BTS Completes Model Standard for Electronic Government Initiative

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has moved forward in the development of electronic government with completion of a draft data-exchange standard for roads as a model for future standards developed by federal agencies.

The new standard responds to the Bush Administration’s strategy for expanding Internet-based electronic government.

BTS submitted a draft road-data content standard to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in September as part of the Geospatial One-Stop initiative. Due to the widespread need for road data, the road theme was selected as the first standard for development and implementation of a prototype web portal for data access.

The main function of the road-data content standard is for data exchange on the Internet. If a user wants to exchange data, the standard specifies the rules, guidelines, and definitions necessary for sharing roadway information.

Model Standard Draft Submitted to OMB

BTS GIS section provides detailed maps of transportation route 8 facilities

The submission to OMB concludes the initial phase of a six-month effort led by BTS with support from state and local governments, the private and academic sectors, and other Federal agencies. The BTS process will provide a model for other geospatial data themes. Geospatial data identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features and boundaries on Earth.

BTS is the lead agency in the Department of Transportation for coordinating the development of the transportation standards for the Geospatial One-Stop. BTS is also developing data content standards for air, rail, and transit. Groups similar in composition to the road team will be meeting throughout the remainder of the year.

BTS is also using the draft road standard to build the prototype web portal for the Geospatial One-Stop. This effort will help refine the road content standard and provide information for implementing the Geospatial One-Stop.

The Geospatial One-Stop, one of 24 electronic government initiatives selected by the President’s Management Council, will provide a geographic component for use in all Internet-based electronic government activities of local, state, tribal, and federal governments.