There are three methods for data-sharing:
Data exchange
Direct database access
Data interoperability
Spatial databases are fundamentally heterogeneous due to the diversity of industries producing data and the platforms hosting the data, which can make data-sharing a difficult and slow process. Understanding and leveraging data-sharing standards is critical to increase GIS data's impact during an emergency.
Geospatial standards are used to facilitate the development, sharing, and use of geospatial data and services.
The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is an organized structure of federal geospatial professionals and constituents that provide executive, managerial, and advisory direction and oversight for geospatial decisions and initiatives across the Federal government. The FGDC endorses various standards, which are available on the webpage, FGDC Endorsed Standards.
GIS data-sharing aligns with the Geospatial Data Act (GDA), which promotes greater access and use of government information and data. The GDA formalizes governance processes related to geospatial data, provides policy and guidance to empower the use of geospatial data and technology, and facilitates broad cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Read how the GDA impacted FGDC's current strategic plan: National Spatial Data Infrastructure Strategic Plan for 2021 to 2024.
CDC National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) initiative, Program Collaboration and Service Integration (PCSI), produced a set of standards for facilitating data sharing and using surveillance data collected by NCHHSTP-funded programs. These standards can inform your policies for using data surveillance for public health action during an emergency.
Visit the PCSI webpage for insight into data collection and use, data sharing and release, physical security, and electronic data security.
Designating a data steward at the state or local level is a best practice. The data steward is responsible for all data requests.
The NDSA produces a list of geospatial stewardship resources highlighting key concepts and practices for supporting the preservation and stewardship of geospatial data and information. Resources are organized in the following buckets:
Introductions to geospatial data stewardship
Geospatial stewardship business planning
Geospatial data appraisal and selection
Geospatial data management, transfer, and storage
View a list of NDSA's key geospatial data stewardship resources>>