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National Park Service Cultural National Park Service Cultural Resource Spatial Data Transfer Resource Spatial Data Transfer
StandardsStandards
Resource Information Management ConferenceResource Information Management Conference
Cultural Resource GIS FacilityCultural Resource GIS Facility
National Park ServiceNational Park Service
22 April 201022 April 2010
The Cultural Resource GIS FacilityThe Cultural Resource GIS FacilityNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
Heritage Documentation ProgramsHeritage Documentation Programs► Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Geographic Information Systems (GIS)► Global Positioning Systems (GPS) SurveyGlobal Positioning Systems (GPS) Survey► GIS AnalysisGIS Analysis► Cartography and OutputCartography and Output► GIS ProgrammingGIS Programming► GIS and GPS TrainingGIS and GPS Training
Our primary mission is to assist State/Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and National Park Units in automating data, collecting data, and exploring the use of technology with cultural resource management.
Cultural Resource SubcommitteeCultural Resource Subcommittee► The Cultural Resource Subcommittee is chartered by the NPS GIS The Cultural Resource Subcommittee is chartered by the NPS GIS
CouncilCouncil► CRS is co-chaired by CRGIS and the Midwest Archaeological CenterCRS is co-chaired by CRGIS and the Midwest Archaeological Center► It has 16 voting members representing each region, the major NPS It has 16 voting members representing each region, the major NPS
cultural resource databases, NPS programs and park cultural resource cultural resource databases, NPS programs and park cultural resource GIS programsGIS programs
► The CRS is tasked with developing cultural resource spatial data The CRS is tasked with developing cultural resource spatial data standards, developing implementation models for those standards, standards, developing implementation models for those standards, tools for the use of these standards and in general guiding the NPS tools for the use of these standards and in general guiding the NPS cultural resource community in the utilization of GIS and GPS cultural resource community in the utilization of GIS and GPS technologies to better manage and steward our resourcestechnologies to better manage and steward our resources
Locating Cultural ResourcesLocating Cultural Resources► Locational information is a key factor in understanding cultural Locational information is a key factor in understanding cultural
resources, and how to care for themresources, and how to care for them► Knowing the location of a resource on the ground provides more Knowing the location of a resource on the ground provides more
than an understanding of “where” the resource isthan an understanding of “where” the resource is► Geographic clues provide information about the human and Geographic clues provide information about the human and
environmental influences on cultural resources, helping to explain environmental influences on cultural resources, helping to explain “why” the resource exists and “how” it relates to others“why” the resource exists and “how” it relates to others
► A geographical context provides managers with a different A geographical context provides managers with a different perspective on our resources, allowing us to see the interaction of perspective on our resources, allowing us to see the interaction of resources, and larger trendsresources, and larger trends
Understanding Cultural ResourcesUnderstanding Cultural Resources► Spatially, we consider each Spatially, we consider each
resource a single entityresource a single entity► Each individual resource is Each individual resource is
viewed from several viewed from several perspectives however: built perspectives however: built features, archaeological sites, features, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, museum cultural landscapes, museum objects, etc.objects, etc.
► Any one resource may be Any one resource may be viewed from multiple viewed from multiple perspectives or disciplinesperspectives or disciplinesColonial National Historical Park
Shown: Core and study areas of Revolutionary War battle and historic features from Civil War battle
Databases involved: landscapes, landscape elements, built features, archaeological sites, museum objects, Historic American Buildings Survey documented structures, List of Classified Structures features
The Database ProblemThe Database Problem
► There is no umbrella There is no umbrella organization or organization or methodology for linking all methodology for linking all of the cultural resource of the cultural resource databases togetherdatabases together
► The existing databases The existing databases serve important purposes serve important purposes and maintain specific data and maintain specific data that can not be collapsed that can not be collapsed into a single cultural into a single cultural resource databaseresource database
► Geography can be used as Geography can be used as a means of integrating the a means of integrating the databases howeverdatabases however
► One location can be used One location can be used to reference multiple to reference multiple databasesdatabases
The Location ProblemThe Location Problem► If geography is used to tie the If geography is used to tie the
cultural resource databases cultural resource databases together, it must be together, it must be standardized to insure standardized to insure consistency and qualityconsistency and quality
► There are few requirements There are few requirements now to collect coordinates in a now to collect coordinates in a specific way, other than those specific way, other than those provided with the National provided with the National Register of Historic PlacesRegister of Historic Places
► There are conflicting There are conflicting requirements on the level of requirements on the level of detail required for resource detail required for resource locationslocations
Detail can be important for the users of our data. Looking at an historic district boundary provides very different information from the contributing resources within the district.
The Need for Cultural Resource Spatial Data The Need for Cultural Resource Spatial Data StandardsStandards
► We need standards for collecting cultural resource spatial data: We need standards for collecting cultural resource spatial data: geometry, accuracy, datum, coordinate systems, sub-entities etc.geometry, accuracy, datum, coordinate systems, sub-entities etc.
► We need guidelines that relate cultural resource spatial data to cultural We need guidelines that relate cultural resource spatial data to cultural resource attribute dataresource attribute data
► We need standards that address how to safeguard sensitive spatial dataWe need standards that address how to safeguard sensitive spatial data► We need metadata standards at the data set and feature levelsWe need metadata standards at the data set and feature levels
► Standards and guidelines for both legacy and future data are needed in a Standards and guidelines for both legacy and future data are needed in a number of key areas:number of key areas:
CRGIS Work Toward the Development of CRGIS Work Toward the Development of Cultural Resource Spatial Data StandardsCultural Resource Spatial Data Standards
► CRGIS has participated in multi-agency cultural resource data CRGIS has participated in multi-agency cultural resource data standard creation efforts since 1999 and created a cultural resource standard creation efforts since 1999 and created a cultural resource work group within the Federal Geographic Data Committee to work group within the Federal Geographic Data Committee to facilitate such effortsfacilitate such efforts
► CRGIS initiated efforts within the NPS through a Cultural Resource CRGIS initiated efforts within the NPS through a Cultural Resource Database Managers workshop in Oct. 2003Database Managers workshop in Oct. 2003
► CRGIS held a second NPS Cultural Resource Database Managers CRGIS held a second NPS Cultural Resource Database Managers workshop in Oct. 2005workshop in Oct. 2005
► CRGIS developed a first draft data model reflecting the needs outlined CRGIS developed a first draft data model reflecting the needs outlined by the NPS data managers in Oct. 2005by the NPS data managers in Oct. 2005
► CRGIS partnered with FEMA in response to hurricane Katrina and had CRGIS partnered with FEMA in response to hurricane Katrina and had the opportunity to field test draft standards and a draft data model the opportunity to field test draft standards and a draft data model beginning in Nov. 2005beginning in Nov. 2005
► Based on field testing and other efforts, CRGIS developed a second Based on field testing and other efforts, CRGIS developed a second draft of the data model in Oct. 2006draft of the data model in Oct. 2006
► The standards represented by the data model were first posted as The standards represented by the data model were first posted as draft standards on the NPS data store in Oct. 2006, refined and draft standards on the NPS data store in Oct. 2006, refined and posted twice more through 2008 and in 2009, with a final draft finally posted twice more through 2008 and in 2009, with a final draft finally posted in 2010posted in 2010
► The Cultural Resource Subcommittee served as the body through The Cultural Resource Subcommittee served as the body through which testing of the standards were coordinated and comments which testing of the standards were coordinated and comments vetted to reach the final version of the standardsvetted to reach the final version of the standards
Current Status of the NPS Cultural Resource Current Status of the NPS Cultural Resource Spatial Data StandardsSpatial Data Standards
► The NPS cultural resource spatial data standards are currently in their final The NPS cultural resource spatial data standards are currently in their final form, having been released service-wide for commenting twiceform, having been released service-wide for commenting twice
► The final draft was presented to the NPS GIS Council and adopted in The final draft was presented to the NPS GIS Council and adopted in February 2010February 2010
► The Cultural Resource Subcommittee has been The Cultural Resource Subcommittee has been building a data model that uses a file GeoDatabase building a data model that uses a file GeoDatabase allowing users to link from the geography to allowing users to link from the geography to external cultural resource databases which contain external cultural resource databases which contain descriptive information about multiple resourcesdescriptive information about multiple resources
► A series of feature classes describes various A series of feature classes describes various cultural resource types (buildings, objects, cultural resource types (buildings, objects, structures, districts, archaeological sites, cultural structures, districts, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, ethnographic resources, survey landscapes, ethnographic resources, survey boundaries, and other features)boundaries, and other features)
► A group of parks and regional representatives in A group of parks and regional representatives in the Pacific West region has been testing the the Pacific West region has been testing the standards, adding their data into the GeoDatabase standards, adding their data into the GeoDatabase modelmodel
► This has resulted in refining the standards, as well This has resulted in refining the standards, as well as the generation of documentation to accompany as the generation of documentation to accompany the standardsthe standards
Basic Principles the Cultural Resource Basic Principles the Cultural Resource Standards Try to Adhere ToStandards Try to Adhere To
► Spatial representation of cultural resources is important for their Spatial representation of cultural resources is important for their protection and managementprotection and management
► Each cultural resource database needs to remain autonomousEach cultural resource database needs to remain autonomous► A unique ID needs to be created for each cultural resource entity to A unique ID needs to be created for each cultural resource entity to
enable linking between databases and use in a GISenable linking between databases and use in a GIS► Each unique feature will have a unique spatial representationEach unique feature will have a unique spatial representation► Discipline experts for the predominant characterization of a feature Discipline experts for the predominant characterization of a feature
should be responsible for the spatial boundary determinationshould be responsible for the spatial boundary determination► Standards should be defined for how each resource type will be Standards should be defined for how each resource type will be
represented, and at what level of accuracy, scale and resolutionrepresented, and at what level of accuracy, scale and resolution► Standards may need to be different for legacy data and new dataStandards may need to be different for legacy data and new data► Questions we are asking of these datasets should drive the resolution Questions we are asking of these datasets should drive the resolution
and accuracy of spatial data layersand accuracy of spatial data layers
► A cultural resource should be represented by a point, line or polygon feature► A newly inventoried cultural resource should be defined by a polygon when
appropriate► Contributing cultural resources to a historic district or landscape should be
represented at a minimum by a point or line feature► The location of vertices defining the polygon boundary of a cultural resource
must meet USGS National Mapping Standard for 1:24,000 scale maps► The positional accuracy for vertices defining polygon
boundaries of newly inventoried resources should be within 3 meters of their true position for 90% of the vertices
► Address fields created for the purpose of geo-coding locations of newly inventoried resources must follow the FGDC Address Content Standard
► Legacy data may be used as a source for creating spatial data for cultural resources, if feature level metadata can be completed
► User defined coordinate systems, e.g. an archaeological site grid must be tied into a real world coordinate system
Standards for Creating Cultural Resource Spatial Standards for Creating Cultural Resource Spatial DataData
Standards Establish Links From Spatial Data to Standards Establish Links From Spatial Data to Cultural Resource DatabasesCultural Resource Databases
► A point, line or polygon boundary for a cultural resource must be linked to attribute tables that describe the resource
► Cross-walk tables should be used and completely filled out when data on any single cultural resource appears in multiple databases
► Dataset level metadata for point, line or polygon data must be FGDC compliant for spatial metadata
► Feature level metadata for individual points, lines or polygons must be able to address the following questions:
► Feature level metadata is entered into fields in the spatial attribute table
Standards Require Feature Level MetadataStandards Require Feature Level Metadata
• Does the boundary represent a single cultural resource or an Does the boundary represent a single cultural resource or an aggregate cultural resource? aggregate cultural resource? • Does the boundary circumscribe, buffer, or represent the actual Does the boundary circumscribe, buffer, or represent the actual boundary of the resource? boundary of the resource? • What method was used to locate and plot the resource? (e.g. What method was used to locate and plot the resource? (e.g. address matching, GPS survey, triangulation w/ compass, address matching, GPS survey, triangulation w/ compass, triangulation with transit, trilateration with tape, trilateration by triangulation with transit, trilateration with tape, trilateration by pacing, unknown etc.? pacing, unknown etc.? • When was the boundary created? When was the boundary created? • When was the boundary last updated? When was the boundary last updated? • Who or what institution created the boundary? Who or what institution created the boundary? • What map datum was used in plotting the location of the cultural What map datum was used in plotting the location of the cultural resource? resource? • What coordinate system was used in plotting the location of the What coordinate system was used in plotting the location of the cultural resource? cultural resource? • If using GPS what was the level of accuracy? If using GPS what was the level of accuracy? • What use constraints are there on the boundary? e.g. suitable for What use constraints are there on the boundary? e.g. suitable for Section 106 compliance, National Register boundary , or limited to Section 106 compliance, National Register boundary , or limited to research etc.research etc.
What OMB Circular A-16 Defines for the NPSWhat OMB Circular A-16 Defines for the NPS► Circular A-16, the same document that creates the FGDC, designates Circular A-16, the same document that creates the FGDC, designates
the National Park Service as the lead agency for cultural resources, the National Park Service as the lead agency for cultural resources, responsible for the stewardship of the cultural resource data theme for responsible for the stewardship of the cultural resource data theme for all Federal agenciesall Federal agencies
► Within the National Park Service the Cultural Resources Geographic Within the National Park Service the Cultural Resources Geographic Information Services (CRGIS) office has been given this responsibilityInformation Services (CRGIS) office has been given this responsibility
Tasks Included in this Responsibility:
•assess existing standards and identify needs
• develop and implement FGDC standards
• develop plan for the implementation of standards and population of the data set
• collect and analyze information regarding user needs
• publish data online
The Cultural Resource Geospatial Data Transfer The Cultural Resource Geospatial Data Transfer Standard ProposalStandard Proposal
► Does not propose or create a Does not propose or create a specific standardspecific standard
► Does not propose to create Does not propose to create standards that address descriptive standards that address descriptive informationinformation
► Does not propose to create one Does not propose to create one central repository of spatial or central repository of spatial or descriptive information related to descriptive information related to cultural resourcescultural resources
► Outlines the need for cultural Outlines the need for cultural resource spatial data standards and resource spatial data standards and the regulatory requirements for the the regulatory requirements for the creation of cultural resource spatial creation of cultural resource spatial datadata
► Explains the decentralized nature of Explains the decentralized nature of Historic Preservation within the Historic Preservation within the United States with emphasis on State United States with emphasis on State and Tribal Historic Preservation and Tribal Historic Preservation OfficesOffices
► Focuses on an approach to Focuses on an approach to developing standards that address developing standards that address the geographic representation of the geographic representation of cultural resources, linking descriptive cultural resources, linking descriptive data to spatial data, security of data, data to spatial data, security of data, and feature level metadataand feature level metadata
► Emphasizes the need for consensus Emphasizes the need for consensus among Federal, State, Tribal and local among Federal, State, Tribal and local historic preservation professionals in historic preservation professionals in the standard creation processthe standard creation process
► Standards created and Standards created and implemented by the NPS serve as implemented by the NPS serve as one example of the type of one example of the type of standards neededstandards needed
► These standards are designed to These standards are designed to serve as a starting point for the serve as a starting point for the larger standards discussionlarger standards discussion
► The FGDC Standards Working The FGDC Standards Working Group unanimously approved Group unanimously approved the Cultural Resource standard the Cultural Resource standard proposal in February 2008proposal in February 2008
CRGIS Plan for Continuing with the CRGIS Plan for Continuing with the Standard Creation EffortStandard Creation Effort
► Now an approved FGDC standard Now an approved FGDC standard project, CRGIS is working with the project, CRGIS is working with the Subcommittee on Cultural and Subcommittee on Cultural and Demographic Data and has re-Demographic Data and has re-chartered the existing Cultural chartered the existing Cultural Resource Work GroupResource Work Group
► CRGIS is working to include Federal, CRGIS is working to include Federal, State, Tribal, and local government State, Tribal, and local government representatives, as well as private representatives, as well as private sector and academic historic sector and academic historic preservationists to participate in the preservationists to participate in the standard creation processstandard creation process
► As part of the consensus building As part of the consensus building process, CRGIS hosted a summit of process, CRGIS hosted a summit of these participants in March 2009 to these participants in March 2009 to begin moving forward on the FGDC begin moving forward on the FGDC effort. The summit resulted in a set of effort. The summit resulted in a set of principles to guide the direction of the principles to guide the direction of the effort as well as a set of best practices effort as well as a set of best practices to incorporateto incorporate
► CRGIS will continue to follow the FGDC CRGIS will continue to follow the FGDC standard creation process fostering standard creation process fostering public comment from the cultural public comment from the cultural resource and GIS communitiesresource and GIS communities
What Does All What Does All of This Mean of This Mean for the NPS for the NPS
Cultural Cultural Resource Resource
Programs?Programs?
► The implementation of cultural resource spatial data standards will not The implementation of cultural resource spatial data standards will not affect any of the existing cultural resource databases maintained by the affect any of the existing cultural resource databases maintained by the various NPS cultural resource programsvarious NPS cultural resource programs
► The creation of cultural resource spatial data standards should help cultural The creation of cultural resource spatial data standards should help cultural resource specialists improve the quality and accuracy of their locational resource specialists improve the quality and accuracy of their locational data and simplify the collection of that datadata and simplify the collection of that data
► Migrating legacy cultural resource data into the existing data model Migrating legacy cultural resource data into the existing data model provides a template for creating geographic data compliant with the provides a template for creating geographic data compliant with the approved standardsapproved standards
► The standards provide structure for the creation of new cultural resource The standards provide structure for the creation of new cultural resource geographic datageographic data
What Does All of This Mean for the NPS Cultural What Does All of This Mean for the NPS Cultural Resource Programs?Resource Programs?
► The Cultural Resource Subcommittee will provide assistance and The Cultural Resource Subcommittee will provide assistance and guidance to parks, regions and programs in understanding the standards guidance to parks, regions and programs in understanding the standards and how to meet the standardsand how to meet the standards
► The Cultural Resource Subcommittee will generate guidance The Cultural Resource Subcommittee will generate guidance documentation, tools and training to assist parks, regions and programs documentation, tools and training to assist parks, regions and programs in migrating data in migrating data
► The Cultural Resource Subcommittee is currently working on developing The Cultural Resource Subcommittee is currently working on developing an implementation plan for the standards which will most likely build on an implementation plan for the standards which will most likely build on the existing relationships between parks and regional offices to the existing relationships between parks and regional offices to collect/migrate cultural resource datacollect/migrate cultural resource data
► The NPS cultural resource spatial data standards will inform the larger The NPS cultural resource spatial data standards will inform the larger FGDC cultural resource spatial data creation process, which will probably FGDC cultural resource spatial data creation process, which will probably be similar to the NPS standards but slightly less detailedbe similar to the NPS standards but slightly less detailed
► Having established cultural resource spatial data standards will pre-Having established cultural resource spatial data standards will pre-position the NPS to comply with FGDC standards once they are adopted position the NPS to comply with FGDC standards once they are adopted
► Ultimately, having NPS standards will allow cultural resource specialists Ultimately, having NPS standards will allow cultural resource specialists within the NPS share data more effectively and better access the data within the NPS share data more effectively and better access the data within our various databaseswithin our various databases
► Similarly, an FGDC cultural resource spatial data transfer standard will Similarly, an FGDC cultural resource spatial data transfer standard will allow cultural resource specialists to share data among all Federal allow cultural resource specialists to share data among all Federal agencies agencies
► Most especially, this will allow cultural resource specialists to better plan Most especially, this will allow cultural resource specialists to better plan for resources, protecting them from all manner of potential threatsfor resources, protecting them from all manner of potential threats
Author InformationAuthor Information
http://www.cr.nps.gov/hdp/crgis/
Deidre McCarthy, GISPDeidre McCarthy, GISP
Architectural historianArchitectural historian
Cultural Resource GIS FacilityCultural Resource GIS Facility
Heritage Documentation Heritage Documentation ProgramsPrograms
National Park ServiceNational Park Service
Department of the InteriorDepartment of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W. (2270)1849 C Street, N.W. (2270)
Washington, D.C. 20240-0001Washington, D.C. 20240-0001
Voice: 202.354.2141Voice: 202.354.2141
Fax: 202.371.6473Fax: 202.371.6473
