The document outlines the agenda and key updates from a teleconference held on May 16, 2001, covering software deployments, clearinghouse features, and standards activities within the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). It highlights the impending release of several server software versions and discusses ongoing efforts related to metadata and catalog services. Future plans include hosting a workshop addressing metadata and other related topics, with an emphasis on community contribution and collaboration.

1. Clearinghouse WG Telecon 16 May 2001

2. Agenda Deployed software status NSDI FAQ resource CAP Grants information Standards Activities Other business

3. Deployed software status Server software (Isite, MetaManager, SMMS, BlueAngel Server) Gateway software (Blue Angel) ICN Web Search Module

4. Isite Status Version 2.08 about to be released Isearch2 replaces Isearch Originally developed for Astronomical Software Directory Service (ASDS) Index by URL Reliance on original source files reduced Faster search times Local file cache for remote files Anticipated release 6/1 Contact [email_address] if interested in testing

5. SMMS/GeoConnect Server V3.2.1 User-customizable Features (MetaWeb): Logo graphics, page layout and color scheme – see www.rtseusa.com/pagetemplate/3Column.asp?pageid=401 for examples, Include or exclude user defined (non-FGDC) data and BIO-profile data from HTML display Make text queries case-sensitive or not. Z39.50 Clearinghouse features: Geo2 Profile compliant Support for Multiple Clearinghouse Server Databases on a Single Z39.50 Server

6. ICN Web Search Module Wizard-style interface to registry-based db selection and distributed, parallel search - a zcon/zgate replacement Runs as a servlet or CGI application Customize to search one or more specific servers Tested with Windows, Linux, and Macintosh OS X (apache, jakarta, jrun) Full GPL java source available at http://www.islandedge.com Corps of Engineers will test

7. ICN Web Search Module Browser httpd Servlet engine cgi Zserver 0 Zserver 1 Zserver n wizard Registry

8. Blue Angel Gateway Version 3.6 will be released in the next few weeks to all Gateways Will include an improved “Wizard” interface Will support only short-duration “cookies” to meet Federal privacy guidelines (feds not allowed to cache user information for more than one session)

9. NSDI FAQ resource This site hosts questions and answers regarding the implementation of the National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, its metadata, and supporting software. Solutions to problems or questions you may have should be present in this list. URL http://clearinghouse4.fgdc.gov/fgdcfaq/default.asp

10. NSDI FAQ resource Current Topic Hierarchy Isite Software General Isite Isite Installation Isite Configuation Isite Update Isite Problems RTSe SMMS GeoConnect About GeoConnect BlueAngel MetaStar Server About MetaStar General Clearinghouse General Clearinghouse Clearinghouse Searching / Gateways Clearinghouse Searching / Gateways Clearinghouse Server Registry (Node Registration) Registry (Node Registration) Metadata Metadata Metadata FAQ’s Metadata Tools

11. NSDI FAQ resource Features Password protected at topic level for population and modification of FAQ Links will be included to existing online FAQ’s Provides a one-stop shop for FAQ’s about clearinghouse, software, and metadata

12. NSDI FAQ resource Future Plans Create a search function for the FAQ Continue to populate and build Looking for experts to participate in population of FAQ’s Please provide comments and/or participation interest to [email_address] fgdc . gov .

13. CAP Grants information FY 2001 CAP Coop Agreements are being issued “ Don’t Duck Metadata”, US-Canada Framework, Metadata Trainer, Partnership, and Web Mapping award categories Period of performance, starts soon, lasts for 12 months.

14. Standards Activities ISO Metadata Update OpenGIS specification status Clearinghouse and OGC “Catalog Services”

15. ISO Metadata 19115 Still pending Draft International Standard Schemas are being worked on as informative documents, still problems Core metadata: http://130.11.52.184/datasetMetadataCore.doc Diagram overview of Schema: http://130.11.52.184/19115overview.png

16. OpenGIS Consortium (OGC) Specs Web Mapping Service (WMS) 1.0 defines request, response, and query of data as maps Geography Markup Language (GML) 2.0 is issued as an Implementation Specification, defining XML structures for vector Features used by Web Feature Service (WFS) Gazetteer and Thesaurus have been issued as Discussion Papers OGC website: http://www.opengis.org

17. OGC Catalog Services Catalog Services were made a specification in 1999 by the OGC to facilitate discovery of spatial data and services within a community General model designed using the best features of Z39.50 CORBA and WWW (Z39.50) Profiles demonstrated

18. Features of Catalog Services 1.0 A catalog can reference data or services Multiple query languages supported Common Query Language (CQL) is described as one language using BNF as a subset of the SQL WHERE statement against abstract target fields Capabilities function intended to share service details (like explain) Element set concept preserved (Brief, Full) Response format preserved (XML, HTML, etc)

19. Consolidation for Version 2.0 “Stateless” (catalog over HTTP) proposal will be incorporated into OGC Catalog Services specification Services will consider symmetry with Web Feature Services and Web Map Service Revise/review CORBA and WWW (Z39.50) Profiles Publish version 2.0 by September OGC meeting in DC

20. “ Stateless” Issues Would not require software to maintain a session between client and user Would operate over port 80, reducing firewall issues Operates as a web service, so if the web server is running, the search should work, too Still requires a search engine or database and structured metadata

21. native client protocol server catalog A P I Current Catalogs Z39.50 or CORBA protocol This model applies for both the current Z39.50 and CORBA implementations Send query Get response Return metadata Request metadata

22. Web client other client Web Server Web CGI catalog A P I Send query parser (mp) Return metadata Stateless Catalogs HTTP POST Z39.50 Service would be replaced by similar functionality hosted as a Web Service over port 80

23. Stateless Catalogs Web client XML client Web Server SOAP listener catalog A P I Send XML XSLT Return Full XML SOAP is a platform-independent style of CGI handler that dispatches programs to compile a response. Isite will be renovated to include a SOAP interface for local http-based query to replace Isearch.cgi HTTP POST

24. Data and Service Catalogs ISO TC 211 Metadata Standard 19115(DIS) specifies data access handles and services metadata Both service and data metadata should use linkages to exploit associations and minimize redundancy of information storage EO/GEO approach provides a growing foundation of data descriptions that can point at formal service bindings

25. Service Catalogs Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) specification and Web Services Description Language (WSDL) defines a services description approach OpenGIS Consortium is documenting the preferred strategy in Web Services Architecture (General Service Model, Basic Service Model)

26. OGC Network OGC-N Project this year will establish baseline infrastructure for discovering and testing OGC-compliant services Desire establishment of reference implementation software clients and servers for community use in “compatibility testing” Will include a discovery portal of OGC community data/services providers Contact Jeff Harrison [email_address] for more info on sponsorship

27. FGDC Deployment 12 sites will collaborate with FGDC in implementing catalog services for data and services to be deployed operationally within OGC Network Services will include data catalogs, a common service registry, Web Mapping Services, and possibly Web Feature Services Timeline: July 2001 – June 2002

28. Other Business Should we schedule a 3-day NSDI Workshop later this year? Yes! Topics to cover: metadata, clearinghouse, web mapping, framework integration Volunteers: need trainers, presenters, logistics support Intended audience and participants: technical Facilities requirements: multiple rooms with networked computers Preferred locations: Denver or Phoenix Preferred date: October 2001 Next telecon Date not scheduled. First week September planned.