, Verifying, and Unpacking Bags (WMV format) (30 minutes)
Also available on YouTube: BagIt Tutorial YouTube Playlist
April 2011
Four-part online video tutorial that introduces the BagIt tool to package and reliably transfer files from one system to another.
Archival Processing
Best Practices for Archival Processing for Geospatial Datasets
November 2011
This document provides a process-oriented approach and description of the activities involved in processing geospatial datasets for both long-term preservation and access. Based on the reference model for an Open Archival Information System Model (OAIS), the white paper includes process flow and storage architecture diagrams, key questions for archivists to consider as they are establishing their archival processing process, and practical examples illustrating how geospatial datasets can be inspected and stored in an archival system. This whitepaper, in conjunction with the Best Practices for Geospatial Data Transfer (available by Dec. 2011), and the Archival Metadata Elements for the Preservation of Geospatial Datasets (Sept. 2011) provide an in-depth look at the transfer and preservation of valuable geospatial data.
Archival Metadata Elements for the Preservation of Geospatial Datasets
September 2011
This document offers an extensible metadata dictionary based on the reference model for an Open Archival Information System Model (OAIS) to support the archival management and access of archived geospatial datasets. It also includes crosswalks for Dublin Core and FGDC metadata.
FGDC and Dublin Core Metadata Comparison
March 2009This document compares two different types of metadata standards - FGDC (Federal Geographic Data Committee) and Dublin Core - for the purpose of data discovery and preservation. The report concludes with a simplified model listing the optimal metadata of the FGDC Standard and Dublin Core combined.
APPX-based Archives Enterprise Manager (AXAEM)
December 2011
Over the course of the 4-year GeoMAPP project grant period, Utah has invested in the development of an archival management system based on the APPX-based Archives Enterprise Manager (AXAEM) software platform. This report summarizes the ongoing development efforts to build features that automate various archival management and processing tasks, and future development priorities. North Carolina, and Kentucky had the opportunity to conduct some hands-on testing of the AXAEM system, and the report also includes a summary of their test results and findings.
Montana State Library Spatial Data Transfer Design
December 2011
This document, created by the Montana State Library, provides an overview of the transfer and processing of datasets within the Montana State Library geopreservation repositories.
Kentucky Geospatial Archives Procedures
This document, created by Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, provides an overview of the Kentucky Geography Network (KYGEONET) and the state's involvement in national geospatial repositories.
Emerging Trends in Content Packaging for Geospatial Data
December 2011 An individual geospatial data resource may be composed of a complex, inter-related set of data files as well as metadata and other supporting file objects, all of which need to be arranged in a certain fashion in order to be understood by the software and the humans that are involved in the exchange, management, and use of the data. This report characterizes the role that content packaging is coming to play with regard to geospatial data management and access; documents emerging content package types that have appeared in the geospatial community; and explores preservation challenges that may arise when these packages are expected to persist over time or when the packaging process itself results in changes to packaged data.
Archival Challenges Associated with the Esri Personal Geodatabase and File Geodatabase Formats
December 2011 Spatial databases play a prominent role in geospatial data production and management, storing a range of data types including geographic features, attribute information, satellite and aerial imagery, surface modeling data, and survey measurements. In addition to storing data, some types of spatial databases can also model the relationships between data, handle data validation, and support complex data models, versioning, and multi-user editing, all of which greatly improve data integrity and analysis capabilities. One area of focus for GeoMAPP has been understanding the long-term sustainability of Esri Geodatabase content in an archival context, and whether it would be better to convert these databases to open formats or retain them in a particular Esri Geodatabase format. This report provides an initial assessment of the preservation challenges associated with the Personal Geodatabase and File Geodatabase formats.
Archival Access
Archival Access Demonstrations
Introduction to Geospatial National Inventories (WMV format)Accessing Archived Geospatial Datasets Demonstration (WMV format)
Accessing Archived Geospatial Datasets - demonstration web site
July, 2011
View prototypes of the GeoMAPP Partners' interfaces to access archived geospatial datasets, and view a demonstration of how GeoSpatial OneStop can be used to provide additional visibility to archives' geospatial holdings.
Geoportal Toolkit Evaluation
December 2011 Esri’s Geoportal Toolkit offers a free, open source product that enables the discovery and use of geospatial resources which is used by numerous GIS clearinghouse organizations across the U.S. Kentucky, Montana, and Utah installed and evaluated the Geoportal as a means for publicizing and accessing archived geospatial datasets. This report summarizes the experience of each partner state’s Geoportal evaluation.
National Inventory of Geospatial Records
December 2011 Geospatial datasets can be found in numerous repositories and clearinghouses. This report surveys several nationally-oriented geospatial collections, and explores how archival organizations might be able to leverage national geospatial inventory systems to promote their collections.
North Carolina State Archives CONTENTdm User Guide for Geospatial Datasets
December 2011 The North Carolina State Archives has developed a prototype digital collection using CONTENTdm to provide online access to its archived geospatial datasets. This user guide provides a description of the process the Archives has developed to prepare and publish the datasets, including a novel use of the CONTENTdm compound object to display the superseded series for an individual dataset that are collected through the years.
| © 2008 North Carolina Office of Archives and History.