Mapping the risks : assessing the homeland security implications of publicly available geospatial information
Assesses the homeland security implications of publicly available geospatial data and information. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, many agencies within the federal government began restricting some of their publicly available geospatial data and information from such sources as the World Wide Web. As time passes, however, decisionmakers have begun to ask whether and how such information specifically helps potential attackers, including terrorists, to select U.S. homeland sites and prepare for better attacks. The research detailed in this book aims to assist decisionmakers tasked with the responsibility of choosing which geospatial information to make available and which to restrict.
Lessons for the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure: International Case Study Analysis
One-liner: An analysis of international collaboration for the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI), this book provides ten in-depth international and regional collaboration case studies to assess lessons learned for GSDI development and implementation. Geospatial data, information, and technologies are becoming more important and more common tools throughout the world because of their capacity to improve government and private-sector decisionmaking. Geospatial information is developed, used, maintained, and shared in a range of application areas, including transportation, environment, natural resources, agriculture, telecommunications, mapping, health, emergency services, research, and national security. Sharing geospatial data in such applications helps improve the management of public infrastructures and natural resources and produces numerous other benefits. This report presents an analysis of international collaboration for the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI). Ten in-depth international and regional collaboration case studies were conducted to assess lessons learned for GSDI development and implementation. This report provides useful information to the GSDI and to regional spatial data infrastructure organizations. It should also be of interest to national governments, nongovernmental organizations, researchers, and others who are interested in international collaboration, geospatial data sharing, and geospatial technologies. cp
The Machine That Could: PNGV, A Government-Industry Partnership
In 1993, amid concerns that the U.S. auto industry was losing ground to Japanese competitors, the federal government and the Big Three U.S. automakers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) entered into a unique alliance: the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). The PNGV, which also involves universities, suppliers, and other participants, arose from the belief that providing industry with access to technologies generated by federally supported research would allow automakers to develop a high-efficiency, environmentally friendly car--attaining up to 80 miles per gallon--that would still match or surpass today's vehicles in performance, cost, and safety. In its launch phase, the PNGV faced considerable skepticism, as well as stiff political and organizational challenges. This report tells the story of the program's beginnings, how it has dealt with these challenges, and its progress to date, which, as of 1998, remains ahead of schedule. It also details lessons that may be useful to managers of similar partnerships in the future. The author was the government's first technical manager of the PNGV. His account was developed from notes, recollections, and interviews with former colleagues.