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Developed the Conceptual Architecture and Requirements for Data.gov

The Organization: Data.gov – U.S. Presidents Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA)

Under the Bush Administration, the USGS developed and managed Geodata.gov as the first federal wide open data effort. As part of an Obama initiative goal, the movement of back to overall data policy came to the forefront. Data.gov would be the federal solution for exposing open data for discovery, download and services access.

The Problem and Solution: Migrate multiple catalogs to a new data.gov architecture

After the initial rush to launch of data.gov as part of the new administration, OMB/GSA sought Xentity architects to develop the multiple-phase architecture required for Data.gov to provide services and capabilities similar to those currently existing at geodata.gov including spatial search for metadata records. Also, the Federal Geospatial Data Committee requested Xentity to evaluate geodata.gov transition planning and document transition strategy and plan. Then, address known issues to be used to establish all levels of architecture. Also, help communicate and establish expectations for releases of capabilities. Finally, both requested Xentity to support and coordinate with the inter-agency Geospatial Platform team on functional requirements for metadata management in both the Data.gov and Geospatial Platform environments, ensuring efficient and effective operation of both systems in a synergistic manner.

The Solutions

Xentity, given its geospatial architecture expertise, supported:

  • Develop the multiple-phase conceptual architecture required for Data.gov to provide services and capabilities similar to those currently existing at Geodata.gov including spatial search for metadata records.
  • Evaluate geodata.gov transitioning planning and document transition strategy and plan, known issues to be used to establish all levels of architecture and communicate and establish expectations for releases of capabilities.
  • Coordinate the development of the technical and physical architecture for Phase 1 Data.gov/Geospatial page and associated data – design data model, interface
  • Coordinate with the inter-agency Geospatial Platform team on functional requirements for metadata management in both the Data.gov and Geospatial Platform environments, ensuring efficient and effective operation of both systems in a synergistic manner.
  • Guide and review the Design and deployment of the Data.gov/Geospatial page.
  • Develop the web content for the spatial component of Data.gov, coordinate with configuration control. Then they released it in conjunction with data.gov update and communication cycles.
  • Provide advice and expertise to facilitate the migration of Geodata.gov data, metadata, and functionality to Data.gov

The final deliverable was an actionable SOW. The GSA used this to solicit vendors to implement the design created by the Xentity team during the contract. Additionally, the team provided a plan documenting the critical path for completing all implementation work for the SOW.

The Outcomes: CKAN based data.gov solution, fully converted geodata.gov

The results – USGS managed a successful geodata.gov migration to GSA managed geo.data.gov and in early 2013. Also, Data.gov catalog added spatial integration via CKAN and integration with other open source components (which is basis for data.gov.uk) and integrate geo.data.gov. Furthermore, it became a standard for data.doi.gov and data.usgs.gov. Xentity delivered on all the geospatial architecture products by the end of the 2010 (CY). This included the conceptual architecture, transition strategy including scope for requisition requests by GSA to bidding implementers, full transition plan.

Also, Xentity supported GSA at the international data conference and was a key presenter, presenting on the conceptual architecture. Furthermore, Xentity supported several meetings and calls advising the GSA and geospatial communities on geo.data.gov, geoplatform, and related geospatial data integration and delivery concepts.

Updates – Data.gov Work in 2022

Through 2022, Xentity is continuing to provide CKAN technology platform migration, harvesting support, and data stewardship operations and maintenance support for data.gov.